Can Simple 3D Modelling Replace Paper Sketching in Early Ideation Phases?
Can Simple 3D Modelling Replace Paper Sketching in Early Ideation Phases?
Can Simple 3D Modelling Replace Paper Sketching in Early Ideation Phases?
ABSTRACT
Designers are thought to use sketching to visualize ideas and to map their minds. However, many
designers chose to jump straight into 3D-modelling when engaging in new tasks. Increased demand of
efficiency and lack of drawing skills tempt designers to start modelling straight away, as this is a task
that can be very time consuming. The demand for quick and simple 3D ideation tools is increasing, and
new software is becoming available. These tools allow designers to create rougher models that can be
altered and iterated upon. This article will review literature on ideation, sketching and 3D-modelling,
and look at some of the newer software available. The inspiration for this comes from both the
possibility to alter and change designs underway, as well as the benefits of seeing objects in a 3D
atmosphere when exploring shapes during ideation phases.
2D and 3D 3. IDEATION
Refers to two and three-dimensional drawings Ideation is often defined as the process where
and environments. the designer generates ideas and solutions
through sketching, brainstorming, prototyping
2. METHODS and many other ideation techniques. During
ideation, the designers aim is to generate a lot of
2.1 Literature Review ideas that can later be cut down to the most
practical or innovative to inspire better design
A literature review was used to gain theoretical solutions and products. (Dam & Siang, 2017)
insights in both CAD and traditional sketching.
The timeframe on articles about traditional “Ideation is where you start your conceptual
sketching is quite wide, as traditional sketching design. This is a hugely creative and fun phase.
methods have remained quite stagnant over the Ideation is where you brainstorm to come up with
past decades. The CAD-world, however, is in ideas to solve design problems. Ideation is
rapid development, and the available literature inseparable from sketching and evaluation aimed
varies in relevancy. Some of the much-cited at exploration of design ideas.” (Hartson &
literature is quite outdated as it concerns Pardha S, 2012)
outdated software that is no longer used
commercially. Design ideation is often associated with
sketching, and the story about how a rough
Most of the literature was found using the Oria sketch on a napkin landed a big client has been
portal provided by the NTNU library. heard by many.
ResearchGate, which is by many seen as a social
network for scientific research, was also used to
find and request articles from authors. As with
3D-model creation is a major bottleneck Gravity sketch is a VR-sketching tool that allows
in production pipelines because it the user to sketch 3D models in real-time. By
using a computer, VR headset and controllers,
requires human effort to create diverse
the user can sketch out and edit 3D-models.
and complex shapes. (Olsen, Samavati,
Gravity sketch is made to lower the barrier to
Sousa, & Jorge, 2009) digital 3D design for people that are not trained
in traditional CAD. Gravity sketch are also
5.1 WIMP working on reaching out to other platforms, like
tablets and motion controllers. (Gravity Sketch,
The current high-end CAD software 2018)
incorporate powerful tools for detailed
and accurate construction and With gravity sketch you can draw an object in the
manipulation of geometric models. air in front of you and explore the shape by
Systems like these typically use a turning either your head or the object. This can
be very helpful when designing things like car
WIMP(Window, Icon, Menu, Pointer)
interiors, as you can sit down in a chair and
interface which is based on entering
sketch out the interior around you while getting a
parameters in dialog boxes, adjusting feel of dimensions and aesthetics. Gravity sketch
control points, and floating palettes. also allows you to import models to use as either
(Olsen, Samavati, Sousa, & Jorge, 2009) reference or to edit. Figure 3 gives an idea of
Examples of WIMP software is what can be created relatively fast and easy in
SOLIDWORKS, Maya and Inventor. Gravity Sketch. Complex organic shapes can be
manipulated to create sketches that can be
5.2 SBIM experienced in three dimensions.
Figure 4: Concept sketch using SOLIDWORKS Industrial Ambiguity is often lost in WIMP-based 3D-
Designer (Javelin Tech, 2018)
modelling, as the inputs need to be specific and
detailed for the computer to calculate the
SketchUp different shapes, especially with more detailed
products.
SketchUp is a free 3D-modelling tool where you
can draw in either 2D or 3D perspective. With more playful modelling tools, much like
SketchUp is created to be intuitive, robust and sculpting clay, 3D-modelling can help a designer
user-friendly. SketchUp is known for its ease of find the perfect shape. Through adjusting and
use, and is used by architects, interior designers, editing and letting forms emerge, the designer
engineers and video game designers. Sketchup can work on getting the best result intuitively and
lets you push and pull surfaces to create 3D the ambiguity that emerges can help in exploring
forms, that later can be stretched, copied and new ideas.
rotated to extend your design.
3D modelling systems that are based on hand-
6. DISCUSSION drawn sketches have a reputation of only being
suitable for “quick and dirty” modelling tasks.
This section seeks to discuss the insight gained (Yang, Sharon, & van de Panne, 2005) However,
through the literature review. the work done by L. Olsen et al. (2009) indicates
that SBIM can have a tremendous diversity of
As also mentioned by Alcaide-Marzal et al. (2012) applications and techniques, showing that it can
Previous work in the field of digital sketching have the potential to be utilized in a wide range
agree that Paper and pencil are still more of modelling tasks. L. Olsen et al. argue that the
powerful than digital tools in producing community should perhaps embrace the
conceptual solutions, in terms of efficiency. The ambiguous nature of sketch-based systems. As
participants in the tests conducted by Alcaide- argued by Nealen et al.: “Though our capability to
Marzal et al. were more efficient using 2D derive a mental model from everyday shapes
sketching. Their work, however, show that by around us is well developed, we fail to properly
using tools that allow digital sculpting, where communicate this to a machine. This is why we
7. CONCLUSION