We live and work in a time of radical transformation. Professional practices in the design and make industries are changing rapidly. The State of Design and Make Report is Autodesk’s annual study of thousands of business leaders around the world. This longitudinal study seeks to reveal how these leaders feel about the challenges they face and the opportunities created through digital transformation.
The 2024 State of Design and Make Report was released in April. It shows how companies discovered new levels of resilience and agility through innovation over the past four years—and how they saw their technology investments pay off with unexpected growth. But they face continued challenges—from labor shortages and material constraints to cost increases—that continue to drive the search for better, more connected, and sustainable ways to design and make.
These talks from the AU Theater in 2023 showcase how innovators across industries are creating new possibilities using new digital tools and connected digital processes.
Digital Practices for Sustainability
Here’s a fact that might surprise you: internet use accounts for 3.7% of global carbon emissions, surpassing aviation's 2.5% contribution. How can we make our digital world more sustainable and environmentally friendly? Mariel Brown, Director of Foresight at Seymour Powell, provides practical suggestions, such as using green hosting, optimizing imagery and videos for a lower carbon footprint, slimming down fonts, and choosing power-efficient colors. Notably, she brings attention to the untapped potential of sound and other senses as less carbon-intensive alternatives to visual content in design. Brown's call to action is clear: everyone involved in creating digital experiences should take responsibility for their environmental impact and for sharing knowledge and making sustainability-focused changes wherever feasible.
Building the Sustainable Infrastructure Projects of Tomorrow
Cities account for 60–80% of global energy consumption and 75% of global carbon emissions. With urban populations predicted to double by 2050, the changes we make to urban infrastructure can make a big difference in achieving our common climate goals. Take Copenhagen, for instance, which has set out to become the world’s first carbon-neutral capital—and has managed to cut total emissions by 42% since 2005.
Joe Rasmussen, BIM and GIS Lead for the Copenhagen Metro, shares how his team is achieving a 50% reduction in the climate footprint for the M5 line. This requires transitioning from traditional construction materials and methodologies to the use of green materials, structured data, user-friendly interfaces, and model-based decision-making. By adopting these methods, organizations can not only meet ambitious sustainability goals but also create world-class projects, setting the stage for the future of urbanization.
How Technology Brought Pinocchio to Life
No one ever said that producing a stop-motion animated feature was easy. But doing it during the pandemic—when artists, technicians, and others couldn’t be in the same room? That’s another level of difficulty. And it’s exactly what the team behind Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio pulled off.
When the lockdown began, the team created remote working systems to ensure the safety and well-being of the crew, according to Whitney Schmerber, Art Department Production Manager for the film. This was made possible with support from Netflix and the crucial role of Autodesk ShotGrid in managing the design process. The meticulous work of the art department resulted in 99 individual sets, 12,000 set parts, and 7 vehicles, all created by hand. The film received multiple nominations and awards, including the prestigious Oscar for Best Animated Feature. While technology played a significant role in this journey, Schmerber emphasizes the human story of vulnerability and commitment that drove the project to success and transformed the studio’s working culture.
Learn more about the current state and the future of the Design and Make industries anytime at Autodesk University.