Autodesk announces 2026 Design & Make Awards winners

Twenty-five Autodesk customers and community leaders are the 2026 Design & Make Awards winners, recognized for using technology to solve real problems across architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC), product design and manufacturing, and media and entertainment. They are the people, projects, and technologies behind exceptional contributions to a better world designed and made for all. The winners come from 52 finalists, named publicly this summer. They range from Adani Airports and Hyundai Motor Company to a high school clean energy program, a gorilla conservation film, and community leaders who mentor their peers. At Autodesk University 2026, the Customer Spotlight Lounge celebrated finalists' achievements and connected attendees with the inspiring stories and innovations behind their work. Winners were selected through a rigorous evaluation led by Autodesk industry and technology experts, who assessed each finalist for innovative use of technology, industry impact, and contributions to advancing how the world is designed and made. "From airports and animation studios to sustainable housing and next-generation mobility, this year's winners are finding new ways to improve how we live, work, and create," says Steve Blum, Autodesk EVP and COO. "Their ingenuity and the impact they're having on the world deserve to be celebrated."

Recognizing the people behind the work

The Awards program honors customers in 25 awards across 13 categories. Innovator of the Year, Accelerating Transformation, Making a Better World, Community Leader of the Year, Small Business of the Year, and Creator of the Year each recognize winners in AEC, design and manufacturing, and media and entertainment, where applicable. Infrastructure Design, Building Design, Construction, Autodesk Platform Services, and Education Excellence recognize work in specific disciplines. Outstanding Recognition honors a customer in each of the APAC, EMEA, and AMER regions. The winners show how wide the program reaches. Six of them, across three industries and several regions, show what customers do with Autodesk technology:

Be part of what's next in Design and Make Across industries and around the world, the 2026 Design & Make Awards winners are challenging conventions, pushing the boundaries of technology, and finding new ways to solve meaningful problems. Their achievements demonstrate what's possible when bold ideas meet the tools and expertise to bring them to life. Explore the full list of 2026 winners and discover the people and projects shaping the future of Design and Make. Are you or someone you know using technology to make a difference? Share your story for an opportunity to be recognized in the next Design & Make Awards.

Meet the 2026 winners