Profile

Karl D.D. Willis

I’m a Senior Research Manager at Autodesk Research, where I work at the intersection of machine learning, computational design, and creative tools. I lead the Model Operations team who are responsible for turning foundational AI models for design into production-ready features across Autodesk’s product ecosystem. We bring advanced research out of the lab and into the hands of designers, architects, and engineers.

My recent work has focused on the areas of deep learning for CAD, generative AI, and data-driven design tools for manufacturing. I’m especially interested in how AI can augment creativity and enable new design possibilities. Before this, I was part of the Interaction Group at Disney Research exploring new forms of human-computer interaction.

I hold a Ph.D. in Computational Design from Carnegie Mellon University. My research has been published at venues like CVPR, ICML, SIGGRAPH, UIST, and CHI, and has been featured by outlets including the BBC, NBC, Wired, and New Scientist. I’ve authored over 35 papers and filed 10+ patents.

Professional

  • Senior Research Manager, 2017 - Present, Autodesk, San Francisco, USA.
  • VP of Product Development, 2016, Voxel8, Boston, USA.
  • Co-founder and CEO, 2015, Addimation, San Francisco, USA.
  • Principal Research Engineer, 2013-2015, Autodesk, San Francisco, USA.
  • Lab Associate, 2009-2013, Disney Research, Pittsburgh, USA.
  • Research Intern, 2012, Microsoft Research, Redmond, USA.
  • Research Assistant, 2009, JST Erato Design Interface Project, Tokyo, Japan.
  • Research Assistant, 2007 - 2009, Sony Computer Science Laboratories, Tokyo, Japan.
  • Interaction Designer, Freelance, 2002 - 2005, New Zealand / Japan.
  • Designer, 2001, WebMedia, Melbourne, Australia.

Education

  • Ph.D. Computational Design, Carnegie Mellon University, USA.
  • Master of Design, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan.
  • Bachelor of Digital Media (First Class Honours), University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
  • Bachelor of Computer Graphic Design, Wanganui School of Design, Wanganui, New Zealand.

Awards

  • Best Design - North America Finalist, Fast Company Innovation by Design Awards 2019, Space Exploration Lander (Autodesk Research / NASA JPL)
  • Experimental Finalist, Fast Company Innovation by Design Awards 2019, Space Exploration Lander (Autodesk Research / NASA JPL)
  • Mobility Finalist, Fast Company Innovation by Design Awards 2019, Space Exploration Lander (Autodesk Research / NASA JPL)
  • Strategy & Research Award Runner Up, Core77 Design Awards 2019, Space Exploration Lander (Autodesk Research / NASA JPL)
  • Transportation Award Notable, Core77 Design Awards 2019, Space Exploration Lander (Autodesk Research / NASA JPL)
  • Best Prototype or Innovation, American Foundry Society Casting of the Year Award 2019, Space Exploration Lander (Autodesk Research / NASA JPL) cast by TEI
  • Spark Product Finalist, Spark Awards 2013, Printed Bulbs (with Eric Brockmeyer).
  • Platinum A' Design Award, Lighting Products and Projects 2012-2013, Printed Bulbs (with Eric Brockmeyer).
  • Bronze International Design Award, Home Interior Products - Lighting 2012, Printed Bulbs (with Eric Brockmeyer).
  • Best Paper Award Nominee, UIST 2012 Conference, Printed Optics: 3D Printing of Embedded Optical Elements for Interactive Devices (with Eric Brockmeyer, Scott Hudson, & Ivan Poupyrev).
  • Best Demo Award, UIST 2012 Conference, Printed Optics: 3D Printing of Embedded Optical Elements for Interactive Devices (with Eric Brockmeyer, Scott Hudson, & Ivan Poupyrev).
  • Best Paper Award, UIST 2011 Conference, SideBySide: Ad-hoc Multi-user Interaction with Handheld Projectors (with Ivan Poupyrev, Scott Hudson, & Moshe Mahler).
  • Best Demo Award, UIST 2011 Conference, SideBySide: Ad-hoc Multi-user Interaction with Handheld Projectors (with Ivan Poupyrev, Scott Hudson, & Moshe Mahler).
  • Honorable Mention Award, CHI 2011 Conference, Kineticons: Using Iconographic Motion in Graphical User Interface Design (with Chris Harrison, Gary Hsieh, Jodi Forlizzi, & Scott Hudson).
  • Best Presentation Award, Pervasive 2010 Conference, 12Pixels: Exploring Social Drawing on Mobile Phones.
  • Tokyo Interactive Ad Award (Bronze), Application Category, 12Pixels (Sony CSL/Sony Marketing Japan/Imaginative Inc).
  • Tokyo Type Director’s Club, Interactive Design Prize 2007, Light Tracer.
  • Digital Stadium, Grand Prix Finalist 2006, Light Tracer.
  • Asian Digital Art Award, Interactive Art Prize 2006, Light Tracer.
  • Gakusei CG Contest, Excellence Prize 2006, Light Tracer.

