Overview

Athletes are more than what you see on the field — and no one exemplifies that better than New England Patriots quarterback and engineering major Josh Dobbs. For the past eight years, Autodesk, the global leader in design and construction software, has partnered with Athlete-Driven Worldwide (A-DW) to lead its signature initiative: Make It Real.

With storytelling at its core, the Make It Real campaign highlights the intersection of athletics and innovation. Autodesk trusts A-DW to align the passion and purpose of elite athletes with the values of Autodesk’s education team — aiming to inspire and support the next generation of engineers, designers, and tradespeople.

Approach

This partnership is a global initiative and student design challenge that awards scholarships to aspiring tradespeople preparing for the jobs of tomorrow. A former NASA intern and mechanical engineering major, Josh Dobbs brings authenticity and depth to the campaign, sharing his passion for the trades while spotlighting how Autodesk and its construction partners are driving innovation to meet environmental and industry challenges.

A-DW led the selection of Dobbs, developed the campaign’s creative direction, and executed production and media across Autodesk’s owned and operated channels. To celebrate the premiere of “More Than a Destination,” ADW and Autodesk invited students from the City College of San Francisco to an exclusive event at the Autodesk Gallery, where Josh Dobbs shared his insights alongside experts from Factory_OS and California State Senator Scott Wiener. The event highlighted innovative solutions to California’s housing crisis and inspired students to consider how they can shape a better future through careers in the trades.

PR & Education Impact

The event at the Autodesk Gallery served as the launchpad for a global educational movement, drawing attention from local media and partners alike. The Make It Real campaign generated classroom participation from hundreds of schools worldwide, with students submitting their design projects as part of the challenge. These entries demonstrated the global reach of the initiative and underscored Autodesk’s growing influence in workforce development and construction innovation education.

By showing how Autodesk is helping address the cost and complexity of homebuilding, and how students can be part of that solution, the campaign successfully merged inspiration, innovation, and real-world relevance. An all-new rollout is currently in development for 2025.