Autodesk facts for kids
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| Public | |
| Traded as | |
| Industry | Software |
| Founded | January 30, 1982, in Mill Valley, California, U.S. |
| Founders |
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| Headquarters | One Market Plaza, San Francisco, California, U.S. |
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Key people
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| Products | See § Products |
| Revenue |  US$6.13 billion (2025) |
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Operating income
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US$1.35 billion (2025) |
| US$1.11 billion (2025) |
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| Total assets | US$10.8 billion (2025) |
| Total equity | US$2.62 billion (2025) |
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Number of employees
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15,300 (2025) |
| Footnotes / references Financials as of January 31, 2025[update]. |
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Autodesk, Inc. is a big American company that makes computer software. This software helps people in many different jobs, like designing buildings, making things in factories, and even creating movies and video games.
Autodesk's main office is in San Francisco, California, USA. They also have offices all over the world, including in many U.S. states and Canadian provinces.
The company started in 1982. One of its founders was John Walker, who helped create the first versions of AutoCAD. AutoCAD is Autodesk's most famous software. It's used for computer-aided design (CAD). Another important software is Revit, which helps architects and engineers design buildings in 3D.
Autodesk software has been used for many amazing projects. These include designing the One World Trade Center skyscraper and even Tesla electric cars.
While AutoCAD made Autodesk famous, the company now makes many different types of software. These tools are for design, engineering, and entertainment. They even have some software for everyday users. For example, factories use Autodesk's digital prototyping software, like Autodesk Inventor and Fusion 360. This software helps them test how products will work using a digital model before they are built.
Autodesk's Media and Entertainment team creates software for movies, TV shows, and video games. This includes tools for visual effects, animation, and editing. Programs like 3ds Max and Maya are used to make 3D animations for films and games.
Contents
How Autodesk Started
Autodesk was founded in April 1982 by John Walker, Daniel Drake, and 14 other programmers. They put in $60,000 of their own money to start the company. Walker began the company after getting a program called Interact. This program was an early computer-aided design (CAD) tool that worked on small computers.
Interact made it possible for smaller design and engineering companies to create detailed technical drawings without expensive equipment. A programmer named Michael Riddle had developed Interact in 1979. He sold the program to Walker in exchange for a share of future sales. The program was then improved and renamed AutoCAD.
At first, the founders weren't sure what kind of software to focus on. They planned to create several different programs to see which one would be successful. However, when AutoCAD was shown for the first time at a big computer show in 1982, people loved it. This made the company decide to focus mainly on CAD software.
AutoCAD went on sale in December 1982. In its first year, it made $1.4 million. The company was profitable from the very beginning and didn't need loans or outside investors. By 1984, about 10,000 AutoCAD systems were in use. AutoCAD was so successful that for a while, many people thought Autodesk's name was actually AutoCAD.
Autodesk became a public company in 1985. This meant its shares could be bought and sold on the stock market.
In 1986, AutoCAD Release 2.1 added a special feature called AutoLISP. This allowed other developers to create their own tools and add-ons for AutoCAD. This helped AutoCAD become even more popular in many different industries.
Over time, Autodesk stopped supporting some older computer systems like Unix and Apple Macintosh for AutoCAD. After 1997, they focused mainly on Microsoft Windows computers.
AutoCAD became the most widely used CAD program for 2D drawings. Its special file formats, DXF and DWG, are also used by many other CAD programs to share design data.
By 1989, Autodesk's sales grew to over $100 million in just four years.
John Walker stayed as a programmer at Autodesk until 1994. He left because he disagreed with some changes happening at the company. In 1997, Autodesk bought another company called Softdesk. This helped Autodesk start making special versions of AutoCAD for specific industries like architecture, civil engineering, and manufacturing.
Since the late 1990s, Autodesk has added other important products that are not based on AutoCAD. These include Revit, which helps with building design, and Inventor, which is used for mechanical design.
In 2013, Autodesk introduced a new company logo. In 2017, the company had a large layoff, reducing its number of employees. Another layoff happened in 2025, affecting about 9% of its workforce. This was part of a plan to focus more on artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing.
Autodesk updated its logo again in September 2021. In 2022, Autodesk moved its main office to San Francisco from San Rafael, California, where it had been since 1994.
Companies Autodesk Has Bought
Autodesk has grown a lot by buying other companies over the years. Here are some of the companies they have acquired:
- In 1992, they bought Micro Engineering Solutions (MES) Inc., which made software for manufacturing design.
- In 1993, they acquired Ithaca Software, a 3D computer graphics company.
- In 1996, they planned to buy Softdesk, a company that made software for architecture, engineering, and construction.
