AU 2024: Know Before You Go

It’s almost time for AU 2024, the learning event of the year for Design and Make professionals! It will be held at the San Diego Convention Center (SDCC), conveniently located along the waterfront in downtown San Diego and three miles from San Diego International Airport. The AU mobile app is a great tool to navigate the conference—download it now. Here’s what you need to know before you go. 

• Arrival and badge pickup  
• Daily transportation to the San Diego Convention Center
• General Sessions and Industry Keynotes    
• Orientation  
• Build community  
• Community Zone   
• After-Class Connection Lounge  
• Meetups  
• Design Thinking Workshops  
• Theater talks  
• Receptions   
• The Expo   
• Learning   
• Connect with Autodesk  
• Sustainability  
• Accessibility  
• A typical day at AU 2024  
• Tips for a great conference week 
• Safety and security 
   

Arrival and badge pickup  

On arrival in San Diego, we encourage sharing a ride from the airport to your hotel to reduce impact. See our Travel Guide for more information. 

To check in and pick up your badge, go to the San Diego Convention Center (SDCC)—all you’ll need is a picture ID. Those staying at or attending events at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel or the Marriott Marquis Marina Hotel can also use the Badge Pickup & Customer Support desks conveniently located in those venues. 

A conference badge is required for all AU activities. You will need a picture ID to pick up your conference badge. There will be a $75 badge replacement fee for any lost or misplaced badges.  
 

Main check-in and customer service: San Diego Convention Center, Lobby D      

Express check-in (badge pick-up only):  
Marriott Marquis Marina, North Tower Corridor, Level 2  
Hilton San Diego Bayfront, Indigo Lobby 

Daily transportation to the San Diego Convention Center

Shuttle service will be available to attendees at partner hotels beyond a 10-minute walking distance from the SDCC. ADA transportation services are also available to anyone who needs them starting Monday, October 14. Each AU 2024 shuttle line will have one ADA-accessible vehicle in rotation. We recommend calling our Transportation Line 30 minutes before you plan to leave to make sure an ADA vehicle is on the way. If there is a long wait time you can request a direct pickup. Specify whether you require a vehicle with a wheelchair lift. Contact the Transportation Line at (858) 394-6130. 

Visit the Travel Guide or the AU mobile app for all the latest shuttle information including routes, stops, and hours of operation. You will also find alternate forms of transportation listed there for your convenience. 

General Sessions and Industry Keynotes   

Hear from executives, industry leaders, and customers as they share visionary ideas and inspiring stories that will help you become the change you want to see, modernize ways of working through the power of AI, and transform your business. 

• General Session Day 1: Join Autodesk CEO Andrew Anagnost and CTO Raji Arasu as they show how we are accelerating the Design and Make capabilities of our platform, putting AI to work, supporting your creativity, and enabling you to solve problems big and small. Tuesday, October 15 at 10:00 AM PT 
   
• General Session Day 2: Senior leaders from our Media & Entertainment, Architecture, Engineering, & Construction, and Design & Manufacturing teams will share our vision for the future of our industries and stories of how customers are Making the Future by leveraging the power of Autodesk AI and our industry clouds. Wednesday, October 16 at 10:00 AM PT 
   
• Autodesk Platform Services Keynote: Learn how you can leverage the power of Autodesk APIs and services to build innovative new solutions. Unlock unlimited value through connected data and AI. Hear how access to real-time, granular, and interoperable data is creating unprecedented opportunities in our industries.  
  Tuesday, October 15 at 1:30 PM PT 
   
• AECO Industry Keynote: Our AECO leaders will share the latest updates for the business, including news across our industry cloud and product portfolio, and stories of customers who are innovating and Making the Future. Plus, learn how Autodesk Forma is helping facilitate better collaboration, quicker project delivery, and better outcomes. Wednesday, October 16 at 1:30 PM PT 
   
• Construction Industry Keynote: Autodesk leaders will share Autodesk Construction Cloud updates and highlight industry innovators who are pushing the boundaries of what's possible. Wednesday, October 16 at 3:00 PM PT 
   
