First-Time Attendee Guide to SIGGRAPH 2014

The SIGGRAPH Technical Papers Fast Forward is always a "must attend" event and a great preview for the week ahead.

We've all been there .... staring overwhelmed at all the great SIGGRAPH content and trying to figure out how in the world to tackle it all. In fact, the SIGGRAPH 2014 Conference Chair Dave Shreiner was once a first-time attendee many moons (a couple of decades ago). 

"When I arrived at my first show, SIGGRAPH 1989 in Boston, I was in total awe of what I saw there.  I didn’t have a plan for the show, so I just wandered around for three days soaking in everything I could," said Dave Shreiner, SIGGRAPH 2014 Conference Chair.  

He continued, "Computers for generating real-time graphics were just getting to the size of refrigerators, and 50 thousand triangles a second was the speed record, but the most enjoyable aspect of the show was sharing ideas and knowledge with everyone there. Regardless of where you’re in your career, stop and talk with your fellow attendees - you’ll be amazed at what you can learn! But be sure to come with a plan."

With his help and others, we put together this focus to help you tackle your first SIGGRAPH. And by all means ask anyone for help especially at the SIGGRAPH 2015 booth or at any of the many networking events.

Whether between sessions or at any of the official SIGGRAPH events, networking with peers is a big part of the SIGGRAPH experience that will impact your professional and personal life for years to come.

Here is a slice of content that may help make the most of your time in wonderful Vancouver:

Panels
Ready, Steady ... SIGGRAPH
SUNDAY, 10 AUGUST 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM | Vancouver Convention Centre, West Building, Rooms 118-120

Courses
Fundamentals Seminar
SUNDAY, 10 AUGUST 10:45 AM - 12:15 PM | Vancouver Convention Centre, West Building, Rooms 109-110

Courses
The Glass Class: Designing Wearable Interfaces
SUNDAY, 10 AUGUST 10:45 AM - 12:15 PM | Vancouver Convention Centre, East Building, Ballroom B-C

The Studio is a great opportunity to network and gain valuable professional skills.

Studio - Courses
Arduino Drawing Machines
SUNDAY, 10 AUGUST 12:30 PM - 5:15 PM | Vancouver Convention Centre, West Building, Exhibit Hall A

Courses
Introduction to WebGL Programming
SUNDAY, 10 AUGUST 2:00 PM - 5:15 PM | Vancouver Convention Centre, West Building, Rooms 109-110

Panels
The Future is Here: Augmented and Virtual Reality
SUNDAY, 10 AUGUST 3:45 PM - 5:15 PM | Vancouver Convention Centre, East Building, Ballroom B-C

Computer Animation Festival - Production Sessions
Building Blocks for "The LEGO Movie"
MONDAY, 11 AUGUST 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM | Vancouver Convention Centre, West Building, Ballroom A-B

It would be wise to budget at least a few hours for the Exhibition - offering training, networking, and great general knowledge of where the industry is headed.

Birds of a Feather
First Steps in Large-Scale Rendering
MONDAY, 11 AUGUST 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM | Vancouver Convention Centre, East Building, Room 9

Studio - Courses
Design Tips for Digital T-Shirt Printing
MONDAY, 11 AUGUST 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM | Vancouver Convention Centre, West Building, Exhibit Hall A

Computer Animation Festival - Production Sessions
The Making of Marvel's “Captain America: The Winter Soldier”
MONDAY, 11 AUGUST 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM | Vancouver Convention Centre, West Building, Ballroom A-B

Computer Animation Festival - Production Sessions
The Making of Marvel's "Guardians of the Galaxy"
MONDAY, 11 AUGUST 3:45 PM - 5:15 PM | Vancouver Convention Centre, West Building, Ballroom A-B

Roll out the red carpet and be sure to get your ticket for the Electronic Theater!

Computer Animation Festival - Electronic Theater
MONDAY, 11 AUGUST 6:30 PM - 8:45 PM | Vancouver Convention Centre, West Building, Ballroom A-B

Computer Animation Festival - Production Sessions
An Insight Into the Making of "Sin City: A Dame to Kill For"
TUESDAY, 12 AUGUST 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM | Vancouver Convention Centre, West Building, Ballroom A-B

Computer Animation Festival - Production Sessions
Creating Content to Drive Destiny’s Investment Game: One Solution to Rule Them All
TUESDAY, 12 AUGUST 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM | Vancouver Convention Centre, West Building, Ballroom C/D

Computer Animation Festival - Production Sessions
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
TUESDAY, 12 AUGUST 10:45 AM - 12:15 PM | Vancouver Convention Centre, West Building, Ballroom A-B

Computer Animation Festival - Production Sessions
DreamWorks Animation Presents: The Growth of “How To Train Your Dragon 2”
TUESDAY, 12 AUGUST 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM | Vancouver Convention Centre, West Building, Ballroom A-B

