Member Profile: Nandhini Giri
1. What do you do, and how long have you been doing it?
I’m a researcher, educator, and creative practitioner in the field of human computer interaction design, computer graphics, and information systems. Currently I’m an assistant professor in the department of computer graphics technology and director of the Experience Realities Lab at Purdue university. In Experience Realities Lab, me and my students conduct research work to design experiential learning systems that explore the tangible and intangible elements of cultures, cultivation, and contemplation in human-centered entertainment computing practices. I also offer courses on prototyping futuristic use-cases in the metaverse and player-centered approaches to designing games. I started my professional career in 2005 and since then explored several industry and academic roles that involved developing immersive spaces for learning, collaborative performance and therapeutic applications, creative direction, feature film production management and software development.
2. What was your first job?
My first job was as an assistant systems engineer at Tata consultancy services Ltd. in India. I did some coding, user interface design, maintenance and quality assurance for web-based applications in the telecommunication domain.
3. Where did you complete your formal education?
My undergraduate degree was in computer science and engineering from Thiagarajar college, Madurai, India in 2005. I received a Master of Science degree in digital arts and sciences from University of Florida in 2008 and later a PhD in media arts and sciences with minors in human computer interaction design and cognitive science from Indiana University Bloomington in 2021.
4. How did you first get involved with ACM SIGGRAPH?
My first involvement with ACM SIGGRAPH was as a student volunteer in August 2008.
5. What is your favorite memory of a SIGGRAPH conference?
My favorite memory of a SIGGRAPH conference was attending a production session on the making of the rope bridge fight sequence from Kung Fu Panda. I marveled at the elements of storytelling, art, technology, and shot planning that was applied to bring this sequence alive. I was inspired to hear the personal stories and professional anecdotes from the professionals at DreamWorks Animation who contributed to this session. The SIGGRAPH audience cheered at the end of the session, and I realized that this is my tribe!
6. Describe a project that you would like to share with the ACM SIGGRAPH community.
One project that I would like to share with the ACM SIGGRAPH community is my short film ‘Laya’. It was an experiment merging my interests in computer graphics animation and Indian classical dancing. I worked with a team of game design students and faculty members in the production of this 8-minute short. More details can be found here: https://mediaschool.indiana.edu/news-events/news/item.html?n=team-of-students-faculty-members-creates-8-minute-animated-short
7. If you could have dinner with one living or non-living person, who would it be and why?
I wish I could have dinner with my spiritual guide Daaji and the lineage of spiritual gurus. Daaji recommends eating meals with a heartfelt connection with the guru. It would be a lot easier if we could instead have dinner together.
8. What is something most people don’t know about you?
I don’t think there is anything people don’t know about me. I do spend most of my time in solitude and that may raise some questions for the people I know.
9. From which single individual have you learned the most in your life? What did they teach you?
My four years in the doctoral program was a great opportunity to dedicate my time and efforts to explore my diverse interests, read extensively and conduct research. I was very fortunate to meet my mentor Prof. Erik Stolterman who introduced me to the design approach of research and inquiry. This helped me shift mindsets, integrate my interests and develop impactful research pathways in computer graphics and interactive media practices.
10. Is there someone in particular who has influenced your decision to work with ACM SIGGRAPH?
The ACM SIGGRAPH education committee and the unified submissions jury members have greatly influenced my decisions to work with ACM SIGGRAPH. I’d like to thank Glenn Goldman, Ginger Alford, Susan Reiser, Josef Spjut and Johannes DeYoung individually for making this experience so welcoming and personal.
11. What can you point to in your career as your proudest moment?
One of the proudest moments in my life was receiving a gold medal from the governor of state in India for academic excellence in my undergraduate degree. My father subtly wished that I become a doctor (of medicine), but I chose engineering. Later in my life, it was a culminating moment to receive a doctoral degree in the United States, in the presence of my whole family.