What's your strategy for staying current with PCB design trends and tech?

1 Follow industry news and blogs

One of the easiest ways to stay informed about PCB design trends and tech is to follow industry news and blogs. These sources can provide you with insights, opinions, and updates on various topics related to PCB design, such as new tools, standards, techniques, challenges, and solutions. You can also learn from the experiences and tips of other PCB designers and experts. Some examples of industry news and blogs that you can follow are PCB Design Magazine, Altium Blog, All About Circuits, and Hackaday.

2 Join online communities and forums

Another way to stay current with PCB design trends and tech is to join online communities and forums where you can interact with other PCB designers and enthusiasts. These platforms can offer you opportunities to ask questions, share ideas, get feedback, and learn from others. You can also participate in discussions, challenges, and projects that can help you improve your skills and knowledge. Some examples of online communities and forums that you can join are Reddit's r/PrintedCircuitBoard, EEVblog Forum, Element14 Community, and PCBWeb.

3 Take online courses and webinars

If you want to learn new skills or refresh your existing ones, you can take advantage of online courses and webinars that cover various aspects of PCB design. These resources can help you learn at your own pace and convenience, and provide you with practical and theoretical knowledge. You can also get certificates or credits that can boost your resume or portfolio. Some examples of online courses and webinars that you can take are Coursera's Introduction to PCB Design, Udemy's Learn PCB Design By Designing an Arduino Nano in Altium, and Altium Academy's Live Webinars.

4 Experiment with new tools and software

Another way to stay current with PCB design trends and tech is to experiment with new tools and software that can enhance your PCB design process and output. These tools and software can offer you new features, functions, and capabilities that can help you design more efficiently, creatively, and accurately. You can also compare and contrast different tools and software and find the ones that suit your needs and preferences. Some examples of new tools and software that you can experiment with are KiCad, Autodesk Eagle, CircuitMaker, and EasyEDA.

5 Attend events and workshops

One more way to stay current with PCB design trends and tech is to attend events and workshops that can provide you with networking, learning, and exposure opportunities. These events and workshops can connect you with other PCB designers and professionals, as well as industry leaders, influencers, and innovators. You can also learn from presentations, demonstrations, and hands-on sessions that can showcase the latest developments and innovations in PCB design. Some examples of events and workshops that you can attend are PCB West, DesignCon, IPC APEX Expo, and AltiumLive.

6 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?