EXHIBIT 10.3

                               AUTODESK, INC.

                         1990 DIRECTORS' OPTION PLAN


         1. Purposes of the Plan. The purposes of this Directors' Option Plan
            --------------------
are to attract and retain highly skilled individuals as Directors of the
Company, to provide additional incentive to the Outside Directors of the Company
to serve as Directors, and to encourage their continued service on the Board.

            All options granted hereunder shall be "non-statutory stock
options."

         2. Definitions. As used herein, the following definitions shall apply:
            -----------

            (a) "Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company.
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            (b) "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
                 ----

            (c) "Common Stock" means the Common Stock of the Company, par
                 ------------
value $0.01 per share.

             (d) "Company" means Autodesk, Inc., a Delaware corporation.
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             (e) "Director" means a member of the Board.
                  --------

             (f) "Employee" means any person, including officers and
                  --------
Directors, employed by the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company.
The payment of a Director's fee or consulting fee by the Company shall not be
sufficient in and of itself to constitute "employment" by the Company unless the
Director and the Company agree that, as a result of payment of such fees in
connection with services rendered, such Director should not be considered an
Outside Director.

             (g) "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
                  ------------
amended.

             (h) "Fair Market Value" means, as of any date, the value of
                  -----------------
Common Stock determined as follows:

                 (i) If the Common Stock is listed on any established stock
exchange or national market system, including without limitation the Nasdaq
National Market, the Fair Market Value of a Share of Common Stock shall be the
closing sale price for such stock (or the closing bid, if no sales were
reported), as quoted on such system or exchange (or, if more than one, on the
exchange with the greatest volume of trading in the Company's Common Stock) on
the day of determination, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other
source as the Board deems reliable;

As amended by the Board of Directors on December 12, 1997.

 
                 (ii)   If the Common Stock is quoted on Nasdaq (but not on
the National Market) or regularly quoted by a recognized securities dealer,
but selling prices are not reported, the Fair Market Value of a Share of
Common Stock shall be the mean between the high and low asked prices for the
Common Stock on the date of determination, as reported in The Wall Street
Journal or such other source as the Board deems reliable, or;

                 (iii)  In the absence of an established market for the Common
Stock, the Fair Market Value thereof shall be determined in good faith by the
Board.

             (i) "Option" means an option to purchase Common Stock granted
                  ------
pursuant to the Plan.

             (j) "Optioned Stock" means the Common Stock subject to an Option.
                  --------------

             (k) "Optionee" means an Outside Director who receives an Option.
                  --------

             (l) "Outside Director" means a Director who is not an Employee.
                  ----------------

             (m) "Plan" means this 1990 Directors' Option Plan.
                  ----

             (n) "Purchaser" means an Outside Director who purchases
                  ---------
Restricted Stock.

             (o) "Restricted Stock" means Shares granted to and purchased by
                  ----------------
Outside Directors in accordance with Section 4(c) of this Plan.

             (p) "Restricted Stock Award" means the Company's grant of
                  ----------------------
Restricted Stock pursuant to Section 4(c) of the Plan.

             (q) "Share" means a share of the Common Stock, as adjusted in
                  -----
accordance with Section 11 of the Plan.

         3.  Stock Subject to the Plan. Subject to the provisions of Section 11
             -------------------------
of the Plan, the maximum aggregate number of Shares which may be optioned and
sold under the Plan is 440,000 Shares (the "Pool") of Common Stock. The Shares
may be authorized, but unissued, or reacquired Common Stock.

             If an Option expires or becomes unexercisable without having been
exercised in full, the unpurchased Shares which were subject thereto shall
become available for future grant or sale under the Plan (unless the Plan has
terminated). If Shares are forfeited to the Company pursuant to a Restricted
Stock agreement, such Shares shall be returned to the Plan and shall become
available for reissuance under the Plan, unless the Plan shall have been
terminated. However, such Shares shall not return to the Plan if the persons
to whom they were originally issued receive the benefits of ownership of such
Shares (other than voting), as such concept is

As amended by the Board of Directors on December 12, 1997.

 
interpreted from time to time by the Securities and Exchange Commission in
the context of Rule 16b-3.

