Image credit: Photo of Diana Arellano by John Fujii
ACM SIGGRAPH has announced Diana Arellano as the SIGGRAPH 2028 Conference Chair. From her experience as a Student Volunteer to leading programs for the conference and ACM SIGGRAPH, Arellano is a familiar face to the computer graphics community. Currently serving as the SIGGRAPH 2026 EC Liaison, Arellano is a strong proponent of computer graphics advancement and knowledge-sharing both inside and outside of the annual conference.
Read on to catch up with Arellano, including stories from her involvement with SIGGRAPH, visions for 2028, and how a serendipitous moment can turn into a core conference memory.
SIGGRAPH: Congratulations on your appointment as SIGGRAPH 2028 Conference Chair! You’ve been a SIGGRAPH volunteer since 2007. From Student Volunteer to Student Volunteer Program Chair to serving ACM SIGGRAPH, you have shared so much of your time and expertise with the conference and organization. What draws you back, year over year?
Diana Arellano (DA): Serendipity, those “happy accidents” or discoveries that you would never plan or imagine that can happen during the conference week. The random interactions, surprising moments, and unexpected conversations — all framed in one of the most vibrant and state-of-the-art technological and artistic environments — are some of the things that make me come back year after year.
SIGGRAPH: Do you have a favorite moment from your experiences attending SIGGRAPH over the years?
DA: I can gladly spend hours talking about my favorite moments! One of them was on 4 August 2022, on the plane to Vancouver, about to take off, and I was thinking: “This is it. After 18 months of preparation, I am on my way to lead 280 Student Volunteers as their SIGGRAPH 2022 Student Volunteer Program Chair. This is the first time in person after the COVID-19 pandemic, we haven’t met each other in person, the Team Leaders are first-timers, and 99% of the Student Volunteers haven’t been in the venue before.” The butterflies in my stomach and the vertigo were real, but the trust that we could make magic because we were a rock-solid team was something unforgettable.
SIGGRAPH: While SIGGRAPH 2028 is still a couple of years away, can you give our community a glimpse into potential visions or areas of focus you may have for the conference?
DA: From the technological perspective, it is challenging to visualize what 2028 might bring and where we will be by then. For me, that is a reason to go back to the basics, to the core of our humanity.
I would love to provide the continuity that SIGGRAPH 2024 Conference Chair Andres Burbano mentioned in one of the panels in SIGGRAPH for Peace. A continuity to explore new and old worlds, a bridge between the “what exists” and “what could be possible,” a continuity to bring voices that need to be heard because they will make us better human beings. I would also build on top of what SIGGRAPH 2025 Conference Chair Ginger Alford did, which was to build a bridge between technology, nature, and sustainability.
With the rapid establishment of AI as a tool and a way of living, I am sure we will have plenty of opportunities to speed up and facilitate processes, but more than ever, we need to turn our focus to the attendees, their needs for connecting and learning, and making the space for human innovation.
SIGGRAPH: You are currently serving on the SIGGRAPH 2026 Committee in support of the ACM SIGGRAPH 365 program. How does this program advance the priorities of ACM SIGGRAPH at the conference?
DA: The ACM SIGGRAPH 365 program is the rebranding of the previous ACM SIGGRAPH Theater, also called ACM SIGGRAPH Village Theater. It is the counterpart of the ACM SIGGRAPH Village, the space dedicated to the ACM SIGGRAPH organization and its Standing Committees.
ACM SIGGRAPH 365 brings together all the sessions from the ACM SIGGRAPH Standing Committees — the groups who are working behind the scenes all year long. It also serves to present curated content that is relevant for the community year-round or for newer attendees like “SIGGRAPH for Beginners.”
This is extremely relevant because it gives visibility to ACM SIGGRAPH and its volunteers and helps keep the community active and together before and after the conference takes place.
SIGGRAPH: Let’s shift the spotlight to your career. You are currently a senior lecturer in technical directing at the Animationsinstitut at Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg. What are you working on with your students? What is your favorite part about your role?
DA: As senior lecturer technical directing, my main responsibility is to be the main contact person for the technical directing (TD) students, help organize their curriculum to bring the best workshops and seminars tailored to their needs and interests, and support them in their progress during their studies.
