Between the Lines

Reimagining the Future of Making

Automation Helps People Live and Work Better “Humanity inevitably needs, desires, and demands more. At the same time, it must also confront the reality of less—fewer natural resources, less space, and fewer skilled construction and manufacturing workers than the world needs.” “Automation also helps companies stay ahead of their competitors, but more important, it encourages and supports the imagination that moves humanity forward. Better cities, better buildings, better things, better work: Reimagining the model for automation can balance the inevitability... Read more →

Autodesk’s AutoCAD was just on the Apple Keynote

I was watching the Apple keynote this morning and just seen during the new iPad Pro announcement that AutoCAD Mobile App was shown. Congrats to the AutoCAD Team! Apple Special Event | Watch Now‎ Read more →

AU2018 Blogger and Social Media Meetup Sign Up

We are now less than two weeks from Autodesk University 2018! Every year at AU we invite active bloggers, social media participants and other “friends” to join us for a little food and drink at AU – a chance for us to meet some of these people face to face and to thank them personally for their (typically unpaid) work that helps promote Autodesk products or by assisting our Autodesk customers. This year LinkedIn Learning has graciously partnered with us... Read more →

Be Inspired - Life in 3D

Check out the amazing sailing ships in the Sails Project… Amazing work using Autodesk 3ds max by Sindy Saalfeld. Check this out! https://area.autodesk.com/life-in-3d/the-sails-project/ There are many other projects from customers using Maya, 3ds max, and Arnold to make you go “wow” or be inspired to what you can do. Every time I look through the gallery on the Area, I am absolutely blown away and inspired by the creativity. Read more →

O’l Blue Eye

It’s a funny and frustrating story, but perhaps it makes sense if you had seen me over the past year and wondered “why do Shaan’s eyeglasses have one blue tinted lens.” Last fall I got my annual eye exam and new eye prescription and when figuring out my glasses and lenses I was told to get a blue tint to reduce eye strain from reading electronic devices like computers and phones which emit blue light. It made sense as blue... Read more →

Autodesk Opportunities

Autodesk has over 100 offices in over 38 countries around the world. We’d love for you to join us! Last night at the PDXWIT Portland Women in Technology meeting we telling everyone that we currently have 13 roles open to hire in Portland Oregon in addition to the hundreds of openings around the company. Check out our Portland openings which are changing all the time. Want to look around the over 200 Autodesk offices and openings, go to our careers... Read more →

Blogger and Social Media Meetup at AU 2018

Hey, Bloggers & Social Media attending Autodesk University 2018. If we held the Blogger and Social Meetup this year, what evening in the busy AU 2018 schedule would work? Tuesday eve? Its hard to avoid conflicts but lets try to find a time that works and we will get a location with drinks to gather to meet in real life. My preference is early in the week to collaborate on upcoming AU activities. I will also see about giving away... Read more →

Fusion 360 Meetup in Portland 11.01.18

We are excited to be reintroducing the Fusion 360 Meetup in our new Portland Autodesk office located in the Central Eastside Industrial District. When: Thursday November 1 5:00 PM ‐ 8:00 PM Where: Autodesk Portland 221 SE Ankeny St, Portland, Oregon Agenda: 5:00 pm – 5:30 pm Arrive, socialize, eat and drink, check out the space including the PIE Shop - ask questions 5:30 pm – 6:45 pm Welcome, Meetup going forward, Fusion updates, and Portland Autodesk Space Mike Aubry... Read more →

The Autodesk University AU5K is a Month Away

If you are attending Autodesk University next month, you should plan to join us Tuesday morning for some fresh air and fun. Tuesday, Nov 13, 6:00 AM - 07:15 AM 231817 - AU 5K and Fun Run “Grab your running shoes and join us on the Vegas Strip for this annual AU tradition started by avid runner and Autodesk expert Shaan Hurley. What better way to jump start your morning and your endorphins while connecting with fellow attendees—all before your... Read more →

