Building an Art Career with TouchDesigner Part 2: Networking for Artists

Being great at TouchDesigner is important, but knowing the right people can be just as crucial for building a successful art career. Many folks spend all their time getting better at their craft, but forget about the power of networking for artists.

Whether you’re making light shows, interactive art, or digital installations, having a strong social network can help you find new projects, meet other artists, and get your work seen by more people.

In this guide, we’ll give you networking tips and look at how artists can build real connections in the creative world, both online and in real life (in person), that go beyond just collecting followers on social media.

Finding and Connecting with People Who Inspire You

Every artist needs inspiration, and one of the best ways to find it is through other creative people (both within and outside your industry). Thanks to social media and online communities, it’s easier than ever to discover artists whose work excites you.

Whether you’re browsing Instagram for innovative TouchDesigner projects, joining Discord servers focused on digital art or creative technology tools, attending local meetups or an official networking event, there are countless ways to find your artistic tribe and creative network.

The key is to reach out genuinely – don’t just ask for favours or opportunities or think of it as business networking. Instead, start casual conversations about their work, share your own experiences, and look for ways to learn from each other. The best way to be ignored by someone you’re reaching out to is to not introduce yourself and then immediately ask that person for something. Is that how you’d make a new friend? Think of networking as making friends.

Remember that even the most accomplished artists were beginners once, and many are happy to share their knowledge with others who show genuine interest and enthusiasm. They also love to hear thoughts and appreciation of their work.

Share your work! If you share your work consistently and do your best to always improve your work and be thoughtful about what you’re artistically exploring, people will take notice. The social algorithms will also notice and start to push your posts into other people’s feeds. There’s no magic or special formula to it other than being consistent and doing your best in that moment.

Making the Most of Events, Exhibitions and Immersive Experiences

For artists stepping into the immersive art world, attending the right networking events can make all the difference in your career growth.

Major festivals like Ars Electronica in Austria, MUTEK in Montreal, and SXSW in Austin have become essential gathering points for the digital art community, and you’ll find many other artists networking at places like these. But don’t overlook smaller, regional events as well – they often provide more intimate networking opportunities and better chances to showcase your work as an emerging artist.

Local art and technology meetups, digital art galleries, and even VJ nights at clubs can be valuable places to connect with fellow creators and potential collaborators. Using a platform like Eventbrite, Facebook, and Meetup.com can help you find smaller and local meetup groups!

When attending these events, don’t just be a passive observer – volunteer to help, attend workshops, and participate in panel discussions when possible. These active roles put you in direct contact with organizers and established artists, creating natural opportunities for you to connect and develop relationships.

And don’t forget to apply to festivals yourself! Participating in new media festivals is a great way to share your work and open up future opportunities.

We have a lot of content to help you out:

• Discover the best new festivals to apply to here.
• Read up on what you need to know before applying here.
• Check out the top immersive experiences around the world here.

Building Your Portfolio (Do you need a website?)

Creating a strong online portfolio is simpler than you might think, and is great to be able to show others when networking or meeting potential collaborators. Whether you choose a traditional website through platforms like Squarespace or Wix, or opt for Instagram as your main showcase, the basics remain the same: a professional headshot, a clear bio that tells your story, and well-documented examples of your work with visuals supporting them.

In this TouchDesigner Summit talk, I break down step-by-step how to write your bio:

Don’t get caught up trying to create the most elaborate website – clean and simple often works best. If you’re using Instagram as your portfolio (as many TouchDesigner artists do), remember that consistency is key.

Regular posting tells potential collaborators that you’re actively creating and engaged in your craft. Long gaps between posts can raise red flags about your commitment and current activity level. Is this a side job? Are you already too busy? Where did this person go? These kind of questions can pop into the minds of those hiring.

Most importantly, focus on creating a large body of work rather than obsessing over a few perfect pieces. This approach not only helps you develop your skills faster but also demonstrates your versatility to potential clients or collaborators.

Remember: it’s better to have many great projects than a few perfect ones – each piece represents a learning experience and shows your growth as an artist.

Using Social Media to Highlight your Projects

Social media can be a powerful tool for sharing your immersive art and helping others understand what you do, but the key is to show both the final result and the journey. Short behind-the-scenes videos of your TouchDesigner patches, quick clips of work in progress, or photos of your setup during installation can be just as engaging as the polished final piece.

When posting on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, or X, remember to capture those moments that make immersive art special – the audience’s reaction, the scale of your installation, the fun you’re having iterating over development in real time, or the interactive elements in action.

Don’t forget to use relevant hashtags like #TouchDesigner, #GenerativeArt, or #ImmersiveArt to help others find your work, and tag the venues or events where your pieces are shown.

Keep your posts authentic and consistent – it’s better to share smaller updates regularly than to post only when you have a major project to announce.

Freelance immersive artists Crystal Jow and Brandon Epperson talk about navigating social media as an artist here:

You can also share your work with us! Tag our account @interactiveimmersivehq on Instagram and we might feature you on our page or in a future blog article.

