Come to this PowerTrack class to hear Class-A surface expert Simon Alford talk about how using Alias industrial design software for Class-A modeling provides streamlined design development and delivers valuable business and technical benefits. He reviews internal and external challenges facing automotive design and describes the business and technical advantages of using Alias for Class-A surfacing. Finally, he discusses barriers and misconceptions that are encountered when spearheading adoption of Alias at a design studio.

Subdivision bodies are a type of geometry in Alias software that provides smooth continuous surfaces for the creation of objects and organic shapes. Alias subdivision bodies are compatible with standard Catmull-Clark subdivision surfaces, which makes them like subdivision surfaces in other content creation applications such as Maya software and 3ds Max software. However, Alias subdivision bodies are a collection of continuous NURBS surface patches, so they also inherit characteristics from Alias surfaces. This means that Alias subdivision bodies include the strengths of Alias NURBS surfaces and traditional subdivision surfaces. This class will cover the new subdivision tools and integrated workflows in Alias.

In this hands-on lab, you discover how to create intelligent and interactive curves and surfaces with Alias industrial design software. Create your models and design alternatives quickly using the power of Alias and Autodesk® Product Design Suite. We cover the different types of curves and the design approach to use them accurately and creatively. Create better surfaces right from the start of your designs.

This will be a live demonstration of Alias 2025 software—showcasing the latest features in Alias 2025 and providing a sneak preview of new technologies under development. See firsthand how Alias is still an evolving and powerful surface modeling package for designers.

In this class we will cover multiple workflow paths, moving Alias SpeedForm conceptual data and evolving it into technically clean surfaces in Alias software. Starting with the Alias SpeedForm model, we will investigate what it looks like and the pros and cons of using this data directly. Then we will look at techniques to augment the data to cleaner surfaces. Finally we will use mesh-modeling techniques to work off the shape. One of the techniques we will use is scan data workflow. Students will gain a better practical understanding of how to move Alias SpeedForm data into Alias software.

There are so many techniques to save you time and help you create the surfaces you want in Alias software. I have found that many of these techniques are new to, or overlooked by, seasoned professionals and are certainly useful to new users as well. These methods of working can speed up your use of nearly every command within Alias software. This class applies to all surface work, from concept through production class “A” for any design, whether it’s product development or automotive.

In this class, Alias software expert and small business owner Michal Jelinek discusses how he used Alias as a critical tool for developing prototypes of a personal tracked vehicle. Michal shows how he used SketchBook® Pro software to create initial concepts, Inventor® Fusion software to design mechanical parts, and then Alias for the aesthetic surfaces and for prototyping.

Misused, misunderstood, and misaligned. Alias software’s Blend Curves have many characteristics that are not understood by even some of the best Alias software users, let alone users new to the software. Learn how they really work, what the little icons at the Blend points mean, and how to use them. Are you really getting the continuity that you think you are, or is the Blend Curve actually misaligned to the surface you just attached it to? Our focus will be on single-span Blend Curves that are used to create transition surfaces. We will compare the Blend Curve tool to the new Freeform Curve Blend tool. Fully understand the capabilities and nuances of the Freeform Blend Curve tool. This class applies to all surface work, from concept through production class “A” for any design—whether it’s product development or automotive. This session features Alias AutoStudio, Alias Automotive, and Alias Surface.

In this class we will go over some of the new features in Alias software that can help in procedural modeling techniques, and tools that you can create with scripts to be driven through Dynamo software. Dynamo is a visual programming platform that you can use to create custom algorithms to process data and generate geometry. Since version 2019, we have had an integration of Dynamo in our Alias line of products (Concept, Surface, and AutoStudio). With the latest release of 2021, we have included Dynamo player, which enables anyone to run scripts and capitalize on the power of these tools to improve workflows and processes to save time and effort.

This class will look at how Alias software and VRED software enable the design and visualization of heavy machinery and equipment.