• Media & Entertainment Industry Keynote: M&E leaders will share more about Autodesk's Design & Make Platform, as well as the newly announced capabilities in Autodesk Flow, our industry cloud for media & entertainment. Learn about how you can join the Flow mission into the future of content production while leveraging the power of Autodesk AI and our core portfolio. Wednesday, October 16 at 3:00 PM PT 
   
• Design & Manufacturing Industry Keynote: Technologies like artificial intelligence are helping businesses improve their productivity and unlock the data at their disposal to create competitive advantage. Autodesk leaders will detail important updates to Autodesk Fusion and our product portfolio, as well as highlight how customers are leveraging our technology to achieve better outcomes. Wednesday, October 16 at 3:00 PM PT 
   

Orientation 

We recommend kicking off AU by dropping into Orientation and spending 20 minutes getting the rundown on content highlights and keynotes, sessions and activities, wayfinding and the AU mobile app, and recommendations for not-to-miss events.  

Build community 

Expand your network and build trusted connections among 12,000+ Design and Make innovators. Explore our Community page to discover the many ways to find your people at AU. 

Community Zone  

Drop by between sessions to socialize over a game, take a meeting, or just recharge your batteries and relax. Take part in community-led networking opportunities and AU Meetups, plus meet some furry friends in the Dog Park when it’s time to unwind. 

After-Class Connection Lounge 

This dedicated space in the Community Zone is where speakers and attendees can dive deeper and continue the conversation once a session is over. Stop in anytime.   

Meetups  

Connect with like-minded people in a casual environment. You’ll find AU Meetups that are designed to bring together military veterans, young professionals, and many other communities. Each meeting has a focus, but no agenda. Gather, converse, and get to know one another.  

Design Thinking Workshops 

Solve real-world problems in collaborative cohorts using design-thinking principles. Choose from topics like Sustainability, the Future of Work, Exploring Data Privacy, Ethics and Trust. These workshops enable meaningful collaboration and networking, resulting in new ways of thinking you can take back to your workplace.  

Theater talks 

Don’t miss out on Theater talks—15-minute talks led by industry experts and thought leaders covering a variety of topics including AI, Sustainability, and Workforce Resilience. Browse them all and don’t forget to enroll in advance! 

Receptions  

Have some fun and fuel your AU week with these receptions—they’re a great opportunity to build your community and network. Kick off AU with the Welcome Social on Monday evening, join Celebrate Women at AU on Tuesday evening (open to everyone), mix and mingle at the Community Reception in the Expo on Tuesday night, and join us for the AU Design & Make Celebration in the Gaslamp Quarter on Thursday from 7:00–10:00 PM to wrap up the week.  Remember to wear your badge to be admitted to these events—no exceptions will be granted.   

The Expo  

The Expo is the place to immerse yourself in connected Design and Make processes and see projects that showcase what’s possible. It’s a multi-sensory, interactive experience that gives you a chance to see how leading companies are tackling the most pressing global challenges we face today.  

In the industry zones, test drive the latest tools and get one-on-one answers to your technical and workflow questions. At the featured exhibits, get your hands on the technologies that are reshaping our processes and talk to the teams that are using them to change the world. Learn about these all on the AU mobile app:   

• MASS Design Group: Abundant Futures    
• CalWave and Aloft: Clean, Renewable Maritime Energy  
• Visions from Volterra   
• WSP and Industrialized Construction  
• Dallas-Fort Worth Airport: Transforming Aviation Infrastructure  
• Fusion Factory Experience  
• Cloud: A Sensory Experience for Collaborative Clarity   
• Autodesk AI  
   

Learning  

Sign up for classes ahead of time, as they are first-come, first-served and do fill up quickly. If there’s a class you want to take that’s already full, bookmark it and show up. Attendees are admitted 15 minutes early, and any remaining empty seats are given away five minutes before class begins. If you’ve enrolled for a class and can’t attend, please un-enroll to make your seat available. As you browse the AU catalog, you can filter by session format, topic, industry, or business outcome. 

Connect with Autodesk   

Get your questions answered and share your input—we love hearing from you.    

