Jon Hirschtick, founder of SolidWorks and co-founder of Onshape, shares his journey from developing groundbreaking CAD software to his current role as Executive Vice President and Chief Evangelist at PTC. His 44-year perspective on the CAD industry reveals how most design tools in use today predate both AI and the internet in their architecture, creating limitations as companies try to incorporate cutting-edge technologies.

• Cloud-native architecture uniquely positions Onshape for AI integration with massive compute capabilities, 50 million CAD data items, and three-week release cycles
• Most CAD tools still used today have major elements written before the internet existed, limiting their ability to fully leverage modern technologies
• Onshape was built as a collaborative PDM system with CAD built on top, addressing fundamental workflow challenges
• Regular release cycles (every three weeks) are essential for successfully integrating AI capabilities, which will require numerous iterations
• PTC is implementing AI features across all product lines including Onshape, ServiceMax, Creo, Windchill, and Codebeamer
• John's engineering journey began with electronics and computer programming before discovering product design in college
• The drive for continuous improvement remains central to Onshape's philosophy: "We don't measure ourselves merely by how much better we are than old systems."

David Cohn shares his extraordinary journey from architect to CAD pioneer and influential technology journalist during the pivotal early days of computer-aided design software.

• David's background as an architect and almost Olympic-qualifying run
• How government contract requirements forced architectural firms to adopt CAD technology
• First experience with AutoCAD 1.4 and its mere 28 commands
• Creation of the Memphis AutoCAD User Group newsletter
• Development of architectural add-ons for AutoCAD that predated SketchUp
• Journey from newsletter publisher to editor in chief of Cadalyst magazine
• Confrontation with Autodesk CEO Carol Bartz over the problematic Release 13
• Battle for editorial independence when covering Autodesk products
• Establishing Eclipse Software as an early AutoCAD third-party developer
• The surprising role software piracy played in AutoCAD's early market success

When technological platforms shift, opportunities for disruption emerge. Few people understand this principle better than John McEleney, who has twice been at the center of CAD industry revolutions – first as SolidWorks CEO during the 2D-to-3D transition, and later as Onshape co-founder when cloud computing transformed design collaboration.

In this wide-ranging conversation, McEleney takes us back to the mid-1990s when he created the famous "plume chart" that visualized how 3D CAD would expand from specialized applications into the mainstream market. He reveals SolidWorks' strategic genius: rather than targeting committed Pro/ENGINEER users or complete CAD novices, they focused on the sweet spot – companies with "two seats of 3D knowledge and eight seats of 2D." This approach minimized both the resistance of entrenched users and the educational burden of complete beginners.

The discussion shifts to McEleney's early recognition of cloud computing's potential. After attending an AWS event around 2008, he became convinced that cloud technology would "totally change things completely," eventually leading him to co-found Onshape. Though the engineering community initially resisted cloud-based design, McEleney explains how security concerns have reversed – cloud systems can now instantly patch vulnerabilities across all users, while traditional installed software might take "years" to update everyone.

Looking toward the future, McEleney offers a nuanced view of AI's role in engineering design. Rather than AI systems that attempt to "design a car" from scratch, he envisions AI as a "river guide" helping engineers navigate complex design decisions by connecting unstructured data and revealing the ripple effects of changes. "I'm hugely optimistic about AI impacting and helping engineers," he explains, "not replacing them, but improving their reasoning and visibility."

Perhaps most fascinating is McEleney's insight into innovation itself. He shares how Onshape's revolutionary FeatureScript language emerged from a gut feeling about its potential power, even though the team couldn't fully articulate its applications at the time. This story highlights a crucial lesson: sometimes the most transformative innovations require faith in technology's possibilities before all use cases are clear.

Ready to explore how platform shifts create opportunities and how AI might transform engineering? Listen now and gain insights from one of CAD's most influential innovators.

Greg Jankowski shares his 15-year journey at SolidWorks, from early adoption as user #1401 to becoming a key contributor who helped build one of the most passionate communities in CAD history. His perspective on the evolution from drawing boards to digital design reveals how SolidWorks democratized 3D modeling by bringing professional tools to Windows PCs.

• Started career on drawing boards before discovering SolidWorks through a vague Design News advertisement
• Became one of the first Certified SolidWorks Experts (CSWE) and authored the SolidWorks hardware benchmark
• Created the popular CAD Admin Bootcamp at SolidWorks World to help users optimize hardware for complex modeling
• Authored "SolidWorks for Dummies" in just three months while maintaining his regular job
• Emphasized the unique camaraderie of SolidWorks users compared to other software communities
• Worked extensively with SolidWorks founder Scott Harris, who advised always maintaining the customer perspective
• Recently retired after spending his post-SolidWorks career working with Salesforce Experience Cloud

Step into the fascinating world where engineering expertise meets AI skepticism as Matt Lombard, author of the renowned SolidWorks Bible, shares his candid thoughts on the evolution of design technology. This conversation cuts through the marketing hype surrounding AI in CAD software, revealing the stark reality gap between what's promised and what's actually useful to practicing engineers.

Lombard draws from decades of experience pushing CAD software to its limits, particularly with complex surface modeling. His journey from developing SOLIDWORKS training materials to evaluating modern AI implementations provides a unique lens through which to view these technological developments. With refreshing honesty, he explains why many of today's AI-generated designs might look impressive but fail to meet real-world manufacturing requirements.

The discussion takes an unexpected turn when Lombard reveals his parallel life as a musician, leading trombone quartets and brass quintets while arranging music in his spare time. His path from the New England Conservatory through Navy service as a musician to eventually becoming an engineering authority demonstrates the fascinating connections between mathematical thinking and musical aptitude that so many technical professionals share.