         4. Administration of and Grants under the Plan.
            -------------------------------------------

            (a) Administration. Except as otherwise required herein, the Plan
                --------------
shall be administered by the Board. All grants of Options and Restricted Stock
to Outside Directors under this Plan shall be automatic and nondiscretionary
and shall be made strictly in accordance with the following provisions:

             (b) Option Grants.
                 -------------

                 (i)   No person shall have any discretion to select which
outside Directors shall be granted Options or to determine the number of
Shares to be covered by Options granted to Outside Directors.

                 (ii)  Each Outside Director who joins the Board on or after
June 30, 1995 shall be automatically granted an Option to purchase 20,000
Shares (the "Initial Option") upon the date of the first meeting of the Board
at which such person first serves as a Director (which shall be (i) in the
case of a director elected by the stockholders of the Company, the first
meeting of the Board of Directors after the meeting of stockholders at which
such director was elected or (ii) in the case of a director appointed by the
Board to fill a vacancy, the meeting of the Board at which such director is
appointed); provided, however, that no option shall become exercisable under
the Plan until stockholder approval of the Plan has been obtained in
accordance with Section 16 hereof.

                 (iii) Effective as of the annual stockholder meeting to be
held June 27, 1996 and on the date of each subsequent annual stockholder
meeting during the term of this Plan, each Outside Director shall
automatically receive an additional option to purchase 10,000 Shares (the
"Annual Option"), provided that (1) the Annual Option shall be granted only to
an outside Director who has served on the Board for at least six full months
prior to the date of grant and (2) the grant of an Annual option shall be
subject to the person's continued service as an outside Director.

                 (iv)  The terms of each Option granted hereunder shall be as
follows:

                       (1)     Each Option shall terminate, if not previously
exercised or otherwise terminated, on a date ten (10) years after the date of
grant.

                       (2)     Each Option shall be exercisable only while the
Outside Director remains a Director of the Company, except as set forth in
Section 8 hereof.

                       (3)     The exercise price per Share of each Option
shall be 100% of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant of the
Option.

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                       (4)     Each Option shall become exercisable in
installments cumulatively as to 34%, 33% and 33%, respectively, of the
Optioned Stock on each of the three (3) succeeding years on the anniversary of
such Option's date of grant, for a total vesting period of approximately three
(3) years, provided that the Director continues to serve on the Board on such
dates.

                 (v)   In the event that any Option granted under the Plan
would cause the number of Shares subject to outstanding Options plus the
number of Shares previously purchased upon exercise of Options to exceed the
Pool, then each such automatic grant shall be for that number of Shares
determined by dividing the total number of Shares remaining available for
grant by the number of Outside Directors on the automatic grant date. No
further grants shall be made until such time, if any, as additional Shares
become available for grant under the Plan through action of the stockholders
to increase the number of Shares which may be issued under the Plan or through
cancellation or expiration of Options previously granted hereunder.

        (c)      Restricted Stock Awards.
                 -----------------------

                 (i)   No person shall have any discretion to select which
Outside Directors shall receive Restricted Stock Awards or to determine the
number of Shares to be covered by Restricted Stock awarded to Outside
Directors; provided, however, that nothing in this Plan shall be construed to
prevent an Outside Director from declining to receive a Restricted Stock Award
under this Plan.

                 (ii)  Effective as of the annual stockholder meeting to be
held June 27, 1996 and on the date of each subsequent annual stockholder
meeting during the term of this Plan, each Outside Director shall
automatically receive a Restricted Stock Award for that number of Shares
determined by dividing (1) the product of (a) fifty percent (50%) of the cash
value of his or her annual retainer as a Director multiplied by (b) 1.2, by
(2) the Fair Market Value of a Share on that date, rounded to the nearest
whole Share, provided that on the date of grant of any such Restricted Stock
Award such person is an Outside Director; and provided further that sufficient
Shares are available under the Plan for the grant of such Restricted Stock
Award.

