Make New Connections and Build Your Community at AU 2024

AU 2024 is the place to forge new connections across a vibrant Design and Make community of over 12,000 industry professionals. Join us in San Diego October 15-17 to network with peers and experts, exchange insights, and celebrate the spirit of innovation. Whether you work in architecture, engineering, construction, manufacturing, or media, AU is about community, and we learn through connection. There’s still time to register and join us.  

Orientation  

Kick off AU 2024 by dropping in for an orientation session Monday or Tuesday to get the rundown on conference highlights and keynotes, sessions and activities, wayfinding and the mobile app, and recommendations. Get your questions answered, learn how you can get the most out of your time in San Diego, and meet other attendees. 

Community Zone

Visit the Community Zone to socialize over a game, take a meeting, charge your phone, or just relax. The Community Zone will be open from noon-6:30 PM on Monday, and from 7:00 AM-6:00 PM Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.  

• Therapy Dog Park—Visit our furry friends who will be posted on cuddle duty from 11 AM-4 PM on Tuesday and Wednesday, and from 10 AM-3 PM on Thursday.  
• Fun & Games—Break the ice over cornhole, foosball, or a classic arcade game. 
• After-Class Connections Lounge—When class is over, continue the conversation. Stop in anytime.  
• Speed networking—Expand your network and make new friends at our AU Speed Networking sessions. Sit across from a fellow AU attendee, have a short conversation, and exchange information—then rotate and repeat. 
   

Meetups 

Find your people at AU and build meaningful connections by attending a Meetup. Hosted in two rooms within the Community Zone, these gatherings help you get to know attendees who share your interests or identify with selected groups. You’ll find Meetups that are designed to connect military veterans, Latinx and Asian communities, industry segments, job roles, tech enthusiasts, and many other communities. Each Meetup has a focus, but no agenda. They offer a space to gather, converse, and get to know one another. Explore all the Meetups.  

Connect with the Autodesk Community 

Join us in the Community Zone to learn how you can join a user group, meet other members, explore the community gallery, and acquire some great swag. Make connections you can grow all year round, and join daily networking sessions to get to know community experts, meet the teams behind the products you use every day, and discuss topics that matter to you with your industry peers.  

Design Thinking Workshops

Looking for a creative and collaborative activity with hands-on learning? Join a Design Thinking Workshop to engage with other participants in innovative problem-solving using design-thinking principles. Choose from five workshops that all happen in the Community Zone: AI, Sustainability, Future of Work, Trust, and Autodesk’s Approach to Innovation. You'll learn the essential habits of creative thinkers, develop customer-centric design skills, and enhance your creative and problem-solving abilities.  These workshops enable meaningful collaboration and networking, resulting in new ways of thinking you can take back to your workplace. 

Receptions and Parties

Meet up with friends old and new at our AU receptions and parties including the Welcome Social, the Community Reception in the Expo, Celebrate Women at AU (open to everyone), and the Closing Party at Gaslamp Quarter. 

AU Design Slams

Our adrenaline-fueled, crowd-favorite Design Slams, brought to you by Lenovo, are back this year—so mark your calendar for Tuesday night. At the AEC Design Slam, two-person teams will race against the clock to create an innovative and futuristic concept for a border-bridge city. Competitors in the D&M Design Slam go head-to-head using Fusion. Who takes the crown? The audience decides.  

Cloud Experience

Immerse yourself in a new sensory and collaborative journey at our Cloud activity, located in the Expo. In an intimate group setting, guided by a facilitator, you'll explore real-world challenges and limitless possibilities of cloud technology. Step away from the conference buzz, forge new connections, and unleash your imagination to envision how technology can revolutionize the way you design and make anything. 

AU 5K & Fun Run

Stretch your legs and get your heart pumping with an invigorating 5K run or walk through the scenic San Diego bayfront on Tuesday morning. All fitness levels are welcome and 5K and 2K routes will be available. Meet at the starting line at the San Diego Hilton Promenade. 

Connections are an essential part of the AU experience. At AU 2024, we want you to expand your professional community and have fun while you’re doing it. Register now, and we’ll see you in San Diego.