Everyone appreciates a thoughtful gift, including our customers who receive branded merchandise at various Autodesk events and experiences. Branded merchandise helps to create meaningful connections with our customers and evangelize our brand, so we want to ensure that we produce high-quality and thoughtful designs.
This includes being mindful of the world we live in and the resources involved in what we’re creating. In keeping with Autodesk’s values, we make every effort to provide sustainable options whenever possible. They are the preferred choice when it comes to branded merchandise associated with our company.
The following guidelines will help you source and create merchandise that is memorable for the right reasons. Please be sure to send your design for custom merchandise to brand@autodesk.com for review before going into production.
As you think about what you’re going to order or create, ask yourself the following questions:
What: What’s the opportunity you want to create and the impact or impression you want to make? What’s your budget? How many do you need?
Who: Who’s the audience? What will they appreciate and use? Who’s designing the branding on your items? Who’s your supplier and do you need to source one?
When: How much time do you have to produce/deliver your materials? Do you need them delivered in advance of an event?
Where: Where are they being manufactured? Shipped to? Given away? Be sure to plan for longer shipping times if the recipients reside in multiple countries.
How: How are they being manufactured? Is the item as sustainable as possible? Whenever possible, choose items that are made from sustainable materials, are recyclable (or better yet, compostable), and from companies who are diverse suppliers with fair working practices.
Less is more. Choose items that reflect a simple, modern design. Select the highest-quality materials and construction available in your budget range.
Keep your messaging simple. At most, use one Autodesk logo and one other element, such as a product name. Remember: the more stuff, the less memorable.
Whenever possible, choose items that are black, white, gray, or neutral in color to reflect our color guidelines. When using approved brand imagery, choose a color that allows for the best reproduction of the image.
Use the version of the logo that’s most appropriate for the chosen format and reproduction technique, such as embroidery, silk screening, etching, embossing/debossing, foil stamping, etc. See Autodesk logo for more details and logo files.
The Autodesk logo and any typography should be black or white. The one-color versions of the Autodesk logo, as well as product icons, may be recolored to create a tone-on-tone effect.
In some cases, the Autodesk symbol (without the AUTODESK text) can be used by itself as a graphic. When using the symbol as a graphic, the full Autodesk logo should appear elsewhere on the item. Make sure to consult with Brand if this is something you’re considering.
In some cases, the Autodesk symbol (without the AUTODESK text) can be used by itself as a graphic. When using the symbol as a graphic, the full Autodesk logo should appear elsewhere on the item. Make sure to consult with Brand if this is something you’re considering.
Do's. Here are some best practices to keep in mind when considering branded merchandise.
Only use Brand-approved imagery or icons on branded merchandise.
Respect the required clear space around the Autodesk logo. See logo clear space
Use the Artifakt font for any messaging and note that all messaging must be approved by Brand. See typography for more information on styles and weights.
Send your design for custom merchandise to brand@autodesk.com for review before going into production.
Use the most appropriate version of the logo for the chosen format and reproduction technique—such as embroidery, silk screening, etching, embossing/debossing, foil stamping, etc. The primary Autodesk logo is preferred. Use the alternate logo if needed for limited imprint areas. See Autodesk logo for more details and logo files.
Dont's. Here are important things to avoid when considering branded merchandise.
Use more than one product icon or product name (plus the Autodesk logo) on one piece of apparel.
Use event-specific logotypes or lockups without prior permission from Brand.
Alter the master artwork for the Autodesk logo or any other Autodesk trademark. Do not incorporate them into any other graphic or text.
Create merchandise containing the Autodesk logo and a third-party logo, such as for a co-sponsored event, without prior approval from Brand.
Create branded merchandise promoting internal group names or acronyms unless it has been approved by Brand.
Include a URL, hashtag, slogan, or tagline unless it has been approved by Brand.
Coin new names or taglines using words or portions of words from Autodesk products or marketing campaigns.
Create branded merchandise promoting products in beta, project, or lab status.
Select items related to alcohol, gambling, or any other activities that do not align with the company image.
Use words pertaining to workflow process or industry lingo.
Whenever possible you must use an Autodesk preferred supplier—they have the correct artwork and are familiar with our guidelines when you need to create a custom order. In most cases, they can offer a significant corporate discount.
Our primary merchandise supplier is BDA. Our contact for AMER and APAC is Helene Odeh (heleneo@bdainc.com) and for EMEA our contact is Tom Bottomley (tbottomley@bdainc.com). If BDA is not able to meet your merchandise needs, please contact brand@autodesk.com and we can recommend another preferred vendor.
The Autodesk DAM houses artwork and font files for your branded merchandise designs. Review our brand system, then use the direct links below to easily find what you need on the DAM.
For questions and Brand approval, please e-mail brand@autodesk.com.
