December 13, 2003

THOUGH I have not had a chance to work in Pakistan or with Pakistani professionals, my impression is really positive. Every time I go to Pakistan I try to visit some institutes and production houses. I always find students and professionals curious and motivated. Positive thinking and self-motivation are the two things which, I feel, are the key players for success.

Let’s talk about the field of computer graphics. It is quite a challenging task to keep updated in this field. Technology has been changing very rapidly, and the learning of high-tech tools is getting better and better every day.

I remember when we had a year’s worth of research and developments to make fire and smoke when we were working for the Final Fantasy team. Now, with simple tools and commands in number of commercial software you can achieve the desired look or effect easily and quickly.

For sure, learning computer is getting better every day and tools are becoming user-friendlier. But my concern is “how” and “when” do we use them in a right manner or fashion. There are three ways to tackle this ever-existing challenge.

A. Expose yourself to arts, design and perceptual principles while keeping yourself familiar to the cutting edge/high-tech tools.

B. Keep developing sensitive eyes with highly observant perception.

C. Know your strengths and weaknesses.

At present, visuals are in high demand and their importance is being felt here in Pakistan as well. I have always been curious about what’s happening here and recently I have noticed that visuals and graphics have finally arrived. I know there is so much potential in our country; it only needs to be tapped. Of course, problems are there; though I would rather call this kind of a problem a challenge. Better still, this constitutes an opporunity (“problems are opportunities in work clothes”).

To create awareness, and set up an interaction within the industry is what we really need. Artistic or creative interaction with the international market has to be there as things are becoming transparent day by day and the technology is heading towards newer grounds. I discern a sense of frustration among the new breeds. I feel like they believe they can achieve much just by learning specific software or tools, though I also believe that it is important to learn these software. Such shortcut approaches are dangerous.

However, I don’t blame the students, there is a basic problem with the education and training system itself. We have enormous human resource, technical and artistic; it is just a matter of using them accurately. I wish we taught them that these software and equipments are necessary tools, like tools just beside the drafting table and it is all up to a problem-solver to use them in order to solve a problem. One can know how to use Microsoft Word but one cannot be a Shakespeare.

We can certainly do well in international market. We just need to be focused, realistic and problem solver sometime even problem creator. If we talk about the shortcomings of the Pakistani professionals on the international scenario, I think we are counter-productive.

Most of us think from the heart but emotions kill rationality. Irrational people, regardless of how expert they are in their profession, will never succeed on the international front. We have to leave our emotions aside once we enter the global stage. It is tough because this computer graphics profession requires lots of emotions too. So there is a thin line and we have to acknowledge that.

One positive trend is that every industry — not just animation or special effects industry — is becoming distributed. Human resource is available all over the world. The production houses will not remain under a single roof in the future. Artist and programmer all over the world may join hands to collectively produce blockbuster films.

Pakistan should have its piece of cake, and it is not too hard or complicated. I am saying it is simple because we can see the modules applied by in our immediate neighborhood and, by the looks of it, it is successful. Therefore, we have to make our students ready for this century. We will have to collaborate proactively within the industry and in academia. Amazing growth can be expected on individual level and on institutional level. We are justified to see a growth and progress collectively in both the areas but we do not see trust and teamwork in any of them. We cannot do something noticeable if we aim to practice individualism and practically not work together. Connectivity and networking is the key to success in this century. One can see only a little progress in this area and would like to see more. One really does have lots of hope on Pakistan’s new, upcoming young talents. Our students are hard working and take initiative. They just need to be guided in the right direction. We also need to have leadership that can stand in the future and see the past to see what our mistakes were and what we should have done to put them right.

Let’s be optimistic, as I am, about the future of the graphics industry in Pakistan.

I always tell my students to challenge their limitation, broaden their horizons of imagination and please do not incline to follow the professional lines determined by society, friends, trends or, for that matter, anybody else.

I ask them to spend some time to get some awareness about themselves and others. I highly recommend research in the field that they select for their future — any field. The research that they do should cover Pakistani industries and those abroad.

I say to my students, “Whatever you do, do it with a passion and dedication. Be flexible, patience, tolerant and continuous learner in any filed that you be working. Pursue your dream and make them a reality. You shouldn’t be afraid of a challenge as ‘a winner never quits and a quitter never wins’.”

The writer is Assistant Professor of Digital Design at the School of Architecture and Design, American University of Sharjah, UAE

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