Developing Professional Habits: The Art of Consistent Practice

While creative inspiration can strike at any moment, building a successful art career requires more than just sporadic bursts of creativity.

Think of your art practice as a craft that needs consistent attention and deliberate development. While those late-night bursts of inspiration are valuable, they should only account for about 5% of your creative time.

The other 95% needs structure and intention. Set up a regular schedule that includes dedicated creation time, research hours for exploring new techniques and staying current with trends and industry conferences, and administrative blocks for essential tasks like answering emails, creating project pitches, and looking for art residencies.

When you approach your art practice with the same discipline as a full-time (or part-time if you’re trying to pay bills through other work) job, you’ll begin to see tangible results from your consistent effort. This professional mindset doesn’t diminish creativity – instead, it creates the foundation and space for your artistic vision to flourish.

The most successful TouchDesigner artists aren’t just talented; they’re disciplined professionals who understand that sustainable success comes from regular, dedicated practice.

Understanding Emerging Trends

The immersive art world is rapidly evolving, and one of the most important trends isn’t about mastering a single tool – it’s about understanding how different technologies work together.

While you don’t need to be an expert in every platform, having a basic understanding of various tools can significantly enhance your collaborative and networking potential. For instance, knowing how Unreal Engine approaches real-time rendering can help you communicate and network effectively with UE developers, even if you primarily work in TouchDesigner.

Similarly, spending just an hour learning Arduino basics can open up possibilities for collaborating on interactive installations and networking with hardware artists. For networking, it’s important to learn the language other artists speak.

Point clouds are a huge trend right now. Whether you’re working with generative particle systems or integrating real-time sensor data from devices like Kinect or Ouster, understanding fundamental concepts like GPU-based calculations and comfort working with data textures has become increasingly valuable.

These skills not only make you more versatile as a TouchDesigner artist but also position you as a stronger collaborator in the broader immersive art community.

Staying Up to Date

Keeping up with the latest developments in immersive art doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Start by subscribing to newsletters from trusted sources in the field – including our newsletter, which regularly features industry updates, job listings, tutorials, and technical tips.

Make it a habit to follow blogs that focus on digital art and interactive installations; they often share valuable insights about new techniques, emerging trends, and how the art world works.

YouTube can be an incredible learning resource too – following channels of different creators not only helps you learn new TouchDesigner techniques but also exposes you to different approaches and creative perspectives.

Whether it’s a quick tutorial during your morning coffee or a deep-dive blog post on the weekend, regular engagement with these resources helps you stay connected to the pulse of the industry and can inspire your own creative practice.

Advice for Starting Out

When starting out in the immersive industry, it’s best to focus on becoming proficient in 1-2 key tools or platforms, rather than trying to learn everything (if you’re a TouchDesigner beginner, start here).

Develop strong communication skills to collaborate and network effectively with experts in other domains. Avoid over-specializing or spreading yourself too thin. By gaining even an intermediate level of mastery in a few core skills and learning how to communicate with others, you can build a successful career in the dynamic and evolving immersive field.

For more tips on starting out, check out our blog post here.

And watch this video from Romain Tardy, where he gives his advice for young professionals:

Applying for Art Residencies

Art residencies can be valuable for networking in the immersive industry, but may not be the best use of time and resources when just starting out. Early on in your creative career, it’s better to focus on becoming an intermediate or advanced TouchDesigner developer, and building up a strong portfolio of your own art works.

Once you’ve reached that point, residencies can provide opportunities to connect with other artists and industry professionals. However, residencies often require significant time and financial investment, so it’s important to carefully consider if the expected benefits outweigh the costs, especially for emerging artists. The key is finding the right balance between skill development and networking activities.

Investing in a Mentor

Finding a mentor can be one of the best ways to grow as an artist. Throughout history, this is how people have learned their craft, and now with the internet, it’s easier than ever to connect with experienced teachers and get personal support.

You can learn alongside other artists in group settings like The HQ PRO, where everyone shares their experiences and learns together.

Or, if you prefer more personal guidance to help advance your career, one-on-one mentorship programs like our Accelerator Coaching program gives you direct feedback on your work. Having a mentor isn’t just about learning technical skills – they can help you avoid common mistakes and share insider knowledge that you won’t find in regular tutorials. Think of it as a shortcut to becoming better at your craft, saving you from years of figuring things out on your own.

Wrap Up

Networking is essential if you’re a digital or visual artist looking to build a successful career, and there are so many different ways you can do it. Attending industry events (both online events and in-person) can connect you with potential collaborators, art dealers, art school representatives, and many others in the creative and digital art field.

With TouchDesigner’s increasing popularity, it’s an excellent choice of program to build an art career with. All the TouchDesigner developers out there are one big community who are willing to help each other out (in my experience).

Building authentic relationships with other artists can lead to invaluable creative opportunities. Remember, your network is your net worth, so make the most of every chance to get in front of the right people. With dedication and the right mindset, your artistic practice can thrive through the power of effective networking.