AU


  • A special unveiling at AU 2022

    The Autodesk Research team is currently printing something very special in our Boston Technology Center with the hope of it being displayed at Autodesk University 2022 in New Orleans. I expect to be spending quite a bit of time near this object, during the event, and am very much looking forward to it. Even at this early stage it's already a thing of great beauty. Now for some pre-AU fun and games: if you can guess the object's function and how much it'll weigh once finished – within an as-yet-undetermined threshold – then I'll send you a souvenir from the…


  • Register today for this year’s Forge Hackathon

    Registration for the Forge Hackathon 2022 – being held virtually from September 19th-23rd – is now open. The prize categories are fun: You had me at 3D game Show me the Data! I feel the need, the need for Digital Twin Task automation is a state of mind There's no place like ACC Do keep in mind the following judging criteria: Innovation Elegance Business problem solved Progress made during the week Depth of Forge use Wow factor (If you feel you need it, more detail on the categories and judging criteria can be found in the above-linked blog post.) The…


  • Register now for Autodesk University 2022. I may even see you there!

    Registration is now open for this year's AU: the first time it's been held in-person since 2019, and in a brand new city (for AU, at least), New Orleans. It's being held from September 27th to 29th, which will be here really soon! The early-bird pricing of $1,750 is available until July 23rd, at which point it slides upwards to $1,999 until August 12th and then on up to the full price of $2,250 from there. And if you can't make it in person to the event, there's still the option to attend virtually for free. Registration for the "digital…


  • The Autodesk Gallery opening and the 2m Dar Smart Bridge at DCW 2022

    A few events have happened over the last few weeks that I would have loved to have attended, had I had the energy (and been in better shape). The first was the grand opening of the Autodesk Gallery on May 11th. I received an invite – because of my participation in the NEST project – but as I was planning on actually being at the NEST building that day I declined. And I ended up being home with Covid, so there's that. The gallery was opened by SF Mayor London Breed. Here's a snap of Andrew Anagnost showing the NEST…


  • Three AU proposals to vote for and a deadline reminder

    It's the last few days to submit your class proposals for Autodesk University 2022 in New Orleans. The Call for Proposals closes on April 15th.I've now submitted three classes, myself, and would greatly appreciate you voting for the one(s) you would like to see part of the event. This is whether you intend on being there in-person in New Orleans or not: the vast majority of classes will either be livestreamed or recorded and made available on-demand for virtual attendees. Here they are. Voting is open until April 25th. Voxel-based Architectural Space Analysis inside Dynamo Building Digital Twins for AEC…


  • Vote on my (and others') AU 2022 class proposals

    I've gone ahead and submitted two class proposals for Autodesk University 2022. If you think they should be part of this year's event, I'd certainly appreciate you voting for them: Voxel-based Architectural Space Analysis inside Dynamo Autodesk Research first created the Space Analysis toolkit - and its accompanying Dynamo package - to support 2D generative design workflows such as those used during Project Discover for the architectural layout of Autodesk's Toronto office. VASA - short for Voxel-based Architectural Space Analysis - takes these techniques to the next level, allowing the geometric exploration of architectural spaces in 3D for activities such…


  • Autodesk University 2022 will be in New Orleans

    The Call For Proposals for Autodesk University 2022 is now live, and with it the news that this year's event will be in The Big Easy, the beautiful city of New Orleans. I was last there for our Autodesk-internal TechX event in 2019. Here are a few snaps from back then: It was a good time, and I very much hope I get the chance to return in late September (the conference is being held from the 27th to the 29th). As mentioned recently, submitting your proposals early – the deadline is April 15th – will give you more time…


  • Autodesk University 2022 dates and CFP

    The AU team has announced the dates for Autodesk University 2022: it will be held from September 27-29, 2022, and – barring some regression in the current health situation – in-person for the first time since Autodesk University 2019! I can also reveal that we'll be meeting in a city that isn't Las Vegas. (Sorry to not say more about this, but we've been asked not to talk specifically about where's it's being held, for now.) This is clearly earlier than the usual November/December timeframe, so the Call For Proposals (CFP) will logically be held that much sooner. In fact…


  • Forge and digital twins at Autodesk University 2021

    I've finally found the time to view the main information from the recent Autodesk University event, and thought it worth highlighting what I consider to be some of the "big ticket" items, especially from my own – somewhat Forge- and digital twin-centric – perspective. First-up, Forge was everywhere in the keynotes. If it wasn't previously clear that Autodesk is serious about becoming a platform company, it should be from the messaging at this AU. On a side note, there are a number of internal organisational changes that have happened/are happening at Autodesk to accelerate this shift, so I'm currently much…


  • Rome and Sardinia

    This is my first week back after a lovely 10-day trip to Italy, most of which we spent scuba diving on the beautiful island of Sardinia. We'd planned this trip some time ago, but that didn't mean it was without its worries: between last-minute doctor's visits for medical certificates (not strictly required for scuba diving, but it's generally a good idea to have them) and fast antigen tests for the (so far unvaccinated) kids, there were more logistics to think about than usual. We also needed to check a couple of suitcases – which were basically full of neoprene –…