Traditionally, design decisions are made and solutions are developed before understanding the potential outcomes of those decisions. We then validate the solutions, revise decisions, and redesign, creating massive waste in the process. This is the paradox of design. Design optimization techniques and technology (APIs, visual programming, and simulation tools) can help break this paradox by simulating many options and the potential outcomes—informing decisions rather than simply validating them after the fact. This technology will change how we design, much like the advent of Building Information Modeling (BIM) did a decade ago. Therefore, it is critical to understand the fundamental changes to the design process that will be necessary to capitalize on this new technology. This round-table discussion will explore the paradox of design, as well as the challenges of design optimization, lean design processes, simulation technology, and computational design.

How cool it is to watch the Landing gears of an Aircraft getting retracted back to its resting position and opening during landing and taxing! But a landing gear of an aircraft contributes to 20 percent of the total aircraft weight as they are very heavy and they should be as they have to support the entire aircraft weight while landing, takeoff, or taxing. So with this in mind, we’ve come out with an innovative solution of applying generative design to the aircraft landing gear for weight reduction and design optimization for drag reduction and more, so with this approach, we will be designing a landing gear in two variants in which we’ll apply generative design to one variant and second will be designed like the conventional landing gears and then we’ll 3D print both of them and we’ll take our models to wind tunnel and static structural testing. and then at last we will study and compare the performance of both the landing gears in various loads and wind tunnel conditions.

In this session, we’ll discuss how design for additive manufacture (DFAM) can influence the performance of additively manufactured parts. This session will focus primarily on laser powder-bed fusion, but concepts can be transferable to other additive techniques. We’ll explore lattices, hollow geometries, and thin walls as common features in lightweight designs, including the challenges that these can pose in design, post processing, and actual performance. Autodesk Research is currently undertaking research to characterize how as-built features perform (mechanically) compared to idealized conditions—generic bulk-material values found in literature. This will enable better representation of these features at the design stage to facilitate more accurate simulation and optimization. Attendees will leave more familiar with DFAM, considerations during the design process, and the impacts these have on overall part performance.

In this class you will discover an innovative way to optimize your complex facade panel layout into a constructible and manufactureable organism. You will get wondered by the effect and result when computational design is introduced in a "Architectural Fabrication Workflow." A workflow which will guide you through the whole process from design till fabrication for dynamic facade panels, by using the AEC Industry Collection. During this session you will understand how FormIt, Dynamo Studio, Dynamo Customizer, Project Fractal and Revit are the keys to success in defining an optimized facade layout, automating the panel placement, using analysis results to drive panel dynamics and finally also link the design with fabrication technologies.

What do you do when a building owner comes to you with a list of 100,000 space-occupying things they want you to organize in three dimensions, and then revises the list every month until it’s done? This case study explains how SSOE worked through a complex series of relationships between objects involving multiple overlapping regulatory standards and environmental requirements. Computation and generative design worked together to help keep us sane, operate more efficiently, and improve customer satisfaction. This process is repeatable and we think design optimization is real. Join us to discover whether our story inspires you to explore automation techniques. Learn from our experience with Dynamo and Generative Design.

The Moldflow Sensitivity Study, a design of experiments (DOE), determined the impact of common Autodesk Simulation Moldflow Insight software processing inputs on common results. It also helped to determine the level of interaction among these settings and the impact of material- and geometry-specific interactions. We will highlight the methods used for performing the study, including tcodes, tcodesets, scripts, the Moldflow command shell, creation of studies, modification of studies, extraction of results, and more. Attendees will be able to repeat a similar study with their own commonly used geometries and materials. Study results will help Moldflow Insight users to increase efficiency by reducing design optimization time and determining the magnitude of impact of commonly used process settings. Note: This study included some functionality not currently available in the Moldflow Insight DOE module.

Meet "The Brænch"—an organic 3-meter-high steel structure fabricated with advanced 3D printing technology. This class showcases how our cross-disciplinary team used Fusion to unlock novel design workflows and create unique architectural elements that are 3 times cheaper than if they were die cast. We'll demonstrate why architects should consider adding Fusion to their toolbox for generative design, optimization, and FEA simulation to move beyond certain limitations of Rhino/Grasshopper. Through detailed examples, we'll present an integrated workflow improving material efficiency and structural performance in large-scale metal components. The class targets architects first approaching manufacturing, practically demonstrating how to align design with fabrication requirements, opening possibilities for applications such as façade components and structural elements while leveraging additive manufacturing to tackle material transportation, construction cost, and supply chain challenges.

This roundtable session focuses on forthcoming capabilities in Sim 360 cloud-based software, including fluid flow simulation (CFD) and design optimization. We will start with CFD and introduce new techniques for quickly setting up and solving models, going from a sample design in the Fusion 360™ cloud service to all the way through reviewing, interpreting, and comparing liquid or gas flow results. The second part of the session will focus on design optimization workflows in Sim 360. We will demonstrate new options for defining multiple design objectives and then rapidly testing many alternatives at once using the cloud. No prior simulation experience is required; however we will compare and contrast the unique collaboration, geometry editing and simplification, and solving capabilities in Sim 360 with those available in other simulation packages.

There are several commercially available optimization software packages on the market. BD has successfully used HEEDS MDO (a multidisciplinary design optimization software package) with Abaqus FEA to drive part design. Now we take the next step: connecting HEEDS MDO with Simulation Moldflow Insight 2015 software to explore process space for optimization and strength of part quality.

Find out how Simulation Moldflow Insight software was used in the successful investigation of gate and runner design optimization. We will give special focus to automatic geometry morphing and optimization through use of optimization software. Anyone interested in learning more about applying the powerful and specialized modules of Simulation Moldflow Insight software in the early stages of product design will gain from this lecture.

