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Autodesk University 2014: The Future of Making Is Here
Local Motors' Strati, the world's first 3D printed car.
Last week, Las Vegas played host to Autodesk University, Autodesk's annual gathering—part conference, part continuing education—for 9,000 professional designers, engineers and animators. Below is a summary of some of the big ideas and themes that will be shaping the conversation around making in 2015.
It's alive!
Design is a living process that lives past the moment of creation—a key theme for this year's Autodesk University. From featured speakers and workshop presenters to the company's CTO and CEO, the message was clear: we are moving swiftly past the Internet of Things, where devices interact with us, toward a broader, more complex and, ultimately, more valuable Community of Things, where products interact with each other and respond collaboratively to the environments in which they exist.
Jeff Kowalski, Chief Technology Officer and SVP, Autodesk
Hardware is hot, hot, hot.
Three elements in the design process and manufacturing are supporting the innovation that will drive this evolution—an evolution that's not just on the way, it's already here. First, the advancement of 3D printing, micro-molding, capital and funding options means that production is more flexible and robust than ever before. Second, demand is continuing to grow from "a few sizes fit all" to individual customization (see Normal's custom-fit ear buds after the jump). And finally, our attitudes towards products are changing. For a variety of reasons—sustainability, cost, our own hyper-individualized mentalities and even our desire to create better communities—we are starting to expect that products will be responsive, change and get better over time. 
3D printed earbuds, custom-fit for each customer from NormalLast week, Las Vegas played host to Autodesk University, Autodesk's annual gathering—part conference, part continuing education—for 9,000 professional designers, engineers and animators. Below is a summary of some of the big ideas and themes that will be shaping the conversation around making in 2015.
It's alive! Design is a living process that lives past the moment of creation—a key theme for this year's Autodesk University. From featured speakers and workshop presenters to the company's CTO and CEO, the message was clear: we are moving swiftly past the Internet of Things, where devices interact with us, toward a broader, more complex and, ultimately, more valuable Community of Things, where products interact with each other and respond collaboratively to the environments in which they exist.
Jeff Kowalski, Chief Technology Officer and SVP, Autodesk
Hardware is hot, hot, hot.
Three elements in the design process and manufacturing are supporting the innovation that will drive this evolution—an evolution that's not just on the way, it's already here. First, the advancement of 3D printing, micro-molding, capital and funding options means that production is more flexible and robust than ever before. Second, demand is continuing to grow from "a few sizes fit all" to individual customization (see Normal's custom-fit ear buds after the jump). And finally, our attitudes towards products are changing. For a variety of reasons—sustainability, cost, our own hyper-individualized mentalities and even our desire to create better communities—we are starting to expect that products will be responsive, change and get better over time. 3D printed earbuds, custom-fit for each customer from NormalHardware is hot, hot, hot. Three elements in the design process and manufacturing are supporting the innovation that will drive this evolution—an evolution that's not just on the way, it's already here. First, the advancement of 3D printing, micro-molding, capital and funding options means that production is more flexible and robust than ever before. Second, demand is continuing to grow from "a few sizes fit all" to individual customization (see Normal's custom-fit ear buds after the jump). And finally, our attitudes towards products are changing. For a variety of reasons—sustainability, cost, our own hyper-individualized mentalities and even our desire to create better communities—we are starting to expect that products will be responsive, change and get better over time.
3D printed earbuds, custom-fit for each customer from NormalCollaboration is key Like most of us, Autodesk is betting that collaboration is the name of the game and the cloud will play an increasingly important role as a connective hub. For Autodesk, this means that Fusion 360, Autodesk's cloud-based, collaborative design and machining package, is central to its stakeholders. At Autodesk U, it was announced that Fusion 360 will be made available at no additional cost for all Product Design Suite 2015 subscribers.
Looking outward One of the highlights of AU was hearing how Autodesk brings its marketing themes of community, collaboration and sustainability to life through social responsibility and direct engagement with designers working for change. In partnership with their foundation, Autodesk recently launched a blog, ImpactDesignHub.org which features stories of impact design as a learning tool and source of inspiration for designers, architects and engineers. Look out for contributions from our own Allan Chochinov over the coming months.
At Gearbox, Kenya's first makerspace for design and rapid prototyping
Looking ahead All in all, the future looks pretty bright through this year's AU lens. As Amar Hanspal, Autodesk SVP, Information Modeling and Platform Products Group said in the closing, "There truly is all of this technology at your disposal today. If you can think it, you can make it. The future of making is here."
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