Nashua, N.H., Business Expands With ‘Digital Brix’
May 18–NASHUA — Nanu and Naveena Swamy have seen the future, and they say it lies in three-dimensional computer graphics.
They believe that so strongly, they have created Digital Brix Studios, which is a place for adults to learn 3-D graphics involved in 3-D modeling, Web content, computer games and marketing and communications designs.
Teaching adults seemed like a natural move for their original business, which is called Robotech. At Robotech kids can learn about technology such as robotics.
“It was a natural evolution,” said Naveena Swamy. “Adults bring their children here, and so many would say, ‘I wish we could do these kinds of things,’ so we decided we should offer something for them.”
The Swamys decided that computer graphics was an underserved field in the Nashua area, particularly for adults, so they bought powerful computers with even more powerful graphic cards and offered their first one-day seminar for adults in July.
“Over the four days, we had 20 people come,” Nanu Swamy said. “They were really excited about it, and some of them said they would be coming back.”
The one-day class is kept to about five students so the Swamys can help each person. This fall the Swamys will offer more one-day seminars so people can explore 3-D computer graphics as well as a week-long intensive course for those who want to learn as much as possible in a short time. Other class offerings will include 12-week courses that meet a couple of hours one day a week.
The Swamys see their new business as “a nexus for 3-D development in the arts,” Naveena Swamy said. There are no prerequisite courses necessary and they want to make everything as simple and easy to learn as possible, they said.
They already offer similar courses at Boston’s Museum of Science for children.
“One of the employees, who is attending college, told the students to pay close attention because she had not been able to do things they are learning yet, and she is going to school for this,” Naveena Swamy said with a laugh.
They are also providing all the 3-D classes for children and adults at the DeCordova Museum and Sculpture Park in Lincoln, Mass.
The Swamys decided that they would simplify the 3-D training, making it as simple as possible.
“This is a conceptual area. You can take what is in your mind and bring it to reality,” Naveena Swamy said. “We want to give people the tools so they can bring them to reality.”
Tom Thompson, a Nashua resident and engineer, has already signed up because he wants to be able to create certain products. He came to know the couple after signing up one of his children for a robotics class.
“They see this (3-D graphics) as a big industry with a lot of growth, and I think they’re right. Now is the time to take training in it,” Thompson said.
The Swamys say that the gaming and entertainment industries combined are a $42 billion market, and these are two areas where 3-D graphics are needed. Digital Brix Studios uses some of the same programs that were used to make “Shrek,” the computer animated movie about an ogre, and is certified by the software manufacturer as an approved training center.
There are companies, which trained people can work for, creating all types of 3-D graphics for movies and games, or someone can start their own company doing the same work, Nanu Swamy said. The software is also used by manufacturers and other companies to make 3-D models because it is an effective and relatively inexpensive way to see if a new product or idea is practical.
The couple sees their studio as the start of a center for 3-D training as well as providing a means of employment to those who get trained.
They also want to help people find jobs elsewhere once they get trained, said Naveena Swamy.
“What we’re hoping is that we will stimulate a new economy right here,” she said.
“We want to leverage local talent for global content creation,” said Nanu Swamy.
Digital Brix Studios is in the same building as RoboTech at 110 Daniel Webster Highway.
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