The “Funnest” AutoCAD Ever!

Yah, Yah, I know, “Funnest” isn’t a word… but it should be!

During my 14+ years with Autodesk, I’ve participated in the launch of many versions of AutoCAD including the “most powerful” AutoCAD ever and the “fastest” AutoCAD ever. Every release of AutoCAD has offered exciting new functionality such as Tool Palettes in AutoCAD 2004, Sheet Sets in AutoCAD 2005, and Dynamic Blocks in AutoCAD 2006. But I have to say, the soon-to-release AutoCAD 2007 is my favorite AutoCAD ever! Why?

AutoCAD 2007 is fun… it really is! I know work isn’t supposed to be fun (you don’t have to tell your boss), but AutoCAD 2007 has a ton of new functionality centered on conceptual 3D design. And, who doesn’t like conceptual 3D design?

AutoCAD 2007 is easy… it really is! The dynamic 3D creation, editing, and visualization functionality enables you to draw the way you think, offering a natural transition from your familiar 2D tools.

Okay, maybe it is easy to create 3D conceptual designs in AutoCAD 2007, but you create 2D construction documents and don’t need that 3rd dimension, right?  Are you sure? After all we are living in a 3D world. Your contractors and manufacturers may understand and require the 2D construction drawings but what about the client and other stakeholders in the project?

My husband and I met with two kitchen contractors last fall to get estimates for remodeling our kitchen. The first contractor gave us a 2D plan of his design and described some of the options from which we could choose. Even though my husband and I both have architectural backgrounds and are familiar with reading floor plans, we had a hard time imagining how our expensive, new kitchen was going to look. The second contractor showed up at our house with his computer and after several hours of interactive designing, he left us with a set of 3D conceptual designs of our new kitchen. We liked both of the contractors and their estimates were very similar. So, which one do you think got the contract?

The 2D drawings were necessary to build the kitchen…

 

But it was the 3D conceptual drawings that sold the design and awarded the contract!

Can you afford *not* to produce conceptual designs in this 3D world?

As our kitchen remodel nears its end (finally!) there are still design decisions for us to make. Fortunately, AutoCAD 2007 has come at the right time! We’ve been able to quickly create conceptual designs to help us decide tile patterns, wall colors, and more.

Practical, efficient, easy and the “funnest” AutoCAD EVER! But let’s just keep that between us. My manager doesn’t need to know how much I’ve been enjoying my work!

The word is out! You can learn more about AutoCAD 2007 from the links provided by Shaan Hurley and of course there will be more to come here as well!

Have fun!!!