                 (iii) Effective as of the annual stockholder meeting to be
held in 1997 and on the date of each subsequent annual meeting during the term
of this Plan, each Outside Director may elect to receive any or all of the
remaining cash balance of his or her annual retainer as a Director in the form
of a Restricted Stock Award by making an election (the "Election"). The
Election must be in writing and delivered to the Secretary of the Company at
least six (6) months before the next annual stockholder meeting. Any Election
made by an Outside Director pursuant to this subsection 4(c)(iii) shall be
irrevocable. Effective as of the annual stockholder meeting next following an
Election, the Outside Director shall receive a Restricted Stock Award for that
number of Shares determined by dividing (1) the product of (a) the amount of
his or her annual retainer as a Director covered by the Election, multiplied
by (b) 1.2, by (2) the Fair Market Value of a Share on that date, rounded to
the nearest whole Share, provided that on the

                                      -4-

 
date of grant of any such Restricted Stock Award such person is an Outside
Director; and provided further that sufficient Shares are available under the
Plan for the grant of such Restricted Stock Award.

                      (iv) The terms of a Restricted Stock Award granted
hereunder shall be as follows:

                           (1) the purchase price shall be $.01 per Share (the
par value of the Company's Common Stock); and

                           (2) Subject to Sections 9(d) and 11(c), Restricted
Stock shall vest on the date of the following year's annual stockholder
meeting, provided that the Purchaser is an Outside Director on such date.

                  (d) Powers of the Board. Subject to the provisions and
                      -------------------
restrictions of the Plan, the Board shall have the authority, in its discretion:
(i) to determine, upon review of relevant information and in accordance with
Section 2(h) of the Plan, the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock; (ii) to
interpret the Plan; (iii) to prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations
relating to the Plan; (iv) to authorize any person to execute on behalf of the
Company any instrument required to effectuate the grant of an Option or
Restricted Stock Award previously granted hereunder; and (v) to make all other
determinations deemed necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan.

                  (e) Effect of Board's Decision. All decisions, determinations
                      --------------------------
and interpretations of the Board shall be final.

         5.       Eligibility. Options and Restricted Stock Awards may be
                  -----------
granted only to Outside Directors. All Options shall be automatically granted
in accordance with the terms set forth in Section 4(b) and all Restricted
Stock Awards shall be automatically granted in accordance with the terms set
forth in Section 4(c)

                  The Plan shall not confer upon any Optionee or Purchaser any
right with respect to continuation of service as a Director or nomination to
serve as a Director, nor shall it interfere in any way with any rights which
the Director or the Company may have to terminate his or her directorship at
any time.

         6.       Term of Plan. The Plan shall become effective upon the
                  ------------
earlier to occur of its adoption by the Board or its approval by the
stockholders of the Company as described in Section 17 of the Plan. It shall
continue in effect for a term of ten (10) years unless sooner terminated under
Section 12 of the Plan.

         7.       Option Exercise Price and Consideration.
                  ---------------------------------------

                  (a) Exercise Price. The per Share exercise price for Optioned
                      --------------
Stock shall be 

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100% of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant of the Option.

            (b) Form of Consideration. The consideration to be paid for
                ---------------------
the Shares to be issued upon exercise of an Option may consist of (i) cash, (ii)
check, or (iii) other shares of the Company's Common Stock which, in the case of
Shares acquired upon exercise of an Option, either have been owned by the
Optionee for more than six (6) months on the date of surrender or were not
acquired, directly or indirectly, from the Company, and have a Fair Market Value
on the date of surrender equal to the aggregate exercise price of the Shares as
to which said Option shall be exercised.

         8. Exercise of Option.
            ------------------

            (a) Procedure for Exercise; Rights as a Stockholder. Any
                -----------------------------------------------
Option granted hereunder shall be exercisable at such times as are set forth in
Section 4(b) hereof.

            An Option may not be exercised for a fraction of a Share.