Don't Be Kanye with Security

It’s always good to provide reminders to be mindful of security, especially in this day of technology where much our life and data is contained on our phone and laptops. So, last week Kanye was meeting (crazy rambling meeting) with the US President and broke out his phone and many of us noticed that he used all 0’s for his passcode to unlock his phone. It’s bad enough he unlocked his phone within view of cameras beaming the view to... Read more →

Thank You Seattle Startup Week

Last Thursday I spoke on a panel How Technology is changing the $10 trillion construction industry at Seattle Startup Week with: Greg Howes - Cofounder, CutMyTimber, AEC Hackathon, Seattle Proptech Amy Hutchins - Founder, Chief Product & Technology Officer, Unearth Technologies Salla Palos - Director of Emerging Technology & Innovation, Sellen Construction Greg Howes opened the panel discussion with a quote on a slide from Autodesk CEO Andrew Anagnost about AEC and Manufacturing are merging. He then asked the panel... Read more →

Paul Allen 1953 - 2018

The tech world and the US Pacific Northwest is reeling from the loss of Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen yesterday. Microsoft Co-Founder Paul Allen died at 65 from complications of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. In addition to being the ideas person with Bill gates when they founded Microsoft, Paul Allen was also a huge philanthropist as well as a sports team owner of teams like NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers, the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks and part owner of the Seattle’s Sounders soccer team. He... Read more →

Sleepless in Seattle

I am working remote from Seattle this week for several reasons. Tuesday I had my FAA Part 107 renewal exam for commercial SUAS pilot – and passed. I did a lot of studying and practice tests. I can’t recommend RemotePilot101.com enough and first learned of them in our corporate training program and now use them for all my SUAS training and certification needs. Thursday I am speaking at Seattle Startup Week. How Technology is changing the $10 trillion construction industry... Read more →

The First Portland Media & Entertainment Showcase

Last evening in the new Autodesk Portland office, about 150 local 3D creatives and some Autodesk employees gathered for the first ever M&E (Media & Entertainment) Showcase event put on by two local Portland Autodesk employees Jordan Giboney and Hagen Deloss. There were several top local 3D talent presenting and some VR demos, and a really good food and beverages. The event was free and solely held to showcase the amazing talent in Portland's creative artist community. Roland Gauthier, Executive... Read more →

Fast Company Recognizes Autodesk with Four 2018 ‘Innovation by Design’ Honors

More than 398 companies, projects and products were submitted to Fast Company’s 2018 “Innovation by Design” awards honoring creative work at the intersection of design, business and innovation across many industries, including fashion, architecture, graphic design and data visualization, social good and user experience. Autodesk snagged finalist or honorable mention status in four categories: “Design Company of the Year” Honoree “User Experience” (Finalist) – AutoCAD web app “Web Design” Honoree – AutoCAD web app And my current Autodesk office location.... Read more →

Fall Has Arrived in Oregon

I captured this photo with my phone last weekend near Oregon City which is just a couple miles southeast of Portland. I was driving on a rural road and seen the amazing fall colors of the maple trees along this private driveway. I love being in a geographic location with seasons, and seasons as strong, vivid, and beautiful as they are in the Pacific Northwest. The colors of the trees and cool crisp air is an amazing time. Read more →

THE FACTORY Powered by Fusion 360 Back at AU 2018

Do you remember the awesome speakers many made at Autodesk University 2017, and how popular this was? We're bringing the crowd favorite back to AU2018! This year a new project where attendees will have the chance to roll up their sleeves in a unique hands-on factory setting to design and manufacture their own air quality sensing lamp. THE FACTORY powered by Fusion 360 will be front-and-center in the Expo Hall and is open to a limited number of participants on... Read more →

Digitally Designing the Physical World – XR for Architecture and Construction

A week ago, last Monday evening I presented at a local meetup group Design Reality that was for an AEC focused XR event. My goal was to expand the awareness of AR/VR beyond the 3D rendered images commonly used in pre-construction design reviews and into what I see as a sweet spot in AEC construction. XR is the new term for eXtended Reality which combined AR/MR/VR and is a nice high level since it appears that all three will be... Read more →