Enhance your Autodesk Fusion skills and compete against other student teams.
During the Designathon, you’ll learn how to use digital design tools and respond to a sustainable design challenge. You’ll gain hands-on experience and compete against engineering and industrial design students from around the world.
If you’re new to Autodesk Fusion, we’re offering a familiarisation session before the Designathon.
What’s the Designathon?
International online design challenge for engineering and industrial design students
- Boost your Autodesk Fusion skills and learn key workflows
- Compete against student teams worldwide
- Learn and compete as a team (2–3 students per team)
- Prizes and recognition for winning teams
Boost your career
Learn new 3D design skills and get familiar with Autodesk Fusion, a platform used by manufacturers worldwide. Strengthen your CV and showcase your ideas and designs to an expert panel.
Tackle a brief
Showcase your creativity by developing solutions to a real-world challenge. Gain valuable experience, work with your team, and contribute to a more sustainable future. Be part of designing a green tomorrow.
Work with your peers
Develop your ability to work as part of a team — a key skill in any design or manufacturing environment. Bring a team together and collaborate to achieve a shared goal.
Prizes and recognition
Win an exclusive Autodesk learning experience in the UK.
The team placing first in Designathon 2026 will be invited to an in-person learning experience at the Autodesk Technology Centre in Birmingham, UK.
This is an exclusive opportunity to:
- Learn directly from Autodesk professionals
- Receive mentoring, advice, and hands-on training
- Explore how professionals design and solve real-world challenges
- Present your winning Designathon concept to Autodesk experts
The experience is provisionally planned for October 2026 and includes travel and accommodation for the winning team.
Exciting prizes will also be awarded to the 2nd and 3rd placed teams, with USD 3,000 for the runner-up team and USD 2,000 for the team in 3rd place, plus a special Wild Card award for a standout entry that impresses the judges.
Requirements
- You must meet Autodesk’s eligibility criteria for the Education Plan and be enrolled at a qualified educational institution at the time of the competition (technical college or university) or be enrolled in a course at an Autodesk Authorized Academic Partner.
- You must enter as a team – the minimum team size is 2 people, the maximum is 3 people
- You must participate in both days of the Designathon - and if you’re new to Autodesk Fusion, we recommend you undertake some learning prior to the event
- You will need access to a computer with an internet connection to take part
- Prior to the Designathon, you must install Autodesk Fusion by registering for the free education plan on the Autodesk Education Community
Key dates
- 03 July 2026: Registration closes
- 19 June 2026: Autodesk Fusion training
- 03 July 2026: repeat Autodesk Fusion training if you missed 19 June
- 17 July 2026: Designathon Day 1 – training and upskilling
- 18 July 2026: Designathon Day 2 – competition day
- Awards ceremony – dates will be announced after the competition.
Autodesk Fusion Designathon 2026 Training Curriculum
Training includes:
- Cloud collaboration & project data management
- Working in teams inside Autodesk Fusion Interface navigation & key workspaces
- Sketching fundamentals & constraints
- Solid modeling tools (Extrude, Revolve, Sweep, Loft)
- Surface & Freeform (organic) modeling
- Rendering & presentation skills
- Competition-style practice projects
- Submission process & final competition briefing
- Career pathways, certification & Autodesk ecosystem insights
For full curriculum details, click here.
Designathon 2026 Sponsors
We’re proud to partner with a select group of Autodesk Learning Partners for Designathon 2026. They are Autodesk preferred training providers to the academic and commercial markets. As partners to the Designathon they host in-person and online activities to support students with preparation and guidance for the competition and beyond.
The Designathon is organized by KnowledgePoint Limited in our role as an Autodesk Learning Partner Distributor. Participant’s data will be stored according to KnowledgePoint’s privacy policy.
For further information, please read the Designathon 2026 Terms and Conditions
See previous Designathons
Curious what past competitions looked like?
Explore highlights and winning projects from previous Designathons.