- In 1998, they bought parts of Genius CAD-Software to improve their mechanical design products.
- In 1998, they also agreed to buy Discreet Logic Inc., a company known for visual effects software.
- In 1999, they acquired VISION* Solutions, which made mapping and information systems.
- In 2001, they bought Gentry Systems, a supplier of tools for the electric utility industry.
- In 2001, they acquired Buzzsaw, a company focused on online project collaboration.
- In 2002, they bought Revit Technology Corporation, which developed parametric building technology.
- In 2002, they acquired CAiCE Software Corporation, which made surveying and engineering applications. This led to the "Civil 3D" product.
- In 2002, they also acquired parts of truEInnovations, Inc. to create the Autodesk Vault application.
- In 2006, they acquired Alias, known for automotive design and digital content creation tools.
- In 2007, they bought Skymatter Inc., the creator of Mudbox.
- In 2007, they also acquired NavisWorks Limited, which made project review software.
- In 2008, they bought Moldflow Corporation, a top provider of software for simulating plastic injection molding.
- In 2008, they acquired Kynogon SA, which made artificial intelligence software for video games.
- In 2008, they also bought REALVIZ S.A., known for creating panoramas and 3D models from photos.
- In 2008, they acquired Square One Research and its product, Ecotect, used for building analysis.
- In 2008, they announced the acquisition of Avid's Softimage, Co. business, which made 3D animation software.
- In 2008, they agreed to acquire ALGOR, Inc., a company specializing in engineering analysis.
- In 2009, they bought VisualTAO, an Israeli startup that developed cloud-based tools to view and edit AutoCAD files online.
- In 2010, they acquired Illuminate Labs, which made lighting software for video games.
- In 2011, they bought Blue Ridge Numerics, Inc., a provider of simulation software.
- In 2011, they acquired Scaleform, a user interface software for video games.
- In 2011, they bought Pixlr, an online photo editing service.
- In 2011, they acquired Instructables, a website where people share DIY projects.
- In 2011, they bought Numenus, which helps optimize CAD and construction processes.
- In 2011, they acquired Grip Entertainment, which developed behavior control systems for characters in video games.
- In 2011, they bought Horizontal Systems, a provider of cloud-based collaboration tools for the construction industry.
- In 2012, they acquired Qontext, Inc., a social collaboration platform.
- In 2013, they bought PI-VR GmbH, which made visualization software called VRED, used in the car industry.
- In 2013, they acquired Firehole Technologies, which made software for designing composite materials.
- In 2013, Tinkercad, a simple 3D design tool, announced it had been bought by Autodesk.
- In 2013, they signed an agreement to acquire Advance Steel software from Graitec.
- In 2014, they acquired Delcam, a UK company that made advanced CAD/CAM software for manufacturing.
- In 2014, Creative Market, a platform for design content, announced it had been bought by Autodesk.
- In 2014, they acquired Nei Nastran, a software for engineering analysis.
- In 2014, they acquired Within Technologies, a company focused on 3D printing.
- In 2014, Shotgun Software, which made project tracking software for media and entertainment, announced it had been acquired.
- In 2014, they acquired Topolabs Technology, a company that pioneered 3D toolpaths for 3D printing.
- In 2015, they signed an agreement to acquire SeeControl.
- In 2016, they acquired SolidAngle, the creator of the Arnold rendering software.
- In 2016, they acquired CadSoft Computer GmbH, which made PCB design software called EAGLE.
- In 2018, they acquired Assemble Systems.
- In 2018, they announced they would acquire PlanGrid, a company providing construction productivity software.
- In 2018, they announced they would acquire BuildingConnected, a construction bid-management platform.
- In 2020, they invested in Aurigo Software to improve their construction technology offerings.
- In 2020, they took an ownership stake in Bridgit Inc., a Canadian company making construction workforce planning software.
- In 2020, they announced they would acquire Pype, a company providing cloud-based solutions for automating construction project management.
- In 2020, they announced they would acquire Spacemaker, a cloud platform using AI for building design.
- In 2021, they announced they would acquire Innovyze, a provider of smart water infrastructure technology, for $1 billion.
- In 2021, they announced they would acquire ProEst, a cloud-based construction estimating product.
- In January 2024, Autodesk announced it would acquire Payapps, a cloud-based construction claim software.
- In May 2024, Autodesk acquired Wonder Dynamics, a cloud-based 3D animation and visual effects tool company.
- In August 2024, Autodesk acquired key technology and the team from Golaem, a French company specializing in crowd simulation software for Maya.
Autodesk Products
Autodesk makes many different software products. These products are grouped into different areas based on what they are used for.