This class will try to give an introduction to the new features within Fusion 360 software regarding electronics cooling simulation. A real model can be simplified in Fusion 360, and then taken through the whole workflow of setting it up, running simulations, and analyzing results. The class will also capitalize on the other capabilities from Fusion 360, to combine the design optimization with Fusion Mechanical simulation and Generative Design in Fusion 360.

Real-world problems are rarely linear or static. Nonlinearities often impact the prediction of a product's behavior in unpredictable ways. These add uncertainty and risk to decisions made from either virtual or physical test results for engineers and designers who don't understand them. In this presentation we’ll use Inventor Nastran software to mid-surface a thin-walled assembly and weld the parts together. We’ll then go through the process of validating our model and then performing a nonlinear static analysis with linear and then nonlinear materials. Once the existing design is validated, we’ll perform a light-weighting design optimization to reduce the assembly’s weight, and then we’ll perform a nonlinear verification analysis on the final, reduced-weight design.

Automation and AI in the Manufacturing industry can be a game-changer. These technologies can enhance the capabilities of a shop, allowing it to take on more complex projects that may have been previously out of reach. Automation can help in handling tedious or repetitive parts of the design and make process, such as quoting, toolpath programming, feeds and speeds management, and more to improve performance. AI can offer design optimizations, recommendations and DFM feedback for additive and subtractive workflows. Hear directly from the partners delivering these workflows in Fusion. 

This class will walk users through the process of using Simulation CFD software for architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) applications using Revit software. We will cover tips, tricks, effective practices, and an efficient process of implementing Simulation CFD software for AEC applications. We will guide attendees through the complete process of implementing Simulation CFD software for AEC applications (external wind loading, passive cooling, ventilation layout); this includes geometry idealization / Revit software computer-aided design optimization for simulation, model setup, and results interpretation.

Your infrastructure projects are getting bigger and bigger, your alignments are becoming longer and longer, and your surfaces are detailed in billions of points. How do you manage this in AutoCAD Civil 3D software? Methods and procedures for parsing and simplifying data without losing critical accuracy are examined using an alignment that is 500 kilometers long and a surface that has 2 billion points. We will demonstrate the workflow and data organization, from data preview, feasibility analysis, accuracy checks, project setup, design optimization, quantity reports, and document production. Additionally, we'll examine critical settings and other tips and tools that enhance the performance of enormous AutoCAD Civil 3D projects.

In the rapidly evolving field of airport architecture, integrating advanced design tools is crucial for optimizing performance and Sustainable Design. This presentation explores how Autodesk Forma and its extensions can be leveraged to enhance airport building design. Forma’s AI capabilities offer unparalleled design optimization for Sustainable Design from the earliest stages in the design process, and by utilizing powerful extensions to the Forma platform, it can provide real-time analysis of the envelope performance and the implications of substantial glazing systems and shading. This enables designers to optimize rapidly and allows for quick prototyping and feedback. Attendees will learn how these workflows can empower designers to integrate energy performance into their workflows, and gain insights into the latest tools to unlock new possibilities for achieving Sustainable Design goals in building design.

Imagine a design process where creative exploration meets technical precision, seamlessly blending Rhino’s fluid conceptualization with Revit’s detailed documentation. In this session, we will explore a dynamic, cross-platform workflow that transforms 2D sketches and conceptual master plans into data-rich, buildable models—while preserving design intent and enhancing efficiency. Discover how the Environment plugin for Revit empowers landscape architects and urban designers to push creative boundaries, iterate efficiently, and bridge the gap between design and documentation with accuracy. This session will highlight a methodical yet flexible approach that minimizes errors, fosters collaboration, and streamlines project execution—illustrated through real-world applications that demonstrate design optimization and efficient delivery.

This session will focus on the journey that Carilion Clinic, Robins & Morton, and VIATechnik took in producing a virtual reality (VR) hospital room mockup to accelerate design coordination as part of a new hospital expansion to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital in Roanoke, Virginia. Physical mockups are commonly used to validate design feasibility before construction. However, this has been challenging during the pandemic for active end-user participation, delaying the design process. The team saw an opportunity to implement VR to replace the old industry practices for design optimization. This decision has led to a measurable 13x financial ROI, and it has strengthened the team’s future commitment to immersive technology. This session is focused on helping owners and general contractors. It will explain the overall proper process of developing initial VR environment using Maya software and design iteration procedures to engage maximum participation and fast design iterations.

Flowell by Colas is a dynamic road signaling, helping security and road congestion. Generative design was applied to design the electrical component of this project. The solution starts from an existing condition 2D drawing in DWG, creates the optimal configuration for the electrical network and creates a detailed model in Revit. It is an application of generative design to solve complex design challenges in the electrical discipline and support the decision process. A scalable methodology that opens new possibilities for more effective collaboration to validate ideas early on. It leverages computational design via Dynamo for Civil 3D, design optimization via Generative Design and automation via Dynamo for Revit. Visual programming is extended with Python modules to interact with different software and manage intelligent electrical objects. The generative design study uses electrical objects and implements the designer preferences to create the network.

Discover the power of AI in design optimization with this innovative AU class. Learn how to use large language models (LLMs) and Autodesk Forma software, a custom extension, to efficiently compare and evaluate multiple design options for a specific site. Gain insights into how AI can analyze various design aspects—such as functionality, aesthetics, and environmental factors—to determine the most suitable option. Throughout the class, you'll explore real-world case studies demonstrating the effectiveness of using LLMs and Forma in design decision making. Acquire practical skills in using the Forma extension to streamline your design workflow and make data-driven decisions. By the end of this class, you'll have the knowledge and tools to harness the potential of AI in design comparison and optimization. Elevate your design process, save time, and create outstanding results that meet and exceed client expectations.