            An Option shall be deemed to be exercised when written notice
of such exercise has been given to the Company in accordance with the terms of
the Option by the person entitled to exercise the Option and full payment for
the Shares with respect to which the option is exercised has been received by
the Company. Full payment may consist of any consideration and method of payment
allowable under Section 7(b) of the Plan. Until the issuance (as evidenced by
the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized
transfer agent of the Company) of the stock certificate evidencing such Shares,
no right to vote or receive dividends or any other rights as a stockholder shall
exist with respect to the Optioned Stock, notwithstanding the exercise of the
option. A share certificate for the number of Shares so acquired shall be issued
to the Optionee as soon as practicable after exercise of the option. No
adjustment will be made for a dividend or other right for which the record date
is prior to the date the stock certificate is issued, except as provided in
Section 11 of the Plan.

            Except as otherwise provided in Section 3, exercise of an
Option in any manner shall result in a decrease in the number of Shares which
thereafter may be available, both for purposes of the Plan and for sale under
the option, by the number of Shares as to which the option is exercised.

            (b) Rule 16b-3. Options granted to Outside Directors must
                ----------
comply with the applicable provisions of Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the
Exchange Act or any successor thereto and shall contain such additional
conditions or restrictions as may be required thereunder to qualify for the
maximum exemption from Section 16 of the Exchange Act with respect to Plan
transactions.

            (c) Termination of Status as a Director. If an Outside
                -----------------------------------
Director ceases to serve as a Director, he may, but only within seven (7) months
after the date he ceases to be a Director of the Company, exercise his Option to
the extent that he was entitled to exercise it at the date of 

                                      -6-

 
such termination. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event may the Option
be exercised after its term has expired. To the extent that the Director was not
entitled to exercise an Option at the date of such termination, or if he does
not exercise such Option (which he was entitled to exercise) within the time
specified herein, the Option shall terminate.

            (d) Disability of Optionee. Notwithstanding the provisions of
                ----------------------
Section 8(c) above, in the event an Optionee is unable to continue his service
as a Director as a result of his total and permanent disability (as defined in
Section 22(e)(3) of the Code), he may, but only within twelve (12) months from
the date of termination, exercise his Option to the extent he was entitled to
exercise it at the date of such termination. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in
no event may the Option be exercised after its term has expired. To the extent
that he was not entitled to exercise the Option at the date of termination, or
if he does not exercise such Option (which he was entitled to exercise) within
the time specified herein, the Option shall terminate.

            (e) Death of Optionee. In the event of the death of an Optionee
                -----------------
during the term of an Option, the Option shall become fully exercisable,
including as to Shares for which it would not otherwise be exercisable and may
be exercised, at any time within twelve (12) months following the date of
death, by the Optionee's estate or by a person who acquired the right to
exercise the Option by bequest or inheritance. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
in no event may the Option be exercised after its term has expired.

         9. Restricted Stock.
            ----------------

            (a) Procedure for Purchase. Following a Restricted Stock Award
                ----------------------
in accordance with Section 4(c), the Board shall notify the offeree in writing
of the terms, conditions and restrictions relating to the offer, and the offeree
shall have ninety (90) days following receipt of such notice within which to
accept such offer. The offer shall be accepted by execution of a Restricted
Stock purchase agreement in such form as the Board shall approve.

            (b) Rights as a Stockholder. Until the issuance (as evidenced
                -----------------------
by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized
transfer agent of the Company) of the stock certificate evidencing Restricted
Stock, no right to vote or to receive dividends or any other rights as a
stockholder shall exist with respect to purchased Shares. A share certificate
for the number of Shares of Restricted Stock purchased shall be issued to the
Purchaser as soon as practicable after purchase of the Restricted Stock. No
adjustment will be made for a dividend or other right for which the record date
is prior to the date the stock certificate is issued, except as provided in
Section 11 of the Plan.

            (c) Termination of Continuous Status as a Director. In the
                ----------------------------------------------
event a Purchaser's Continuous Status as a Director terminates prior to vesting
(other than by reason of the Purchaser's death), Restricted Stock shall be
forfeited by the Purchaser without any consideration therefor.

