A New Chapter for AEC Innovation – Motif
30 January 2025
Big news in the AEC world this week—Motif has officially launched.
Their Blog Post: https://motif.io/blog.html
Led by Amar Hanspal, Brian Mathews, Matt Jezyk, and Lira Nikolovska, this team is no stranger to solving industry challenges. I’ve had the privilege of working closely with Amar, Brian, and Matt at Autodesk, and if there’s one thing I know, it’s that they don’t take on small problems—they take on the ones that truly move the industry forward.
The built environment is evolving, but the digital tools supporting it? Not so much. Many of the workflows architects, engineers, and builders rely on are still anchored in software developed decades ago. Meanwhile, advancements in AI, cloud computing, generative design, and real-time collaboration are reshaping nearly every other industry. Motif is stepping in to bridge that gap—rethinking how AEC professionals design, collaborate, and build.
”We’re building something that will directly impact lives and the future of our planet. Having spent my career in design software, I want to build a different kind of company. One that is both ambitious and humble. Where the team cares about its craft and practices genuine, deep collaboration with customers. Where we are proud of the work we do, but never, ever satisfied. Motif is that company.”
”This isn’t just about creating applications—it’s about building an open platform that makes it radically simpler to build upon. Our platform will enable participation from anywhere, on any device, with modern user experience patterns that reshapes the future of building design, transforming it into a dynamic, collaborative, and inclusive process.”
Reading between the lines in their blog post, this doesn't appear to just about better software. It’s about creating a platform that empowers the people shaping our cities, infrastructure, and spaces to work smarter, faster, and more collaboratively. And knowing this team, they won’t just challenge the status quo—they’ll redefine it.
The word "motif" has a few meanings, depending on the context:
Design & Architecture: A recurring element or theme in a design, pattern, or structure. In architecture, motifs are repeated decorative or functional elements that create cohesion and meaning in a design.
- Music & Art: A short, recurring idea or theme that forms the foundation of a composition. Think of a melody that repeats throughout a symphony.
Literature & Storytelling: A central theme or idea that appears throughout a story, reinforcing its message or mood.
General Meaning: A guiding principle, inspiration, or purpose behind something.
Congratulations to Amar, Brian, and the entire Motif team! Looking forward to seeing the impact you’ll make.
Cheers,
-Shaan