Architecture and Interior Design 

 If we fail to use our best thoughts expressed through computer software to solve issues like 
how we shelter ourselves or better plan our spaces or make better use of resources, then we miss the core challenge of design.
Google Sketchup is our starting point. It turns out to be an extremely flexible and powerful tool for transforming ideas to three dimensional constructs. Each year we seems to get more and more use from this amazing, free program.

Although we use Sketchup Pro in the classroom, regular sketchup can be downloaded at home and installed on virtually any computer. It is powerful and has many tutorials on youtube.

Download a free copy of Google Sketchup at the following site:
http://google-sketchup.en.softonic.com/
Now go to youtube.com and search for sample sketchup tutorials or click on the "Sample Tutorial" below.
For a typical sketchup tutorial CLICK HERE
To view how to make a robot you CLICK HERE.
Auto Cad should be installed for the start of the year.

We usually start with basic geometric shapes and relationships and build on these to develop more complex drawings. Eventually we create floor plans and work with scale.

This is the grand daddy of cad. Although not much more than a 2d program it is extremely accurate and is what revolutionized modern plan work.

You can download a 30 day free trial of Auto Cad LT if you get behind.

Go to the Autodesk LT Page 
 
      Choose to either install or
      you can use it remotely.
My Auto Cad Tutorial page on getting started  is HERE.
You can also download a free compatible program such as Draftsight. To go to their website, CLICK HERE
 Solidworks is a genuine 3d program used extensively in the manufacturing world. We have had it for three years now.

We have an extensive although somewhat confusing set of tutorials that let students independently explore its complexities.  

Sketchup 2015

The activation is simple, when 2015 is first opened it will run under the 30 day trial. At the template chooser screen there is an "Add License..." button. When that is clicked, our serial and activation code is populated below. There is a red button below that when pressed activates the software over the internet.  This should be relatively easy enough to walk students through.

If license expires, repeat process.

About Designing Buildings