Between the Lines

The Digital Vaults of the Smithsonian Museum Have Opened

This week, 2.8 million of the Smithsonian Museum’s digital collections were released for public use from https://www.si.edu/openaccess. You can now download, transform, and share the wonders of the Smithsonian. When I first met with the Smithsonian at the beginning of the digitizing project I had no idea we would get to this exciting point that the collection will be open and free. This is an amazing resource for learning around the world. 21st-Century Diffusion with Smithsonian Open Access “For the... Read more →

Geometry Systems for AEC Generative Design

If you are interested in new and innovative techniques to define geometry or spaces using generative design, this article is for you. The article by Lorenzo Villaggi Senior Research Scientist, The Living, an Autodesk Studio is filled with lots of information and a link to further Autodesk University class material. ”This article will show how to approach design problems through the generative design framework (problem formulation) with a focus on how to incorporate design intents in the form of geometric... Read more →

Ski on a Powerplant

Yesterday I met up with the AEC Hackathon team and a local architect and skier for a special tour of Copenhill. Copenhill is a Powerplant where they built a public year around ski hill on top of the powerplant. Copenhagen doesn't normally get snow or even have nearby mountains, so this innovative project gives locals the ability to ski every day of the year. They ski on a silicone mesh placed over the natural grass on the roof. The powerplant... Read more →

Making Sustainable Design More Cost Effective

“In late 2020, the Beijing skyline will welcome an eye-catching new addition: the Beijing CBD Z6 Tower. With a 5-star hotel and office space for 10,000 people, the CBD Z6 Tower features a design innovative for its visual impact and its sustainability. The CBD Z6 Tower takes its shape from a flower bud just beginning to blossom. A double-skin façade system of panels serves as the bud’s “petals” and provides a gap in the cladding that supports natural ventilation, keeping... Read more →

Join Us Next Week to Innovate and Break AEC Silos

There is a great AEC Hackathon event being held next week in beautiful Copenhagen Denmark. The goal is to break down the silos in AEC design, technology, and the workflows to result in better cities. I will be joined by two of the expertly skilled and amazing Autodesk consultants from our Autodesk Global Consulting Delivery organization. It’s going to be a lot of work and fun. You should consider attending if you will be in Copenhagen end of next week,... Read more →

Mass Timber Summit and Hackathon in Portland Oregon

Are you passionate about technology, AEC design, sustainable wood, and mass timber design and construction? If you answered yes to any of these, you should consider attending the Mass Timber Summit Hackathon being held in beautiful Portland Oregon March 20-22, 2020. Join leading architects, engineers, researchers, builders, fabricators, real estate professionals and technologists for a weekend of innovation focused on mass timber, digitalization of construction, automation, robotics and software. Mass Timber Workshops and Hackathon Link to Event Page www.masstimberhackathon.com Presenters... Read more →

Generative Design – 2019 in Review

Its a new year, and another exciting year of the impact of generative design with our customers using Fusion 360. Here is a great article by Mike Smell reviewing the past year of 2019 and providing some context for the future. Generative Design: A Year in Review and A Fresh Start Read more →

Electronics Design Now Included in Fusion 360

This is huge news for those in the design and manufacturing world as you can now do your industrial and mechanical design but with this months update you get professional electronics design. This makes Fusion 360 an end to end design tool for designing and manufacturing products. Read more →

How Architects are Using VR and AR in Design Processes

Guest post from Jessica Outlaw who runs the Outlaw Center for Immersive Behavioral Science at Concordia University in Portland Oregon. Virtual and Augmented Reality (VR/AR) is increasingly being incorporated into the design process for architects. VR/AR devices allows architects and their clients to experience their buildings, and make any necessary adjustments, before construction begins. I interviewed eight experts who are working in the intersection of architecture and VR to learn how VR is changing the way architects are doing their... Read more →

The Future of Making

It's time to rethink how we design and make things. We can combine human imagination and automation technologies to make more of what humanity needs with less negative impact. At Autodesk, we believe it's time to embrace the opportunity to design and make better. https://youtu.be/8evnv8B_CWA I hope you will be joining us in person at Autodesk University next week to hear more, or watch the free open live stream of several of the presentations including the general session with Autodesk... Read more →

Innovation Stations Open at OMSI

On Friday evening I attended the grand opening at the OMSI (Oregon Museum of Science and Industry) for the new Center for Innovation - Innovation Station exhibit in the turbine hall. OMSI's Center for Innovation is using our community's creativity and design thinking to solve global problems. And its fun! Tinkercad was also released for a new group of kids and adult visitors of OMSI on Friday as part of the new Center for Innovation exhibit. Children and adults alike... Read more →

Digital Construction Superintendent

Just having some thoughts as a technologist and designer. Wouldn't it be awesome and save costs due to errors if we had a Digital Superintendent in a design product, like spell check but construct check? Imagine designing a tall cantilevered structure and then your screen goes dim and a talking hammer comes onscreen and says: “Hey there pal, at that height I need a helicopter for each of my workers to install that structure, or you need to design another... Read more →