Computer Animation Festival - Production Sessions
Inside the Magical World of Disney’s “Maleficent”
TUESDAY, 12 AUGUST 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM | Vancouver Convention Centre, West Building, Ballroom C/D

Computer Animation Festival - Production Sessions
Creating the Amazon in “Rio 2”
TUESDAY, 12 AUGUST 3:45 PM - 5:15 PM | Vancouver Convention Centre, West Building, Ballroom C/D

Computer Animation Festival - Production Sessions
Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures Present the VFX of “Godzilla”
TUESDAY, 12 AUGUST 3:45 PM - 5:15 PM | Vancouver Convention Centre, West Building, Ballroom A-B

Attendees of Real-Time Live! get the opportunity to learn from the artists and engineers who produced the ground-breaking work.

Real-Time Live!
TUESDAY, 12 AUGUST 5:30 PM - 7:15 PM | Vancouver Convention Centre, West Building, Ballroom C/D

Birds of a Feather
SIGGIG: Gays in Graphics
TUESDAY, 12 AUGUST 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM | Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre Hotel, Port Hardy

Computer Animation Festival - Production Sessions
Industrial Light & Magic Presents: Capturing the “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles”
WEDNESDAY, 13 AUGUST 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM | Vancouver Convention Centre, West Building, Ballroom A-B

Courses
Mathematical Basics of Motion and Deformation in Computer Graphics
WEDNESDAY, 13 AUGUST 9:00 AM - 12:15 PM | Vancouver Convention Centre, West Building, Rooms 118-120

Computer Animation Festival - Production Sessions
Meet Your New Production R&D Department - ACM/SIGGRAPH
WEDNESDAY, 13 AUGUST 10:45 AM - 12:15 PM | Vancouver Convention Centre, West Building, Ballroom C/D

Computer Animation Festival - Production Sessions
Unmask the Secrets Behind “The Amazing Spider-Man 2”
WEDNESDAY, 13 AUGUST 10:45 AM - 12:15 PM | Vancouver Convention Centre, West Building, Ballroom A-B

Studio - Courses
alphaBot Workshop: Constructing Robots, Translating Language
WEDNESDAY, 13 AUGUST 2:00 PM - 5:15 PM | Vancouver Convention Centre, West Building, Exhibit Hall A

You just never know who you might meet at a SIGGRAPH Production Session.

Computer Animation Festival - Production Sessions
Industrial Light & Magic Presents: Deconstructing the Visual Effects of “Transformers: Age of Extinction”
WEDNESDAY, 13 AUGUST 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM | Vancouver Convention Centre, West Building, Ballroom A-B

Computer Animation Festival - Production Sessions
The Production and Visual Effects of “Killzone Shadow Fall”
WEDNESDAY, 13 AUGUST 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM | Vancouver Convention Centre, West Building, Ballroom C/D

Computer Animation Festival - Production Sessions
Making "Gravity" at Framestore
WEDNESDAY, 13 AUGUST 3:45 PM - 5:15 PM | Vancouver Convention Centre, West Building, Ballroom A-B

Computer Animation Festival - Production Sessions
Puppets, Printing And Compositing: A Unique Collaboration In LAIKA’s Animated Features
WEDNESDAY, 13 AUGUST 3:45 PM - 5:15 PM | Vancouver Convention Centre, West Building, Ballroom C/D

Appy Hour
WEDNESDAY, 13 AUGUST 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM | Vancouver Convention Centre, West Building, Exhibit Hall A

Dailies gives each presenter one minute to present an animation and describe the work. It is an incredibly valuable opportunity to learn a lot in a very short amount of time.

Dailies
WEDNESDAY, 13 AUGUST 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM | Vancouver Convention Centre, East Building, Ballroom B-C

Computer Animation Festival - Production Sessions
Making “The Dam Keeper”: How Two First-Time Directors Brought Paint to Life in Their Animated Short Film
THURSDAY, 14 AUGUST 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM | Vancouver Convention Centre, West Building, Ballroom C/D

Computer Animation Festival - Production Sessions
Feast – A Look at Walt Disney Animation Studios' Newest Short
THURSDAY, 14 AUGUST 10:45 AM - 12:15 PM | Vancouver Convention Centre, West Building, Ballroom C/D

Computer Animation Festival - Production Sessions
Twentieth Century Fox Presents the Visual Effects of “X-Men: Days of Future Past”
THURSDAY, 14 AUGUST 3:45 PM - 5:15 PM | Vancouver Convention Centre, West Building, Ballroom 

When preparing for your trip be sure to pack comfortable shoes and a light jacket. Also, as you leave the convention center, be sure to remove your badge and store it in a safe place. Walking around in any city with a badge on screams "I'm not from here" and makes you more of a target. 

Finally, if you anticipate that a particular session will be popular, get there as early as possible to make certain you are allowed inside. Per fire codes, each room only allows a certain number of occupants.  See you in Vancouver!