On June 18, makers, tinkerers and DIYers will converge on the White House to celebrate its first national Maker Faire, and Autodesk is excited to be a part of the action!

The Faire gives Makers the opportunity to show the world how they use new technology and cutting edge tools to lead the new industrial revolution.

In addition to the event at the White House, June 18 will also be known as the Day of Making. Everyone is encouraged to make something and share it using the hashtage #NationofMakers. You can start by posting that recipe on Instructables, building that model in 123D or unleashing your creativity with SketchBook Pro, and join other Autodesk Makers from around the country.

We aren’t stopping at just one day of making though. We want to inspire millions of future makers in the U.S. to help make the future.  

In celebration of the inaugural White House Maker Faire, Autodesk has partnered with Indiegogo, the world’s largest crowdfunding platform, to launch it’s first-ever Maker Challenge. The challenge provides the opportunity for Indiegogo makers to share their work with the world and raise money for their passion.

Five selected campaigns will receive 123D Mentorship from Autodesk, while all qualifying maker-oriented projects will get access to Autodesk Fusion 360, an easy-to-use 3D CAD/CAM tool for those makers bringing new products to market.

We are also excited to launch the Make the Future initiative. This will see Autodesk providing the next generation of inventors, innovators and entrepreneurs with:

• Free* access to Autodesk’s cutting-edge 3D design software so they can turn their ideas into reality.

These are the same digital tools that over 12 million architects, engineers, designers and hobbyists around the world use every day. Cloud-based design tools like Autodesk Fusion 360 also enable users to work on their projects anytime and anywhere, and open the doors for young makers to collaborate with their peers.

• New curricula focused on “Making” and 3D printing to encourage design thinking and hands-on problem solving skills. We will also align our software with maker specific projects and training in partnership with Maker Ed, a national nonprofit focused on the vision of every child a maker.

This combination of software access, curriculum and projects will help promote the creation of makerspaces in schools nationwide.

• Opportunities to participate in nationwide competitions and earn Maker Badges to mark their progress as makers. These will also challenge youth to design solutions to tackle contemporary issues, such as sustainability, through innovative design.

Make the Future builds on the Autodesk Design the Future Program, which was extended to all U.S. middle and high schools in February 2014 in support of the President’s ConnectEd Initiative. More than 3,000 schools have adopted the program to date and benefited from free access to Autodesk software, curriculum aligned to national standards, and training and certification.

It’s clear that the days when learning was confined to textbooks are gone. Today’s digital natives are embracing technology and taking advantage of opportunities in a new global environment. 

Check out this example from Swanson Middle School, where students used Fusion 360 to design and fabricate a better prosthetic device to help a disabled community member. These kids are just 8^th graders, but they are already well on their way to creating a better world for us all.

We’re honored to be doing our part to help inspire and equip a Nation of Makers both in and outside of the classroom. So what will you make today?

* The Autodesk Make the Future campaign offers resources to any student over 13 years old. Free Autodesk software licenses and/or cloud-based services are subject to acceptance of and compliance with the terms and conditions of the license agreement or terms of service, as applicable, that accompany such software or cloud-based services. Details and restrictions available at http://usa.autodesk.com/legal-notices-trademarks