For anyone working with CAD software, considering AI implementation in design workflows, or curious about the future direction of engineering tools, this conversation offers valuable perspective. Lombard's practical insights challenge us to think more critically about technological hype while embracing innovations that genuinely enhance human capabilities rather than attempting to replace them.

Scott Harris takes us on a captivating journey through the evolution of CAD software, sharing insider stories from his pivotal roles in creating both SOLIDWORKS and Onshape—the two most influential professional MCAD systems of our time.

From his early days at Pratt Whitney where he mapped out jet engine components on graph paper, to the revolutionary moment when 3D solid modeling "clicked" for him, Harris reveals how understanding engineers' actual needs transformed an industry. "Software designed by software people is easy to use if you know how to use it," he explains. "But engineers—some of the smartest people on earth—can't use their software."

When SOLIDWORKS launched in 1995, it wasn't just another CAD program—it was engineered specifically for how mechanical engineers think. The small founding team faced enormous technical challenges and competition from industry giants, yet their strategic focus on solving critical problems rather than building every possible feature proved decisive. Harris takes us behind the scenes of those early days, describing the team dynamics that fueled innovation: "We argued a lot, which I think was actually healthy... You want people that bring different points of view to the table."

Years later, as cloud technology emerged, Harris and many original SOLIDWORKS team members reunited to create Onshape, addressing fundamental limitations of file-based CAD systems. The database-driven approach eliminated common frustrations like lost work from crashes and enabled true collaborative engineering. As Harris puts it, "There's a lot of problems we had that we didn't know we had."

Looking toward the future, Harris sees artificial intelligence as the next transformative force in CAD, potentially delivering tools that support the messy, iterative reality of engineering design rather than forcing linear workflows. His insights offer a fascinating glimpse into both CAD history and where the technology is headed.

Are you curious about how today's engineering software evolved and where it's going next? This conversation with one of the industry's true pioneers provides rare perspective on the past, present, and future of how we design the physical world.

Meet Aaron, a remarkable engineering polymath whose journey from Hawaiian surfer to Arizona-based entrepreneur reveals the power of pursuing diverse passions with intention. Growing up on Oahu's beaches, Aaron's love for riding the waves at the famous Bonsai Pipeline would later inspire his company's name and mission to become "the pinnacle of engineering."

What truly sets Aaron apart isn't just his impressive credentials—mechanical engineering degree from BYU, biomedical engineering master's from ASU, and ownership of Pipeline Design and Engineering. It's his extraordinary commitment to using his skills to create positive change. Following a frightening school threat incident at his son's high school, Aaron established a CAD Club that uses engineering as a vehicle to show students what healthy adult behavior looks like while teaching valuable skills. Five terms later, several graduates have gone on to pursue engineering degrees in college with Aaron's recommendation letters supporting their applications.

The conversation reveals a man who maintains remarkable balance amidst multiple commitments. Despite running a business, hosting a long-running engineering podcast, organizing the Product Development Expo, and maintaining a consistent Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practice (even after suffering a torn ACL), Aaron prioritizes family dinner each night and helping get his children off to school in the mornings. His wife Kayla, described as "amazing and very capable," has been instrumental in supporting his diverse pursuits.

Perhaps most inspiring is Aaron's personal philosophy: "Joy is really at the end of every why." When asked about his motivations, he explains that helping others has always brought him fulfillment. This guiding principle illuminates everything from his business approach to his community initiatives. Whether discussing Arizona's new surf lagoon, his educational journey, or the ten life tenets he teaches his CAD Club students, Aaron demonstrates how engineering expertise can become a platform for mentorship, community building, and personal growth.

Join us for this fascinating conversation about finding purpose through technical excellence and using professional skills to shape the next generation. Want to learn more about Aaron's innovative approaches to engineering and education? Follow his work with Pipeline Design and Engineering and consider how you might apply similar principles in your own field.

Ever wondered why design software hasn't kept pace with our AI revolution? Sohrab Haghighat, aerospace engineer turned entrepreneur, is tackling this exact problem with his startup Hestus, bringing genuine intelligence to CAD systems that have remained fundamentally unchanged for decades.

The frustration will sound familiar to anyone who's designed hardware: you have a brilliant concept, but getting it from your mind into reality means endless hours wrestling with test equipment design, manufacturing constraints, and assembly relationships. As Roopinder explains, "The computer-aided part wasn't in Computer-Aided Design." Hestus aims to change that by creating AI that thinks like an experienced engineer, anticipating your needs and automating the tedious aspects of design work.

What makes Hestas' approach unique is their focus on practical, manufacturable solutions rather than the flashy but impractical "blobby shapes" often produced by generative design. Zorab points out that many current AI design tools create structures that look impressive but prove impossible or prohibitively expensive to manufacture. His team is building AI that understands manufacturing methods, tolerancing, and assembly requirements—essentially putting a manufacturing engineer in the box with you.

The potential impact is enormous. Hardware development cycles that typically stretch over years could be compressed to months, allowing engineers to focus on creativity and innovation rather than documentation and constraint management. For companies trying to bring products to market faster and more efficiently, this represents a genuine competitive advantage.

Beyond his professional life, Zorab plays soccer with his seven-year-old son and does ballroom dancing with his wife, a chemist who became his co-founder in a previous rocket company venture. 

Ready to see how AI should be used to transform your design workflow? Listen now to explore the future of engineering tools and discover how smart sketching is just the beginning of a complete revolution in using AI in CAD.