Autodesk has recently formed a global foundation that will help non-profit organisations deliver high impact social programmes through design.
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By providing software, training and finances, the international design software firm aims to make the use of design an essential tool in projects that help address issues like climate change, access to clean energy and water, healthcare and efficient transportation.
Autodesk Foundation, launched on March 4 in the United States, promotes the concept of ‘impact design’. This is similar to the fields of ‘social impact design’ and ‘public interest design’, which focuses on measurable and scalable solutions to benefit underserved communities at the social, environmental and economic levels.
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We want to support and accelerate the design-led revolution currently underway, by investing in design-driven entities that are pursuing scalable solutions with measureable impact
Lynelle Cameron, President and CEO of Autodesk Foundation
Inspired by customers who use the 3D software company’s technology to integrate sustainability into their product designs, Autodesk is aligning its corporate social responsibility goals to its core business through this foundation, stated Autodesk president and CEO Carl Bass.
The software and funding recipients are a result of a careful search process by the foundation. It does not solicit proposals, according to the Autodesk Foundation website. Instead, they identify socially aware designers who want to create meaningful societal impact based on the foundation’s criteria.
The foundation has elected three innovative organisations as the first grantees for its ‘Impact Design Program’, namely KickStart International, MASS Design Group and D-Rev.
Autodesk’s ‘Technology Impact Program’, which provides software donations to non-profit groups will separately continue to be part of the company’s programmes, and could accept proposals from those looking for technology support.
KickStart focuses on poverty alleviation in Africa, designing agricultural irrigation tools for farmers. They have already sent four of their engineers to Autodesk in San Francisco in the US to take several weeks of design software training and application at the company’s fabrication workshop.
Autodesk is also supporting health facility designer MASS Design Group in their ‘maternal waiting homes’ initiative in Malawi. The project is a shelter located near clinics and hospitals, which accommodate expectant mothers who travel from remote villages to receive medical care while waiting for their due dates.
D-Rev, which develops affordable health devices and products for people with low-income, also received assistance for the durability testing of one of its products: the ReMotion Knee, an inexpensive and easy-to-fit prosthetic knee.
Lynelle Cameron, the foundation’s president and Autodesk’s senior director of sustainability, said: “We want to support and accelerate the design-led revolution currently underway, by investing in design-driven entities that are pursuing scalable solutions with measureable impact.”
Autodesk employees around the world are also encouraged to participate in the foundation’s efforts through donations and volunteer work.
