“The intentions of a tool are what it does. A hammer intends to strike, a vise intends to hold fast, a lever intends to lift. They are what it is made for. But sometimes a tool may have other uses that you don't know. Sometimes in doing what you intend, you also do what the knife intends, without knowing.”

― Philip Pullman

As a business leader, you’re likely called on to make a lot of decisions. Some of them may seem inconsequential, and others highly impactful. Regardless, every decision you make should be made after considering the options and when the impact may be significant, it’s best to do some research first. When it comes to choosing your design software, it could have long-lasting implications for your business, your employees, and your projects.

When asked where they find inspiration, artists have a variety of responses from nature to other artists. Architects and engineers are no different. Creators often find inspiration in nature (as we’ll see from some of the wood construction) and from other creators and the way they utilize, capitalize on, and experiment with the tools given to them.

There’s no doubt that regardless of your industry or career, investing in industry-specific certifications has value. However, when it comes to software, especially software that many folks learn on the job, or informally from more experienced users, it’s normal to question whether one needs to go through formal certification. However, in some cases, as with Autodesk certification, there is significant value beyond simply learning the tools of the trade. 

In many industries, terminology gets treated interchangeably whether it’s appropriate or not. Such is the case with Autodesk and AutoCAD. In internet searches, conversations, and more, there seems to be some confusion around how two differentiate the two. Understanding how they’re connected and how they’re different is fundamental to understanding how they work within their industry verticals.

Think about the first time you held a tool, maybe not a hammer as we seem to instinctively know how to wield those, but a power tool like a drill or circular saw. You likely had an idea how to use it, what its function was, but it probably also took someone showing you the features, the nuances, and the myriad of projects you could complete before you realized its full potential. Computer programs and software, like Autodesk, are no different.

“The Stone Age was marked by man’s clever use of crude tools; the information age, to date, has been marked by man’s crude use of clever tools.” While the author is unknown, there is truth to this statement. In the digital age, nearly every industry has standardized software, but how that software gets used and whether it gets used to its fullest potential depends a lot on the user’s understanding of the tool itself. For that reason, understanding how to choose the right Autodesk product for your business is crucial.

There is no doubt that technology and the fast evolution of software applications and the hardware and networking to support them have revolutionized just about every aspect of our lives, from home to work. One of the biggest boons to business was the introduction of cloud computing and collaborative software that enabled seemingly disparate teams to align on goals and objectives, and no industry has seen that change more than the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry.

Growing a business is tough. We know. That means we also know how important the right tools and the right team are in scaling your business in a way that enables you to be successful. You want to make sure you’ve done your research, you’ve selected the right partners, you’ve purchased the right tools, and, perhaps most importantly, know how to use them well.