• Feedback Workshops give you the chance to share your thoughts on the future of your industry and Autodesk technologies that can transform how you design and make.   
• Product Demos are where Autodesk experts answer questions and share updates, roadmaps, and product developments.   
• Industry Zones in the Expo will have product experts standing by to answer your technical and workflow questions. 
• The Idea Exchange activation in the Expo gives you a chance to share your feedback with Autodesk on our interactive activity wall anytime. And you can join our Autodesk Research Community to share your thoughts with Autodesk at AU and beyond.  
   

Sustainability 

We make sustainability a priority at AU, doing more every year to reduce the environmental impact of the event. Our menu features tasty options that minimize red meat, with all meals served using compostable materials. In cases where plastic water bottles are unavoidable, they are made from 100% recycled plastic that will be recycled again.   

Our vendors choose sustainable options and prioritize recyclable materials where possible. They utilize low-energy equipment and use sustainable practices in fabrication, transport, and utilization of local materials and talent whenever possible. The SDCC has implemented many of its own sustainability policies. 

Minimizing the environmental impact of AU is a team effort. In San Diego, bring your own water bottle, notebook, and pencil each day. Consider a rideshare to and from the airport or offsetting your travel emissions through One Tree Planted or Arbor Day Foundation. Looking ahead, during the AU 2025 registration process you can opt out of the swag if you wish.  

Accessibility 

Your accessibility is top-of-mind at AU. The SDCC provides an inclusive and accessible event experience. The venue’s Accessibility Map has detailed information on elevators, ramps, and additional relevant details. See the AU mobile app for ADA shuttle information and other details. 

A typical day at AU 2024 

If it’s your first time at AU, how you schedule your week is up to you. Keep in mind that breakfast bites are served from 7:00–9:00 AM each morning, and classes start at 11:30 AM on Day 1, at 8:00 AM on Day 2, and 7:30 AM on Day 3. General Session starts at 10:00 AM on Tuesday and Wednesday, and the Industry Keynotes take place in the afternoons on Tuesday and Wednesday. Lunch is served in the Expo each day from 11:30 AM–1:30 PM, and at the end of Day 1, you can unwind with food and drinks in the Expo, starting at 5:30 PM. The AU Design & Make Celebration is the final night of the conference and runs from 7:00–10:00 PM. It will include food and drinks, as well as live music, activities, and entertainment. 

 
Tips for a great conference week 

There will be a lot happening at AU 2024, and you’ll be covering a lot of ground over the course of the week. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes, stay hydrated, don’t skip meals, get plenty of sleep, and take time to decompress each day. 

Safety and security 

• In the event of any life-threatening emergency, please contact the local onsite security personnel (Hotel, San Diego Convention Center, AU Onsite Event Security). The AU 2024 Safety & Security Desk is located near the check-in area on Level 1 of the SDCC. If no onsite help is available and it is an emergency, contact 911. 
• To report non-urgent issues during the conference, please notify onsite security officers within the venue, go to the AU 2024 Safety & Security Desk, or email ausafety@autodesk.com. 
• Be sure to bring and wear your AU 2024 badge to all meetings, conference-related segments, sponsored events (onsite or offsite), including during the AU Design & Make Celebration in the Gaslamp Quarter. (Note: there are NO EXCEPTIONS at the AU 2024 Design & Make Celebration).  
• When outside of the event spaces, do not display your badge.  
• Do not leave computers, mobile devices, personal items, or valuables unattended while in the event space.  
• Secure your mobile devices, personal items, and/or valuables in the hotel room safe when your hotel room is unoccupied.  
• After hours when outside of the event spaces, be mindful of your surroundings.  
• The use of taxis, Uber, or Lyft is recommended during evening hours.  
• Report any after-hour safety or security non-urgent incidents or concerns to the Autodesk Global Security Operations Center at AU Incident Report.   
• Respiratory viruses & other illnesses: If you are feeling unwell or ill before your trip to AU, reconsider your travel plans. If you decide not to attend, please contact AU Registration at au.info@autodeskuniversity.com to handle the necessary changes to your registration. If you experience symptoms consistent with a respiratory virus or other illness while at AU, please refrain from further event participation and reach out to your healthcare provider for guidance.  
   

These are just some things to look forward to—AU is so much more. We’re excited to see you for an incredible week. Register now and we’ll see you in San Diego.