AEC Excellence Awards 2019

Every year we recognize some customers for their AEC designs. Every year I am amazed, inspired, and in awe of their projects and the innovative ways they used Autodesk software. These nine winners and the Innovator of the Year will present at Autodesk University 2019 in only a couple of weeks. Read about the winning customers and their projects. ”When it comes to the AEC industry, projects come in all shapes and sizes. So does the innovative use of technology—whether... Read more →

Introducing Alias Create VR

Immersive computing is revolutionizing the world around us. What started as a spark of imagination decades ago has ignited an inferno of technology-driven creative opportunity today. Nowhere is this more apparent than the automotive industry, where augmented reality and virtual reality technology (AR/VR) continues to deepen and expand its impact on the creative design process.So it is my absolute pleasure to announce the availability of Alias Create VR – a VR based conceptual design toolset as part of the Alias... Read more →

Mass Timber in the Neighborhood

I love the new Mass Timber buildings that are growing in popularity, especially up here in the Pacific Northwest. We have had a mass timber building going up just a block from our Portland office. The Sideyard held a grand opening last evening and soon Ferment Brewing and other tenants will hopefully be opening, especially Ferment Brewing – yes yes yes. The Sideyard (B76 West) building went up really fast compared to other local construction we have been watching from... Read more →

Optimized Design and Fabrication Workflows with Dynamo

Are you looking for in-depth information on using computational design with Dynamo (Open source graphical programming for design) for structural design? Well here is your opportunity with class content from an Autodesk University class and posted recently! “Learn how to optimize your design workflows with Dynamo and how to perform design automation for repetitive structural tasks.” Structural Dynam(o)ite: Optimized Design and Fabrication Workflows with Dynamo https://www.autodesk.com/autodesk-university/article/Structural-Dynamoite-Optimized-Design-and-Fabrication-Workflows-Dynamo-2019 “In the world of structural engineering, we are challenged to consider many design options,... Read more →

Attention Startups - Apply to PIE Shop Portland

Applications for the next classes of PIE and PIE Shop are now open. They will close on August 18. Please share far and wide with promising founders and startups https://piepdx.com/apply We’re super interested in the startup you’re building and we’d love to hear more about it Applications are currently open for two flavors of PIE: PIE supports companies that are building digital products. We have a deep history in Software as a Service (SaaS) and B2B companies, having helped startups... Read more →

Concept Classic Volkswagen Van Re-Imagined

You can end up with some really nice re-designs taking new design concepts and technology to prototype a concept of a classic Volkswagen van. Autodesk Collaborates With Volkswagen Group on Generative Design in Electric Showcase Vehicle http://bit.ly/2YFTbqp Read more →

New High School Interns in Autodesk Portland Office

We are honored to have 3 college student interns and 9 high school interns from FIRST Robotics FRC Teams this year working on software in our Autodesk Portland office. They are once again working on the Autodesk Synthesis software that is free and open for FIRST FRC Robotics teams to use to simulate their code and import their robot design before competition. It is an amazing project and fun to play based in Unity. From left to right: Kira is... Read more →

3D Printed Titanium Solid bike in Portland

The SOLID bike is now proudly on display in the city that inspired it, and in the office of the software used in the design, our Autodesk Portland office. SOLID bike: The first connected, 3D printed titanium bike by Ti Cycles Design & engineering software: Autodesk Fusion 360 and Autodesk Alias For most of us, buying a bicycle means picking out a stock model that best fits our size and style. But, that comes with trade-offs, since mass-manufactured bikes can’t... Read more →

Meet Project Discover for Dynamo

My colleague Kean Walmsley announced on his blog Through the Interface on the new Project Discover for Dynamo out of Autodesk Research and is ready to be tested. It is a tool that we used to perform generative design in the AEC design for our Autodesk Toronto office including predicting the natural light rays into offices to assist in office location based on employee preferences (video Generative Design for Architecture: Autodesk MaRS Office). Read Kean’s overview in his blog post... Read more →

Throwback Thursday 1975 Basic Drafting Rule 2 Don't Repeat Identical Details

This is from an old Ralph M. Parsons engineering and drafting manual from 1975. It is about drafting but many of the principles still apply to drawings from 3D models today. I will post more in the future. Enjoy! Read more →

Proud by Design in Portland

What an amazing weekend of Portland Pride, with Autodesk as a sponsor again. We have a booth all weekend and in the parade Sunday. We had or Autodesk soapbox derby car for pride that was designed and built by employees and then will race at Portland Adult Soapbox Derby August 17th. Everyone loved climbing in the derby car for photos and also making bracelets and notebooks at our booth. Read more →

Got My Bags Packed for My Mars Condo!

A great story of smart young minds tackling a challenge put forth by NASA helped AI SpaceFactory Win NASA’s 3D-Printed Habitat Challenge for additive constructed habitats. NASA awarded AI SpaceFactory $500,000 for the successful construction of a 15 foot Mars habitat with three windows named MARSHA. Read more →

Civil Engineers Can Save the World

Here is a great article about thinking about things differently and how engineers can help create a better world and future. 3 Ways Heroic Civil Engineers Can Save the World Through Resilience Planning https://autode.sk/2EFfBAg Read more →