Design Platforms
The Platform Solutions and Emerging Business (PSEB) group creates the main software tools that many other Autodesk products are built upon. This includes AutoCAD, AutoCAD LT, AutoCAD for Mac, and the AutoCAD mobile app. This group also handles Autodesk Cloud services and Autodesk Labs, which explores new technologies.
Autodesk also has a Consumer Product Group. This group was started to get more people interested in 3D design. Their tools are used by kids, students, artists, and people who like to make things themselves.
Training and Certificates
Autodesk offers special certificates to show that someone knows how to use their software. There are two main types:
- Autodesk Certified User – This certificate shows basic skills in important Autodesk products. It's great for students and teachers who want to prove they know the basics.
- Advanced Certified Professional – This certificate shows more advanced skills. It's for students who want to stand out in a specific software area.
Architecture, Engineering, and Construction
This group creates software for designing buildings, bridges, and other structures. Their main office is in Boston, Massachusetts. Key products include AutoCAD and Revit. Revit is a top product for Building Information Modeling (BIM). BIM lets users plan, build, and manage a building virtually before it's actually constructed.
This division also makes software for the construction industry, like Autodesk Construction Cloud and Advance Steel. For infrastructure projects, they have Civil 3D and InfraWorks. Their software has been used for projects like the NASA Ames building, the San Francisco Bay Bridge, the Shanghai Tower, and New York's One World Trade Center.
Manufacturing
Autodesk's manufacturing software helps companies design and make products. This includes things like industrial machines, car parts, and consumer goods. Their main office for this group is in Portland, Oregon.
Important products in this area are Fusion 360 (which has many different versions), Autodesk Alias, Autodesk Inventor, Autodesk Vault, and Autodesk CFD. These tools help engineers visualize, test, and analyze how products will work using digital models.
Media and Entertainment
The Autodesk Media and Entertainment division creates software for movies, TV, and video games. This includes tools for visual effects, color correction, editing, animation, and game development. This division is based in Montreal, Quebec.
Some of their most popular products are Flame, Flow Production Tracking, Maya, 3ds Max, Arnold, MotionBuilder, and Mudbox.
Autodesk software was used to create many of the visual effects in famous movies. For example, much of Avatar's visual effects were made with Autodesk tools. Director James Cameron could even see actors as their movie characters in real-time using this software. Other movies that used Autodesk software include Alice in Wonderland, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1, Inception, Iron Man 2, King Kong, Gladiator, and Titanic. Walt Disney Animation Studios also uses Autodesk Maya for character animation in films like Frozen II.
Renderers
Autodesk develops and has bought many different rendering programs. Renderers are software tools that create realistic images from 3D models. Many Autodesk products also come with other companies' renderers.
- Autodesk Raytracer (ART) – A simple renderer based on Opticore technology.
- Autodesk VRED – A real-time and offline renderer that works with detailed 3D models.
- Autodesk Arnold – A powerful renderer used a lot in movies and TV for animation and visual effects.
- Turtle – A renderer used for "baking" textures in Maya LT.
- Maya Software – A hybrid renderer in Maya.
- 3ds Max Scanline – A hybrid renderer in 3ds Max.
- Maya Vector – A renderer that creates vector-based images.
- One Graphics System – A GPU-based renderer used in 3ds Max and Maya.
Cloud Rendering Services
Autodesk also offers rendering services that use cloud computing. This means you can use powerful computers over the internet to create your images.
- Autodesk Rendering – A simple cloud renderer.
- 3ds Max Cloud Rendering – A cloud rendering system for Arnold in 3ds Max.
- Azure Batch Rendering – A cloud rendering system for Maya, 3ds Max, and Arnold, provided with Microsoft.
Visualization Tools
These tools help users see their designs in a realistic way.
- Autodesk VRED
- 3ds Max Interactive – A real-time visualization tool that comes with 3ds Max.
Sustainability Efforts
Autodesk cares about the environment and helps its customers design more sustainably.
- Autodesk CFD (formerly Autodesk Simulation CFD) has tools to model how air flows and heat moves in buildings. This helps architects and engineers design buildings that use less energy and are more comfortable.
- Autodesk created C-FACT, a way to set goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This method suggests that companies should reduce their emissions in proportion to their economic growth.
- In 2006, Autodesk supported a PBS TV show called e² Design. This show focused on "green building" design around the world and the technologies that make it possible.
- In November 2021, Autodesk was added to the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index. This shows they are recognized as a leading company in sustainability.
Images for kids
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Former Autodesk headquarters in San Rafael
See also
In Spanish: Autodesk para niños
