Member Profile: Craig Slagel
1. What do you do, and how long have you been doing it?
Currently I’m the founder of RunGo. We do digital maps and navigation for running and walking routes, as well as interactive tourism maps. I have been in the computer graphics industry for over 25 years. I have worked in game development, visual effects, and education. Recently, I became a member of the ACM SIGGRAPH Early Career Development Committee, where I will be working to connect students and educators with industry professionals and companies.
2. What was your first job?
When I was younger I did some summer jobs including working at my Dad’s pharmaceutical company packing boxes. I also worked as an apprentice chef in a hotel in Switzerland; I had wanted to be a chef but this experience changed my mind. I then became interested in computer graphics and visual effects. So, I had a part time IT and training job, teaching people how to use computers. My first full time job was teaching computer animation in Raleigh, North Carolina.
3. Where did you complete your formal education?
I started with a Degree in Computer Science from Anglia Ruskin University in the UK. After which I enrolled in a computer animation course in Raleigh, NC at School of Communication Arts. This is where I eventually was hired to teach as my first job in the industry. After working for over 10 years in various fields, I went back for a Masters in Digital Media at Center of Digital Media in Vancouver, BC.
4. How did you first get involved with ACM SIGGRAPH?
I heard about SIGGRAPH when I was studying in the UK; my first SIGGRAPH was Los Angeles in 1995. 2 years later, I helped start or maybe restart the North Carolina Research Triangle Chapter.
5. What is your favorite memory of a SIGGRAPH conference?
There are so many; it is hard to pick a favorite.
It is all the friends I have made at the conferences and all the amazing people I’ve met over the years; that is what is memorable.
6. Describe a project that you would like to share with the ACM SIGGRAPH community.
For the Early Career Development Committee, I am working on a new community challenge, hopefully, for SIGGRAPH 2024 in Denver. This will likely be based around the “Resume and Reel Review”. It is still very early but I am excited about it.
7. If you could have dinner with one living or non-living person, who would it be and why?
Steve Jobs; he was the keynote speaker at my first SIGGRAPH in 1995. It would be interesting to hear his view on the industry and what he believes will be next.
8. What is something most people don’t know about you?
I mentioned above that I initially wanted to be a chef. Also, before getting involved with computers graphics, I thought it would be fun to work in practical special effects. I did some research on pyrotechnics and special effects and was even was able to purchase some flash powder and smoke pellets to do some tests with the family 8mm movie camera. After almost destroying the camera, I saw movies like The Abyss and Terminator 2, which changed my focus to computer graphics.
9. From which single individual have you learned the most in your life? What did they teach you?
I was lucky to work with Glenn Entis while at Electronic Arts. Glenn ran a series of workshops where I learned many practical skills. However, the idea that resonated with me the most was his concept that there were people who talk about what should be done, and others that drive change. Throughout my career, I have tried to “drive change”, to not say we should do this or that, but actually work to make things happen. It is actually a lot more fun when you want to get something done, to work with your team to do the coding or creative work. I do have to mention Dynasty as another individual from whom I have learned a great deal. She is my Labrador and was an early retired Guide Dog. She is the reason that my company created
RunGo, and has been hosting an annual fundraiser for BC Guide dogs.
10. Is there someone in particular who has influenced your decision to work with ACM SIGGRAPH?
I met Jenny Dana through SIGGRAPH many years ago and we became good friends. She has always encouraged me to work with SIGGRAPH and finally the right opportunity came up where I felt I could use my skills to support the computer graphics community.
11. What can you point to in your career as your proudest moment?
I was lucky to work for Rhythm & Hues with amazing people. While at R&H, I was able to work with amazing people to help create an online learning system that allowed peer to peer learning for computer graphics skills. It was video and web based. It worked well as all the videos were very short and indexed, so you did not have to watch a long video to learn something. It was setup in a way so that anyone could just pick the clip, similar to flipping to a page in a text book.