Take your architecture student projects to the next level with Autodesk Forma

Explore how Autodesk Forma, a free software for students, can save you time on projects while enhancing creativity and sustainability. It integrates smoothly with tools like Rhino, Veras, and Archistar. 

Being an architecture student is a unique journey—filled with long hours, ambitious designs, and the endless pursuit of perfection. Having been in your shoes, I know the pressures of juggling assignments, conceptualizing projects, and meeting tight deadlines. It can feel overwhelming, but it’s also an incredible opportunity to shape your creative identity. 

Here’s the great news: you have access to more tools and resources than ever before to help you improve your designs. One of those is Autodesk Forma, which I wish I had while studying! Forma is a cloud-based platform that allows architects and urban planners to optimize building performance, analyze sustainability, and collaborate efficiently in the early design stages. With tools like Forma, combined with a collaborative mindset and a focus on sustainability, you can produce cutting-edge designs that don’t just meet the brief but push boundaries.  

Improve your projects while saving time with Autodesk Forma 

During my architecture studies, I wasted much time learning and handling the software instead of using it to improve my projects. It was frustrating to spend days doing time-consuming jobs, like modeling surroundings in SketchUp and Rhino based on Google Maps or spending hours converting hand sketches into 3D through tedious workflows, often leading to disappointing results, forcing me to start over.  

Instead, I could have used Autodesk Forma, which saves hours when setting up new projects! Forget tracing Google Maps; you have your terrain and 3D buildings in just five minutes. Save time testing site proposals with special massing tools. Plus, running a sun study requires no expertise in Grasshopper or LadyBug—just click to analyze, and within seconds, you can see the environmental impact of your proposal. This also includes conditions such as noise, wind, and embodied carbon. This advantage could help you present projects that balance aesthetics and sustainability. Mastering these skills would also set you apart when looking for your first jobs! Best of all, it’s free for students, it’s easy to learn, and you don’t need to be tech-savvy! 

I might be biased about Forma since I work here, but that is because I often wish I had the software at my fingertips when I needed it. It could have taken my project to the next level, enhancing both my learning and the project week after week. With Forma, I would have been able to prioritize the creative aspects of my design instead of spending hours on repetitive tasks like manual calculations and modeling volumes.  

Seamless Workflow with Rhino and Extensions 

Forma enables innovative companies and creators to link their applications and systems seamlessly to the Forma platform. This allows you to utilize the advantages of other apps without the hassles of imports, exports, and extensive setup time—it integrates effortlessly, letting you concentrate on bringing your ideas to life. For example, do you need to create quick renderings for your crit that starts in an hour? Explore the Veras rendering extension by EvolveLab! Want to add more details to your volumes? Just send your model to Rhino and sync back when you’re ready to evaluate the impact on the surroundings. Or perhaps you want to generate suggestions for your site? In that case, try our new extension with Archistar! 

The future of architecture is exciting, and now is your time to experiment, learn, and grow. Remember that every project is a stepping stone, and every tool you master brings you closer to becoming the architect you aspire to be. 

Students and educators get Forma for free

Why not try Forma out for yourself? Get a free educational license here.