What's your strategy for staying current on computer graphics trends and tools?

1 Follow the leaders

One of the easiest ways to stay updated on computer graphics trends and tools is to follow the leaders in the field. These are the people who are creating, innovating, and influencing the direction of computer graphics. You can follow them on social media, blogs, podcasts, YouTube, or newsletters, and learn from their insights, tips, projects, and challenges. Some examples of computer graphics leaders are John Carmack, Andrew Glassner, Ken Perlin, Ed Catmull, and Jessica Rosenkrantz. Of course, you can also find your own role models and mentors based on your specific interests and goals.

2 Join the communities

Another way to stay current on computer graphics trends and tools is to join the communities that share your passion and curiosity. These are the places where you can network, collaborate, ask questions, get feedback, and discover new opportunities. You can join online communities on platforms like Reddit, Stack Overflow, Discord, or CGSociety, or offline communities like meetups, workshops, conferences, or hackathons. Some examples of computer graphics communities are r/computergraphics, r/gamedev, r/animation, SIGGRAPH, and BlenderNation. Of course, you can also create your own community and invite others to join.

3 Experiment with the tools

A third way to stay current on computer graphics trends and tools is to experiment with the tools that are available and accessible. These are the software, hardware, frameworks, and libraries that enable you to create, manipulate, and render computer graphics. You can experiment with the tools by following tutorials, taking courses, doing projects, or just playing around. Some examples of computer graphics tools are Photoshop, Maya, Unity, Unreal Engine, OpenGL, and TensorFlow. Of course, you can also develop your own tools and share them with others.

4 Read the papers

A fourth way to stay current on computer graphics trends and tools is to read the papers that are published by the researchers and academics in the field. These are the sources of cutting-edge knowledge, innovation, and inspiration that advance the state of the art of computer graphics. You can read the papers by browsing journals, databases, websites, or newsletters, and learn from their methods, results, and implications. Some examples of computer graphics papers are "A Survey of Physically Based Rendering", "Image Analogies", "DeepFaceLab", and "StyleGAN2". Of course, you can also write your own papers and submit them for publication.

5 Teach and learn

A fifth way to stay current on computer graphics trends and tools is to teach and learn from others. This is the process of sharing your knowledge, skills, and experience with others who are interested or involved in computer graphics. You can teach and learn by mentoring, coaching, lecturing, blogging, vlogging, or podcasting, and benefit from the feedback, questions, and perspectives of others. Some examples of computer graphics teachers and learners are Khan Academy, CGCookie, Blender Guru, and The Coding Train. Of course, you can also be both a teacher and a learner at the same time.

6 Review and reflect

A sixth way to stay current on computer graphics trends and tools is to review and reflect on your own progress and goals. This is the practice of evaluating your strengths, weaknesses, achievements, and challenges in computer graphics, and setting new objectives and plans for improvement. You can review and reflect by keeping a portfolio, a journal, a blog, or a resume, and track your growth, learning, and impact. Some examples of computer graphics portfolios are ArtStation, Sketchfab, Behance, and GitHub. Of course, you can also review and reflect with others and seek feedback and advice.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?