Author: Matt Fogarty (@mattfogarty)

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It all began with a spark of curiosity. I first discovered Rooms through the Things X  account, which I followed closely. The concept immediately intrigued me—it wasn’t just another app; it was something entirely unique. Rooms was the first idea that I couldn’t fully wrap my head around. It wasn’t that I didn’t understand it; it was that it could be everything and anything all at once. 

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You could build, decorate, add interactivity, tell stories, share images, play games—the possibilities were endless. Rooms was a fresh, magical concept that didn’t fit into any one box. It offered so much creative freedom that it felt like a dream for someone like me who’s always been into creative apps. While I’ve encountered plenty of cool, popular apps in the past, nothing came close to the magic of Rooms. I quickly became obsessed.

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A New Canvas for Creation

Rooms gave me something I didn’t even know I was looking for: a new kind of creative canvas. I had some prior experience with tools like Blender, but my basic knowledge of the platform always left me feeling limited. With Rooms, everything felt approachable. It wasn’t just about creating objects or scenes—it was about bringing them to life with interactivity and purpose.

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Historically, my creativity had always been rooted in 2D design. What I made was what you got—static visuals, no buttons to click or interact with. But Rooms pushed me to think differently. I had to create a whole new lane in my mind to dream up Rooms concepts. Suddenly, I wasn’t just designing; I was building experiences.

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One of my favorite creations was a project called Flower. It was a room built around one of my original music tracks. Every object in the room could be tapped, and if tapped in time, it would play along with the backing track. The idea came to me during a restless night when I couldn’t sleep. Rooms was on my mind constantly, and I wanted to create something that showcased its full potential. I got out of bed, opened Rooms, and within an hour, I had built exactly what I had dreamed up—a mixed-media flower in a vase, surrounded by interactive objects that turned the room into a living, breathing composition.

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Unlocking Coding: Remixing and Learning by Doing

Rooms also made me hungry to learn coding. I realized that with just a basic understanding, I could achieve my creative goals on the platform. Surprisingly, the fastest way I learned wasn’t through endless tutorial videos, but by remixing rooms that included coding I admired. I would dive into these projects, exploring how the creators achieved certain effects, and then implement them in my own rooms. 

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Eventually, the coding began to click. It happened almost without me realizing it, and I started writing code myself. For me, this was a huge milestone. I had always wanted to understand coding, but nothing had ever made it feel so natural or rewarding.

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From Creator to Team Member

After spending some time as an active creator on Rooms, I decided to reach out. I contacted Jason, the CEO of Things Inc, and let him know that I’d love to help out however I could. That led to a part-time contractor role where I handled tasks like social media content and community work. 

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Over the next year, my responsibilities grew. I started managing more projects and eventually, I was offered a full-time role. It was a dream come true. Working at Things, Inc. felt like joining a magical factory I had only imagined in my dreams. I’ll never forget coming to a team meeting in New York while I was still part-time. I was so nervous I didn’t sleep for two nights before meeting everyone.

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I’ve had the privilege of working on big projects in the past, but Things, Inc. feels special for a different reason. The team’s passion for crafting a seamless, thoughtful user experience—combined with their deep care for the community’s safety—was inspiring. I was shocked when I was offered a full-time role, and I still am to this day. It’s one thing to work for a company that makes cool things, but it’s another to work with a team that genuinely cares about its users. That’s a rare gift.

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My Role at Things, Inc.

Today, I work full-time at Things Inc, assisting with marketing efforts, community management, Explore page updates, weekly challenges, and social content. Every day feels like an adventure. There’s always a new tool, feature, or idea in the works, and the team’s level of care and creativity has influenced me not just professionally, but personally as well. 

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Rooms has weirdly inspired me in so many ways outside of work. The attention to detail and the care that goes into every aspect of the platform have encouraged me to think differently and more thoughtfully in everything I do.

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Advice for Aspiring Creators and Team Members

If you’re someone who dreams of working at a company like Things, Inc., here’s my advice: don’t be shy about what intrigues you. Keep an eye out for opportunities, follow up with the team directly, and don’t hesitate to share your passion. People want to hear from their fans—and I was the biggest fan of Rooms before I joined.

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My own journey has been unconventional. I’ve worked as an animator, social media manager, content creator, strategist, and artist for some exciting brands. But I’ve always been optimistic about putting in the effort and trusting that something good will come of it. 

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