How should we organize the technology previews on Autodesk Labs?

When I think of community, I think of providers and users sharing information around an organizing principle. So communities based on the industries we serve come to mind.

• AEC - Architecture, Engineering, and Construction
• MFG - Manufacturing
• M&E - Media and Entertainment
• Consumer - creative non-professionals

But then I also think of communities like Education. In some cases separating out communities based on industry is rather straightforward, a community like Education includes members from the various industries. In fact, there are several communities that span industries:

• Education - teachers and students
• Autodesk Research - research scientists, university professors, and graduate students
• Autodesk Labs - early adopters
• Autodesk Beta - release testers
• Product Support - problem solvers and customers

I guess the proper way to envision this is more of a grid where some communities are industries and other communities span industries:

As a ponder a redesign of the Autodesk Labs website, I am interested in your thoughts on how you would like to see the technology previews grouped on the site. You can reach us at [email protected]. I mention our email address because that is the form of feedback most often used. Next, would be the discussion forums, and social media. The rating button on each technology preview seldom gets used.

Live and learn. I will drop that from the next design of the Labs site.

Categorization is alive in the lab.