Autodesk has released its 2025 State of Design & Make report, offering a snapshot of the opportunities and obstacles facing industries across architecture, engineering, construction, manufacturing, and media. Based on input from 5,594 professionals across the Americas, EMEA, and Asia-Pacific, the report highlights both mounting pressures and emerging strategies shaping AEC sectors globally.
At the heart of the findings is a growing recognition of the value of digital maturity. Organizations that have made significant progress on digital transformation journeys are seeing clear competitive advantages, including improved project delivery, faster innovation cycles, and increased resilience amid global volatility. Compared to less digitally mature companies, such firms are 41% more likely to diversify their supply chains and report a 22-point advantage in attracting and retaining talent.
Digital tools, once considered enhancements, are now foundational, the report posits. Most companies undergoing digital transformation have seen measurable improvements in customer satisfaction, productivity, and innovation, often by over 50%, the report claims. Such outcomes are especially valuable in a year where concerns around cost control, supply chain fragility, and talent shortages remain prevalent in the AEC sector.
Despite economic headwinds and a decline in optimism around artificial intelligence, investment trends suggest cautious optimism. Over two-thirds of surveyed leaders plan to increase investment in the near future, even as current-year spending remains conservative.
Sustainability also saw renewed momentum, with nearly all organizations reporting active steps toward more environmentally responsible practices. AI, despite uncertainty about its practical implementation, was widely identified as a key enabler of sustainability, with use cases ranging from disaster mitigation to lifecycle management.
However, not all trends were positive. Concerns about AI’s destabilizing potential have grown, and two-thirds of firms report experiencing a skills gap that directly impedes growth. Global uncertainty has also increased anxiety around long-term planning and readiness for disruption.
The release coincides with Autodesk’s $4.3 million donation to Cornell’s College of Engineering and College of Architecture, Art, and Planning (AAP) to help prepare students for the future of work, and to fund new facilities at the university.
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