Autodesk's Own Luke Mihelcic on Judging the Fusion Forward Competition

Most Fusion Forward jurors are evaluating what Autodesk's tools make possible. Luke Mihelcic helped build them. As a product marketing leader at Autodesk, he brings a rare vantage point to the jury: someone who has worked as an educator, application engineer, technical marketer, and product marketer, giving him a firsthand understanding of how a design idea actually moves from concept to reality, and where Fusion's tools fit into that journey.

Luke Mihelcic, Senior Manager, Product and Technical Marketing at Autodesk

That range shapes how he evaluates entries. With decades spent at the intersection of design and engineering technology, Mihelcic brings an industry-informed eye to creativity, technical execution, usability, and real-world impact — not just whether a concept looks compelling, but whether it holds up.

Ask what excites him most right now, and Mihelcic points to sheer possibility. "Advancements in technology, design tools, AI, simulation, manufacturing, and collaboration are opening doors that simply were not available before," he says. "Problems that once felt too complex or out of reach are becoming approachable in new ways." For him, that expansion of what can be imagined and realized is the most exciting part of design itself.

But that optimism comes with a caution. Mihelcic's concern isn't AI as a tool, it's what happens if designers lean on it too heavily. "We may begin to outsource too much of our creativity and critical thinking to AI," he says. "Design is not just about producing something quickly or beautifully. It is about judgment, context, empathy, taste, curiosity, and the ability to understand why something should exist in the first place." His worry, he's careful to clarify, isn't the technology. "It is complacency. It is the possibility that we let convenience replace curiosity, and automation replace intellect.

For entrants preparing their Fusion Forward submissions, Mihelcic's advice cuts straight to what he'll be looking for. "Design for possibility, not novelty," he says. "The best work will not simply add technology or create an interesting form; it will show how thoughtful design, material intelligence, and computational tools can make everyday life at home easier, more beautiful, and more sustainable."

Fusion Forward: Design for Home is now open for entries. Three categories to choose from, $9,750 in prizes. Deadline for entry September 28.