Every other week I meet with them in one-on-one sessions, where we go over their tasks, evaluate their workload, and discuss potential solutions to issues they are facing. From time to time, I also teach a seminar on agile methodologies for game development.
The studies at Animationsinstitut are mainly project-based, so I get to see how projects start from the idea and how they develop into a final animation, VFX film, or game. My favorite part is the possibility to actively enable and empower young talents who might end up in international companies like Disney, ILM, Sony, or even create their own companies in Germany or other parts of Europe. This is a fascinating exchange for me because I can enable them and empower them, all while learning from them, and can actively apply what I learn from them: How they solve problems, the technologies and tools they use in their projects, and, of course, being one of the first in watching their final films.
SIGGRAPH: You’re a SIGGRAPH pro. For conference attendees both new and seasoned, how would you recommend an attendee spends one day at SIGGRAPH?
DA: A healthy balance between preparation and spontaneity is the key! 😀
Check in advance the wonderful (and very packed) program that SIGGRAPH offers for the day, and select the sessions or programs you want to attend. Even if you bookmark some in parallel, you might end up attending another one that was not even on your list.
Make notes of what you see and learn in the way that is most convenient for you. If you don’t manage to do this during the day, I totally recommend doing it at night, or right after the conference (maybe on your plane back home?). You won’t believe the amount of takeaways and inspiration you will collect during SIGGRAPH.
And finally, leave space for that serendipity we talked about. You will run into so many old friends and colleagues, you will get introduced to new people, and, who knows, maybe you end up sitting in a Technical Papers session or experiencing a new emerging technology next to your computer graphics “idol.” So, be open to what the day may bring.
SIGGRAPH: What are you most looking forward to about leading SIGGRAPH 2028 in Vancouver?
DA: I am looking forward to everything I will learn about running the conference and how the machinery behind it works. I am also looking forward to bringing together amazing volunteers who will be part of the SIGGRAPH 2028 Conference Committee and to work with our longtime and trusted contractors, without whom this conference would not be possible.
Above all, I do hope that 2028 will be a good year, where everyone who attends SIGGRAPH leaves with a sense of hope, inspiration, and the motivation to keep doing their best in the world.
Fun Fast Facts
SIGGRAPH: What’s one resource you cannot live without in your professional life?
DA: Lately, it is my Google Keep app. I am an incorrigible to-do list maker, and although I have multiple small notebooks with notes, Google Keep is perfect to write tasks and reminders on the go.
SIGGRAPH: What would you title a memoir about your career thus far?
DA: “A Piece of Latin America in the World”
SIGGRAPH: Do you have a favorite podcast, book, television show, or other resource that you would recommend to our blog audience, industry-related or otherwise?
DA: I am an avid fan of Brené Brown, Adam Grant, and Simon Sinek. I found their books and podcasts to be lifesavers in the trickiest moments of my career as a team lead or agile master. Their advice on how to remain human while working with humans is gold.
For a long time, I used to listen to Tim Ferris’ podcast, where you can learn about topics from growing mushrooms to cybersecurity.
Lex Friedman’s podcast, and specifically his interview with Tim Sweeney (founder and CEO of Epic Games), was a treat for the brain.
And finally, if you like crime-detective stories (like I do), I totally recommend Louise Penny’s books. Her main character, Armand Gamache, actually is an inspiration and role model for how to be a great human being. As for TV shows, who would not love “Only Murders in the Building” or “Will Trent”.
Tune in for More
Hear more from Diana on the SIGGRAPH Spotlight podcast! Tune in to her two-part series featuring Latinas in computer graphics:
- SIGGRAPH Spotlight: Episode 60 — Latinas in CG, Part 1
- SIGGRAPH Spotlight: Episode 61 — Latinas in CG, Part 2
Before Arellano leads SIGGRAPH 2028 in Vancouver, 30 July–3 August 2028, Kristy Pron will lead the 2027 conference in Anaheim, California, 8–12 August 2027. And this year, join SIGGRAPH 2026 Conference Chair Chris Redmann and committee as SIGGRAPH returns to Los Angeles, 19–23 July. Many programs are accepting submissions — explore the SIGGRAPH 2026 website to share your work and prepare for the connections and collaborations ahead at the conference.