“Class A” (or, “strak”) is a term used specifically in automotive design. It describes the final production surface data for the aesthetic parts of a car. The term “Class A” is often misunderstood, but it’s generally seen as the holy grail of surface modeling. This is because as it achieves the highest surface quality levels, it demands a high level of automotive design knowledge, as well as surface modeling skills. Class A represents the craftwork end of the design process. Creating the main surface shapes to describe the vehicle is the primary design activity. But the painstaking, detailed craftsmanship of perfecting those surfaces, designing flanges and panel gaps, is what guarantees that a beautiful design turns into a beautiful manufactured product. This class will cover the workflows and techniques involved in achieving Class-A-level production surfaces using Alias tools.

“Class A” (or "strak") is a term used specifically in automotive design. It describes the final production surface data for the aesthetic parts of a car. The term is often misunderstood, but it's generally seen as the holy grail of surface modeling: It achieves the highest surface-quality levels, which demands a high level of automotive design knowledge and surface modeling skills. Class A represents the craftwork end of the design process. It combines superior highlights on the surfaces by matching the engineering requirements of legal regulation. Creating the main surface shapes that describe the vehicle is the primary design activity. But the painstaking, detailed craftsmanship of perfecting those surfaces, designing flanges and panel gaps, is what guarantees that a beautiful design will become a beautiful, manufacturable product. In conjunction with the latest release of Alias software, we'll review the enhancements that make Class A modeling easier and more efficient.

In this class, we’ll take a look at the road map for Alias software.

Almost every original equipment manufacturer and design studio is trying to shorten the design process. And not just shorten the process-they want more and more innovative designs. More variants, shorter process. How could we make this happen? The answer is never far. It's time to let the designers get into the real 3D design world. Alias software is not just a tool for surface modeling. It is far beyond that: it is supposed to be the designers' playground. You can sketch 2D, model 3D, sketch 3D, and communicate with digital sculptors on one model, one platform. This class will explain how.

This session will be an introduction to the world of Alias product design, concept modeling, and detailed surface modeling. We’ll look at how automation can speed up the design process—allowing faster and more informed design making, as well creating shareable and reusable IP across the design pipeline. Experience-based decision making is becoming more important, and we’ll look at trends and offer insights into how this can help industrial and product designers gather customers insights. Disparate tools need cross-team and cross-function collaboration, making the designers of tomorrow even more efficient. Making decisions faster (with confidence) across teams and geographies is key. We believe that the future of design will start with the customer, and how we ensure that connection works (as well as enterprise-wide integration) in a seamless manner.

In this class, we’ll take a look at the new features and capabilities in the latest version of Alias software.

Take a look at some of the tools inside Alias software for procedural, computational, and automated workflows in industrial and product design.

This session will take a look at the Alias road map, research areas, and the latest tool developments in Alias software.

Class A (or "strak") is a term used specifically in automotive design. It describes the final production surface data for the aesthetic parts of a car. The term "Class A" is often misunderstood, but it's generally seen as the holy grail of surface modeling. This is because as it achieves the highest surface quality levels, it demands a high level of automotive design knowledge, as well as surface modeling skills. Class A represents the craftwork end of the design process. Creating the main surface shapes to describe the vehicle is the primary design activity. But the painstaking, detailed craftsmanship of perfecting those surfaces, designing flanges and panel gaps, is what guarantees that a beautiful design turns into a beautiful manufactured product. This class will cover the workflows and techniques involved in achieving Class-A-level production surfaces using the latest Alias tools in 2021.

When asked to design some fishing lures, I found myself wishing that I knew Alias® software. However, I just didn't have the time to learn new software and dove into the project with Inventor 3D CAD software. Along the way I learned some valuable tips and tricks about working with complex lofts and surfaces. In this class, I explain the evolution of several fishing lures. I cover the entire process: concept sketching, surfacing, mold analysis, and finally, the finished solid models. We go over lofting good practices that make future edits much easier and with far fewer failures. We also review exactly what surfacing can do for you in day-to-day modeling.