Last year, Autodesk Tinkercad celebrated its 10-year anniversary. Initially debuting for the consumer market in 2011, Tinkercad took on a life of its own—finding budding designers and inspirational educators, and sparking many heartwarming stories in education.
From 1st grade classrooms to Ivy League engineering lectures, Tinkercad supported a vibrant community of teachers, kids, hobbyists, and designers. Together, with the help of educators from every country in the world, we introduced millions of people the world of design and make.
This year, we’re going even bolder. As the Tinkercad community nears 50 million members, we have three exciting announcements to share:
First, Tinkercad will foster the STEM skills to create the new possible.
Today, many educators are not aware that Tinkercad offers more than 3D design. It is also used to teach electronics with Circuits, and programming with Codeblocks.
More than 3D design, we need 3D literacy. More than software and silos, we need convergence and collaboration. Tinkercad is a powerful tool to foster the foundational skills for innovation: 3D design, electronics, and coding.
In the years to come, these three skills will form the building blocks for all new and disruptive innovations across the industries Autodesk serves: architecture, engineering, construction, product design, manufacturing, media, and entertainment.
But how do today’s students go from a beginner-friendly computer-aided design (CAD) tool to designing autonomous robots or NASCAR-winning vehicles? That’s a large leap for any imagination. This brings us to our second exciting announcement:
Tinkercad will bridge this gap by lighting the path to careers in design and make.
When students are ready to level up, the skills they learned in Tinkercad will map seamlessly to high school classes like Introduction to Engineering Design and industry tools like Autodesk Fusion 360.
Still, graduating to professional design and engineering tools can feel daunting.
To solve this problem, Tinkercad will provide a clear pathway into Fusion 360 rich with self-paced learning content, on-demand videos, and sample projects. In compliance with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), students who are at least 13 will be able to use the same tools as the pros.
Finally, Tinkercad is getting a new look to match the bold demands of the future.
Rest assured, Tinkercad’s brand and what we stand for is not changing.
So what is? New workflows are emerging, old industries are converging, and the world is demanding a new way. We must build more with less, design solutions together, and create it all quickly and sustainably. These challenges cannot be surmounted with skills alone; they must be answered by curious doers and passionate problem-solvers with a burning fire to turn ideas into realities and transform “what is” into “what if.”
To achieve that, we need to spark an emotional connection. We need kids to discover the thrill of invention. We need to give students the boost to pursue STEM careers with confidence.
Above all, we need you. We hope you will join us in welcoming Tinkercad’s new site experience, launching worldwide at the end of June 2022.
Tinkercad is a free web app for 3D design, electronics, and coding. We’re the ideal introduction to Autodesk, a global leader in design and make technology.
P.S. If you are attending the 2022 International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Live Conference from June 26-29 in New Orleans, please say hello! We will be booth 2650.
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