            (d) Death. In the event a Purchaser's Continuous Status as a
                -----
Director 

                                      -7-

 
terminates by reason of the Purchaser's death, the Purchaser's Restricted
Stock shall become fully vested as of the date of death.

            (e) Shares Available Under the Plan. Except as otherwise
                -------------------------------
provided in Section 3 hereof, a purchase of Restricted Stock as provided
hereunder shall result in a decrease in the number of Shares that thereafter
shall be available under the Plan, by the number of Shares of Restricted Stock
purchased.

            (f) Rule 16b-3. Restricted Stock Awards to Outside Directors
                ----------
must comply with the applicable provisions of Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act and
shall contain such additional conditions or restrictions as may be required
thereunder to qualify Plan transactions, and other transactions by Outside
Directors that could be matched with Plan transactions, for the maximum
exemption from Section 16 of the Exchange Act with respect to Plan transactions.

        10. Non-Transferability of Options and Restricted Stock Awards. Options
            ----------------------------------------------------------
and Restricted Stock Awards may not be sold, pledged, assigned, hypothecated,
transferred, or disposed of in any manner other than by will or by the laws of
descent or distribution. Options may be exercised, during the lifetime of the
Optionee, only by the Optionee.

        11. Adjustments Upon Changes in Capitalization,  Dissolution,  Merger,  
            ------------------------------------------------------------------
Asset Sale or Change of Control.
- -------------------------------

            (a) Changes in Capitalization. Subject to any required action
                -------------------------
by the stockholders of the Company, the number of Shares covered by each
outstanding Option and Restricted Stock Award, the number of Shares which have
been authorized for issuance under the Plan but as to which no Options or
Restricted Stock Awards have yet been granted or which have been returned to the
Plan upon cancellation or expiration of an Option or repurchase or forfeiture of
Restricted Stock, as well as the price per Share covered by each such
outstanding Option, as applicable, and the number of Shares issuable pursuant to
the automatic grant provisions of Section 4 hereof shall be proportionately
adjusted for any increase or decrease in the number of issued Shares resulting
from a stock split, spin off, reverse stock split, stock dividend, combination
or reclassification of the Common Stock, or any other increase or decrease in
the number of issued Shares effected without receipt of consideration by the
Company; provided, however, that conversion of any convertible securities of the
Company shall not be deemed to have been "effected without receipt of
consideration." Except as expressly provided herein, no issuance by the Company
of shares of stock of any class, or securities convertible into shares of stock
of any class, shall affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made
with respect to, the number or price of Shares subject to an Option or
Restricted Stock Award.

            (b) Dissolution or Liquidation. In the event of a proposed
                --------------------------
dissolution or liquidation of the Company, Options and Restricted Stock shall
become fully vested and, in the case of Options, fully exercisable, including
as to Shares as to which it would not otherwise be exercisable. To the extent
an Option or Restricted Stock Award remains unexercised at the time of the
dissolution or liquidation, the Option or Restricted Stock Award shall
terminate.

                                      -8-

 
             (c) Merger or Asset Sale. In the event of a merger of the Company
                 --------------------
with or into another corporation or the sale of substantially all of the
assets of the Company, Restricted Stock shall fully vest and outstanding
Options may be assumed or equivalent options may be substituted by the
successor corporation or a parent or subsidiary thereof (the "Successor
Corporation"). If an Option is assumed or substituted for, the Option or
equivalent option shall continue to be exercisable as provided in Section 4
hereof for so long as the Optionee serves as a Director or a director of the
Successor Corporation. Following such assumption or substitution, if the
Optionee's status as a Director or director of the Successor Corporation, as
applicable, is terminated other than upon a voluntary resignation by the
Optionee, the Option or option shall become fully exercisable, including as to
Shares for which it would not otherwise be exercisable. Thereafter, the Option
or option shall remain exercisable in accordance with Sections 8(c) through
(e) above.

