Between the Lines

Reimagining the Future of Making

Automation Helps People Live and Work Better “Humanity inevitably needs, desires, and demands more. At the same time, it must also confront the reality of less—fewer natural resources, less space, and fewer skilled construction and manufacturing workers than the world needs.” “Automation also helps companies stay ahead of their competitors, but more important, it encourages and supports the imagination that moves humanity forward. Better cities, better buildings, better things, better work: Reimagining the model for automation can balance the inevitability... Read more →

Thank You Seattle Startup Week

Last Thursday I spoke on a panel How Technology is changing the $10 trillion construction industry at Seattle Startup Week with: Greg Howes - Cofounder, CutMyTimber, AEC Hackathon, Seattle Proptech Amy Hutchins - Founder, Chief Product & Technology Officer, Unearth Technologies Salla Palos - Director of Emerging Technology & Innovation, Sellen Construction Greg Howes opened the panel discussion with a quote on a slide from Autodesk CEO Andrew Anagnost about AEC and Manufacturing are merging. He then asked the panel... Read more →

Fast Company Recognizes Autodesk with Four 2018 ‘Innovation by Design’ Honors

More than 398 companies, projects and products were submitted to Fast Company’s 2018 “Innovation by Design” awards honoring creative work at the intersection of design, business and innovation across many industries, including fashion, architecture, graphic design and data visualization, social good and user experience. Autodesk snagged finalist or honorable mention status in four categories: “Design Company of the Year” Honoree “User Experience” (Finalist) – AutoCAD web app “Web Design” Honoree – AutoCAD web app And my current Autodesk office location.... Read more →

THE FACTORY Powered by Fusion 360 Back at AU 2018

Do you remember the awesome speakers many made at Autodesk University 2017, and how popular this was? We're bringing the crowd favorite back to AU2018! This year a new project where attendees will have the chance to roll up their sleeves in a unique hands-on factory setting to design and manufacture their own air quality sensing lamp. THE FACTORY powered by Fusion 360 will be front-and-center in the Expo Hall and is open to a limited number of participants on... Read more →

Linking Engineering and Philanthropy (LEAP) 2018

The LEAP 2018 competition challenges FIRST FRC teams to develop new technologies to engage and assist resource-poor youth in farming and agriculture, while working alongside Mercy Corps. Autodesk has proudly partnered with Mercy Corps and Team 1540 to support FIRST Robotics Teams designing a solution to a global challenge. LEAP was started by students of Catlin Gabel here in Portland as FIRST FRC Team 1540 Flaming Chickens. It is such a good way to connect engineering design and philanthropy and... Read more →

Calling All Portland 3D Creatives

Are you located in or near Portland Oregon and work with 3D such as animation, design visualization, and vfx using 3ds max and Maya? We are holding a great event with awesome local Portland talent, Autodesk employees, along with some beverages and snack foods. This event is free and being held in our new sweet Autodesk Portland office. The Autodesk M&E Showcase is an event for folks in the 3D creative industry to network and learn, hosted at Autodesks' new... Read more →

Generative Design Workshop in Portland October 4th

What: Join us at Autodesk Portland office to explore what is possible through generative design. This 1-day Workshop will gather engineers and designers for an exclusive hands-on look at Autodesk's generative design technology. This in person event is FREE so register soon as available seats go fast. When: Thursday, October 04, 2018 from 10 AM to 4 PM. Lunch is included. Where: Autodesk Portland at 2212 SE Ankeny By the end of the session, attendees will: Understand how to save... Read more →

Autodesk Accelerate 2018 is a Wrap

What a truly amazing event Autodesk’s Accelerate 2018 was, and I will be attending again next year for sure. The attendees in attendance, the presentations, the deep quality conversations, the networking, the Autodesk Toronto office in MaRS District were all top notch. Amazing Location. Thank you Autodesk Canada and all the Autodesk employees that made this a reality and great event like Jamie Eckmier, Denese Gordon, Stephen Hooper, Paul Sohi and many others including staff that provided great tours like... Read more →

