Higher learning at AU
You know AU is a great place to learn, right? (Hint: that’s why we called it Autodesk University, not Autodesk Get-together.) You can choose from hundreds of sessions to learn tips, tricks, and insights for the software you use every day from experts in your field. But there’s another level of schooling at AU that’s even more exciting. We might be going out on a limb here, but it’s the kind of thing that can change your life.
We’re talking about thought leadership.
We think all Autodesk users are smart. (We might be biased.) But we’re honored, humbled and blown away each year by the standout leaders in their fields who speak at AU. When they share their visions of the future, it’s like they’re letting us in on a secret. They’re making us part of a fantastic, headlong journey. And they’re asking all of us to help shape the future of making things. Learning new tips and tricks is great, but sometimes we need to think bigger. Thought leadership gets us there. It’s about sharing what’s been learned, and looking at how we can keep learning together.
You might think you’ll only catch thought leaders giving keynotes. Not true. Of course the keynote speakers are a-mazing. (Check out Emily Pilloton’s 2014 keynote about sparking creativity in kids through teaching them to design—things like tiny transitional housing for homeless people. You might want to grab the tissue box for this one.) At AU and at AU online you can catch all kinds of classes that focus on new ways of doing things, in every field, classes that ask you to think outside the box. Hear case studies about people breaking new ground and making waves. Changing the world. A great case study is as powerful as a great speaker.
If you really want your socks knocked off, check out the Innovation Forums. These sessions are dedicated to exploring how technology continues to change the way we design and make things. And by things, we mean everything from products to infrastructure. Innovation Forums transcend industries and show us how the industries we serve are converging and changing together. So even if you’re in manufacturing, an Innovation Forum about architecture might just be the place to find your next big idea. See how the top minds are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible, and get motivated in your own work.
Take Ben Davis’s 2014 talk about The Bay Lights project. He begins: “I love infrastructure… [These systems] are the embodiment of the human spirit at the highest order… We evolved as humans to the point where we could shape [infrastructure], and now this infrastructure is going to shape our evolution, going forward.”
Check out Ben’s whole talk here and get excited to hear from, and learn with, thought leaders at this year’s AU.
Things are starting to heat up around here.