         If the Successor Corporation does not assume an outstanding Option or
substitute for it an equivalent option, the Option shall become fully vested and
exercisable, including as to Shares for which it would not otherwise be
exercisable. In such event the Board shall notify the Optionee that the Option
shall be fully exercisable for a period of thirty (30) days from the date of
such notice, and upon the expiration of such period the Option shall terminate.

         For the purposes of this Section 11(c), an Option shall be considered
assumed if, following the merger or sale of assets, the Option confers the right
to purchase or receive, for each Share of Optioned Stock subject to the Option
immediately prior to the merger or sale of assets, the consideration (whether
stock, cash, or other securities or property) received in the merger or sale of
assets by holders of Common Stock for each Share held on the effective date of
the transaction (and if holders were offered a choice of consideration, the type
of consideration chosen by the holders of a majority of the outstanding Shares).

         12. Amendment and Termination of the Plan.
             -------------------------------------

             (a) Amendment and Termination. The Board may at any time
                 -------------------------
amend, alter, suspend, or discontinue the Plan, but no amendment, alteration,
suspension, or discontinuation shall be made which would impair the rights of
any Optionee or Purchaser under any grant theretofore made, without his or her
consent. In addition, to the extent necessary and desirable to comply with Rule
16b-3 under the Exchange Act (or any other applicable law or regulation), the
Company shall obtain stockholder approval of any Plan amendment in such a manner
and to such a degree as required. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions
set forth in Sections 4(b) and 4(c) of this Plan (and any additional Sections of
this Plan as required by Rule 16b-3) shall not be amended more than once every
six months, other than to comport with changes in the Internal Revenue Code, the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act, as amended, or the rules thereunder.

             (b) Effect of Amendment or Termination. Any such amendment or
                 ----------------------------------
termination of the Plan shall not affect Options or Restricted Stock already
granted and such Options and Restricted Stock shall remain in full force and
effect as if this Plan had not been 

                                      -9-

 
amended or terminated.

         13. Time of Granting Options or Restricted Stock Awards. The date of
             ---------------------------------------------------
grant of an Option or Restricted Stock Award shall, for all purposes, be the
date determined in accordance with Section 4 hereof. Notice of the determination
shall be given to each Outside Director to whom an Option or Restricted Stock
Award is so granted within a reasonable time after the date of such grant.

         14. Conditions Upon Issuance of Shares. Shares shall not be issued
             ----------------------------------
pursuant to the exercise of an Option or Restricted Stock Award unless the
exercise of such Option or Restricted Stock Award and the issuance and delivery
of such Shares pursuant thereto shall comply with all relevant provisions of
law, including, without limitation, the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the
Exchange Act, the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, state securities
laws, and the requirements of any stock exchange upon which the Shares may then
be listed, and shall be further subject to the approval of counsel for the
Company with respect to such compliance.

             As a condition to the exercise of an Option or Restricted
Stock Award, the Company may require the person exercising such Option or
Restricted Stock Award to represent and warrant at the time of any such exercise
that the Shares are being purchased only for investment and without any present
intention to sell or distribute such Shares, if, in the opinion of counsel for
the Company, such a representation is required by any of the aforementioned
relevant provisions of law.

             Inability of the Company to obtain authority from any
regulatory body having jurisdiction, which authority is deemed by the Company's
counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any Shares hereunder,
shall relieve the Company of any liability in respect of the failure to issue or
sell such Shares as to which such requisite authority shall not have been
obtained.

         15. Reservation of Shares. The Company, during the term of this Plan,
             ---------------------
will at all times reserve and keep available such number of Shares as shall be
sufficient to satisfy the requirements of the Plan.

         16. Agreements. Options and Restricted Stock Awards shall be evidenced
             ----------
by written option agreements in such form as the Board shall approve.

         17. Stockholder Approval. Continuance of the Plan shall be subject to
             --------------------
approval by the stockholders of the Company at or prior to the first annual
meeting of stockholders held subsequent to the adoption of the Plan. Such
stockholder approval shall be obtained in the degree and manner required under
applicable state and federal law.

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