See You this Week in MaRS Toronto

The Accelerate with Autodesk event is this week in beautiful Toronto for those interested in the future of design and manufacturing. The location is the MaRS Discovery District which is the world’s largest urban innovation hub and also where the new Autodesk Technology Center is located. We can say with all honestly that we are going to MaRS this week. Explore the future of design and manufacturing This year's event will focus on the convergence of design and manufacturing technology,... Read more →

Are You a Portland Startup? Last Day to Apply to PIE Shop

PIE and Uncorked Studios are seeking Internet of Things and connected device startups to join us for our inaugural PIE Shop, a manufacturing focused startup accelerator. Selected startups will join us in Portland, Oregon, to work with Autodesk, PIE, Uncorked Studios and other PIE alums, and the world-class PIE mentor network. We'll provide you with advice, connections, office space, and other benefits. For this initial version of PIE Shop, there will neither be capital allocated to startups nor equity taken... Read more →

Innovation by Design Nomination for Autodesk Portland Office

It is so awesome to have our Autodesk Portland office be nominated and get an honorable mention in an “Innovation by Design” award for the workplace. We got edged out by Amazon’s Seattle office crazy spheres but then again Amazon offices were designed by another Autodesk customer NBBJ using our products. We moved in just this spring to the building and have more to do in the second phase starting next month. We absolutely love the historic renovated Towne Storage... Read more →

What Is Building Information Modeling - BIM

I get asked this quite often and I simply explain it is the evolution of lines arcs and circles to objects as components in a 3D architectural design model encompassing the entirety of the the building from design to meta data on performance and materials.Its all about the data.. Autodesk just posted a nice video on YouTube explaining what BIM is. Happy Throwback Thursday The video has a highlight from the history of CAD to pioneer Ivan Sutherland with the... Read more →

Hip Hop Architecture Video

Several Autodesk employees including myself participated in the 2018 Hip Hop Architecture Camp in Portland at Benson Polytechnic High School this past June. The Hip Hop Architecture Camp uses hip hop culture as a catalyst to introduce underrepresented youth to architecture, urban planning and design. Here is the blog post I made that week, as they finished their week designing their architecture project using LEGOs and Tinkercad. Hip Hop Architecture Camp in Portland this Week. The week culminated in the... Read more →

Generative Design Makes a Great Design Assistant

You can use Autodesk’s generative design technology in Fusion 360 today to assist you in the design process. You will be assisted in finding design options beyond just shape and material optimization as you can consider strength, cost, and materials. We looked at a design inspired by the famous Elbo chair using generative design. Generative design came up with a design that resulted in 18% less material and 78% stress reduction as well as looking amazing in Fusion 360- and... Read more →

Project Impossible

For those in the US that have access to a TV with the History Channel, there is a television series named Project Impossible that Autodesk helped sponsor showing our customers as well as some Autodesk employees on some large projects. The series celebrates the engineers, builders and construction professionals that are transforming our world. Project Impossible is an original 10-part series that follows a new generation of epic engineering projects that were considered unthinkable just a few years ago. In... Read more →

Portland Sneaker Week Tech Talk

A free Portland Sneaker Week Tech Talk event is being held in our Autodesk Portland office this evening. Portland is ground zero for footwear with big names like Nike, Adidas, UnderArmour, Keen, Columbia, and many others with headquarters or a major presence here. This evening, a Tech Talk is being held to showcase the cutting edge technology that is leading the footwear industry into the future. Join Us: SIGN UP http://bit.ly/2BNfnIl DATE & TIME Mon, August 27, 2018 5:30 PM... Read more →

We Hope They Come Back

15 energetic high school interns led by two college interns and working with Autodesk Portland employees worked on a real product that is open source and added new features for FIRST Robotics FRC teams to simulate their competition robot designs. Synthesis an Autodesk technology that was solely developed by these amazing students. It is inspiring to see them work just like any other high performing product team within Autodesk except they are a bit younger and can eat snacks all... Read more →