Grants & Scholarships

  • GUSH Funds Award, 2010, research grant, Pre-cinema Handheld Projectors.
  • Fine Foundation Grant, 2010, project funding, Interactive Fabrication.
  • Mitoh Exploratory Software Grant, 2007 - 2008, software development, Alchemy.
  • Monbukagakusho Scholarship, 2006 - 2009, graduate research in Japan.

Selected Patents

  • ‘Trackable Projection Surfaces using Hidden Marker Tracking’, with Takaaki Shiratori, Disney Research.
  • ‘Multi-user Interaction with Handheld Projectors’, with Ivan Poupyrev, Disney Research.
  • ‘MotionBeam Interaction Techniques for Handheld Projectors’, with Ivan Poupyrev, Disney Research.
  • ‘Image Drawing Method for Portable Terminal’, with Ivan Poupyrev, Sony CSL.

Selected Exhibitions

  • Lightwave, Science Gallery, February 2 - 8 2008, Dublin, Ireland.
  • Unesco Universal Forum of Cultures, September 20 - December 8 2007, Monterrey, Mexico.
  • RoboKuma Lab, Sony ExploraScience Museum, June 28 - September 24 2007, Tokyo, Japan.
  • A.L.I.C.E. Museum, Hangaram Design Museum, June 1 - 22 2007, Seoul, Korea.
  • Art Rock, May 22 - 28 2007, Saint-Brieuc, France.
  • 07 TDC Exhibition, Ginza Graphic Gallery, April 3 - April 25 2007, Tokyo, Japan.
  • Club Transmediale, January 25 - February 3 2007, Berlin, Germany.
  • The Nordic Exceptional Trendshop 2006, December 2-3 2006, Copenhagen, Denmark.
  • TASIE - The 2nd Art & Science International Exhibition, November 11-25 2006, Beijing, China.
  • Building Interactive Playgrounds at Elettrowave, July 14-15 2006, Arezzo, Italy.

Selected Workshops & Lectures

  • Research Talk, Tokyo University of Arts, Tokyo, Japan.
  • Alchemy workshop, Hiro Gakuen, Tokyo, Japan.
  • 12Pixels talk, DemoSa, Tokyo, Japan.
  • ‘Low-tech creativity workshop’, Lightwave, Science Gallery, Dublin, Ireland.
  • Tokyo TDC day, Light Tracer talk, Joshibi University of Art & Design, Tokyo, Japan.
  • Recent Work Talk, Art Centre Nabi, Seoul, Korea.

Selected Press Coverage

  • Printed Optics, BBC News, October 2012, United Kingdom.
  • Interactive Fabrication, Click (BBC World Service), March 2011, United Kingdom.
  • Alchemy, Page Magazine, May 2010, Germany.
  • 12Pixels, WatchMe TV (Fuji TV), August 9 & August 16 2009, Japan
  • 12Pixels, New Scientist Magazine, March 2009, United Kingdom.
  • BoxBeat, Art World China Magazine, February 2009, China.
  • Light Tracer, Page Magazine, December 2007, Germany.
  • Light Tracer, Idealog Magazine, #8, New Zealand.
  • Light Tracer, Tokyo Type Directors Club Annual 2007, Vol. 18, Transart Inc., Tokyo, Japan.
  • Light Tracer, Tiger TRANSLATE: The Auckland Chapter, Booklet/DVD, December 2006, IdN, Hong Kong.
  • Light Tracer, Digital Stadium, NHK BS2, November 25 & December 23 2006, Japan.