Autodesk

Autodesk, Inc. is an American multinational software company that develops software for design, engineering, construction, manufacturing, and media and entertainment. It focuses on 2D and 3D design and visualization tools and services used by professionals and organizations worldwide. The company is headquartered in San Rafael, California, and operates globally. Autodesk is publicly traded on the Nasdaq under the ticker ADSK, and its business relies on subscription models and cloud-based services.

Founded in 1982, Autodesk released AutoCAD, its flagship computer-aided design program, and achieved widespread adoption in architecture, engineering, and manufacturing. Over the years the company expanded its product lines through internal development and strategic acquisitions, broadening into building information modeling, 3D animation, and product design workflows. It has emphasized cloud-enabled collaboration and scalable workflows to support complex projects.

Key products and platforms include Revit, a BIM platform for building design and construction; AutoCAD for drafting and design; Maya and 3ds Max for animation and visualization; Inventor for mechanical design; Fusion 360, a cloud-based CAD/CAM/CAE platform; and Arnold, a high-end rendering engine. Autodesk has also integrated cloud collaboration tools such as BIM 360 and the Forge platform to support data sharing and app development. Notable acquisitions include Revit (2002), Navisworks (2007), Maya (acquired in 2006), and the Arnold renderer (2016).

Autodesk serves multiple sectors, with primary emphasis on architecture, engineering, and construction, as well as manufacturing and media and entertainment. The company promotes software subscriptions and cloud services, and maintains educational programs and a global user community, including events such as Autodesk University.