Autodesk Accelerate Event Next Month in Toronto

Join us in Toronto next month for a nice intimate Autodesk hosted event named Autodesk Accelerate. It is being held in the creative MaRS Discovery District where Autodesk has its office. Technically you could tell colleagues that you were visiting MaRS to learn about the latest in manufacturing and design technology. https://autodeskaccelerate.com/ Current speakers include RAMLAB, Steelcase, Modelab, Denise Schindler and others. Explore the future of design and manufacturing Accelerate brings together Autodesk customers, industry executives, top market analysts, and... Read more →

FIRST Robotics Teams Come Learn about Synthesis

Come see our open source simulator Synthesis that takes your FRC robot designs and lets you dynamically test them on virtual fields. Join us in Portland Oregon on August 7th for our in-person workshop, or join our online webinar on the 8th! At the beautiful Autodesk Portland office Tuesday August 7th, 2018 10:00am – 3:00pm (lunch included) Online webinar Wednesday August 8th, 2018 Register for either workshop at http://bxd.autodesk.com/synthesis/workshops.html Read more →

Hip Hop Architecture Camp in Portland this Week

This week, a very special week long camp is going on in Portland Oregon for middle school kids. Hip Hop Architecture with Michael Ford is here, and I volunteered Monday and Tuesday and will be back again before the week is over. “The Hip Hop Architecture Camp™ uses hip hop culture as a catalyst to introduce underrepresented youth to architecture, urban planning and design.“ Attending this camp is free (Autodesk is one of the proud sponsors) and is a fascinating... Read more →

Join Me at Autodesk Accelerate 2018 experience in Toronto

The Accelerate with Autodesk event is September 19th and 20th and is for those interested in the future of design and manufacturing. The early bird rate is only $49 until June 15, 2018 for 2 days of sessions. You will also get a bonus tour of the MaRS Discovery District which is the world’s largest urban innovation hub and where the new Autodesk Technology Center is located. https://autodeskaccelerate.attendease.com/ “Explore the future of design and manufacturing Accelerate brings together Autodesk customers,... Read more →

Imagine Making a Part 40% Lighter While Exceeding the Strength of the Original

First Major US Auto Manufacturer Using Generative Design! GM is the first major North American automaker to adopt Autodesk generative design software to take vehicle lightweighting to a whole new level. This AI-designed seat bracket weighs 40% less and is 20% stronger than its predecessor. https://autode.sk/2KxQsZu “General Motors’ auto engineers have been heavyweights in vehicle lightweighting for years. Just since 2016, GM has launched 14 new vehicle models with a total mass reduction of over 5000 pounds or more than... Read more →

Make Anything – Portland Style

When employees moved into the new Autodesk Portland office they had more good surprises than the amazing renovated historic building, our CREFT Facilities team went above and beyond. Autodesk Portland CREFT team member Lynette Keller used our own Portland developed Fusion 360 design software to design a coaster to place on our desks when we arrived. Autodesk employee and Fusion 360 expert Mike Aubry gave Lynnette some lessons in Fusion 360 and she made the design. The Make Anything Coaster... Read more →

10 million friends, with over 100 million things designed in Tinkercad

Tinkercad hits 10 million users!!!!! Imagine all the people of all ages that have gained an understanding of 3D and making things in a few short years. Nothing short of amazing. Congratulations to the Tinkercad team and the 10 million users aka friends! Here is a great letter from Guillermo Melantoni and Sarah O'Rourke marking this major milestone. Hello Everyone, Almost five years ago Autodesk acquired Tinkercad. We definitely saw its potential. A very well polished user experience with easy... Read more →

Autodesk Official Show Reel 2018

Here is the very latest official Autodesk Show Reel 2018. This show reel shows amazing examples of some of our Autodesk customers in multiple industries from architecture to special fx and games to manufacturing and robotics. This is the show reel I play to show what Autodesk customers design create and make using our software and technologies. https://youtu.be/aqOIyi-9PLw We recently released two industry specific show reels Autodesk Games Customers Reel 2018 and Autodesk 2018 Visual Fx Customers Reel. Read more →