Why We're Opening a Generative Design Field Lab in Chicago

Our new workshop space will showcase the technology from start to finish.

Every new technology comes with a learning curve, but we don’t want that to hold our customers back from exploring what’s possible. We believe every manufacturer should have the opportunity to consider better and more innovative ways to produce their products. That’s why we’re excited to open a new public workshop space in Chicago: the **Autodesk Generative Design Field Lab**. This space is designed to help our customers understand what generative design is, how they can use it, and how it's transforming the future of manufacturing.

What is generative design?

Generative design is an AI-powered tool that takes input from engineers—like weight, strength, and manufacturing method—and generates multiple design solutions that meet those constraints. Instead of starting with a single idea and testing it, this process eliminates guesswork by providing proven, optimized designs right from the start. This allows designers and engineers to focus more on creativity, knowing that the solutions are already validated for performance and manufacturability.

Ready to visit the Generative Design Field Lab? Get in touch today!

Last year, we introduced generative design to users of Fusion 360, our all-in-one product development platform. It’s a powerful tool, but it also represents a shift in how we approach design challenges. That’s why we wanted to create a space where people could experience the technology firsthand and see how it works in real-time.

Joining forces

We partnered with MxD (Manufacturing x Digital) in Chicago to open the Field Lab at their 100,000 square-foot innovation center. It’s the perfect place for visitors to get hands-on with cutting-edge manufacturing technologies. “MxD was founded in 2014 as part of a national network focused on manufacturing innovation,” says Caralynn Nowinski Collens, MxD board member. “We’re committed to deploying solutions like generative design that help make American manufacturing more productive, efficient, and workforce-ready. What Autodesk is doing here brings things to life, and that’s inspiring for our visitors.”

Chuck Kennedy of Farsoon Technologies working on a generatively designed part that was plastic laser sintered on Farsoon’s eForm system.

Investing where it matters

Chicago is at the heart of the American manufacturing region, known for its strong economic performance. According to the Brookings Institution, the area outperforms the rest of the country in key economic indicators. However, further investment in advanced manufacturing—especially in digital skills—is essential for long-term growth. The MxD facility gives us a great opportunity to train workers and apply these new technologies effectively.

“MxD is an ideal place to open the Field Lab,” said Sean Manzanares, senior manager of business strategy and market development at Autodesk. “It’s a hub in the Midwest where we can show our customers and partners what we’re working on. It also allows us to engage students, workers, and other stakeholders who are interested in understanding how generative design can benefit them.”

Machine-minded

The Field Lab is equipped with the latest machinery, so visitors can see how to design, prototype, and manufacture products in real time. Alongside a DMS hybrid additive/subtractive 3-axis router, you’ll find a Datron Neo CNC mill and a Farsoon eForm laser sintering system. Today’s manufacturers have many options when it comes to producing parts, and generative design helps users choose the best manufacturing method from the start, ensuring their designs are fully manufacturable with existing tools.

Autodesk’s Adam N. Smith and SRAM’s Dhiraj Madura discuss how generative design could be used for developing bicycle components.

Racing to innovate

One of the first companies to visit the Field Lab was SRAM, a leading bike component manufacturer based in Chicago. Known for its high-quality engineering, SRAM is always looking for new ways to improve. “Over my 18 years at SRAM, not much has changed in terms of the tools I use,” said Dhiraj Madura, Global Industrial Design Director at SRAM. “We still use the same CAD software and print prototypes, which hasn’t really improved our manufacturing process.”

Madura is excited about the potential of generative design to help his team explore more options faster. “We do a lot of iteration, but it often takes too long. With generative design, we can test more concepts quickly and find better solutions. As our products become more complex, we need new tools and methods, and that’s exactly what we’re here to explore.”

Next steps

“To move manufacturing forward, we need to think about the entire product lifecycle, starting with early design stages,” said Chandra Brown, executive director at MxD. “Autodesk is helping bring real solutions to the table, and walking people through the whole design process is a big part of what we do.”

Contact us if you're interested in visiting the Field Lab at MxD or learning more about generative design. We hope to hear from you soon!

*MxD was formerly known as the Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute (DMDII) until February 2019.

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