As an interior designer, I spend a LOT of time sitting at my desk staring at a computer. Interior design projects require a lot of time in the office working. I always envisioned myself (before I knew anything about what a designers work truly entails) spending all my time out in the field measuring, choosing materials, finding products etc. However, upon beginning my journey as an interior designer, I quickly learned I had to reevaluate what my true tasks would be. Luckily, I fell in love with this part as well!
I utilize a lot of different computer programs and software's in my work. It depends on the type of project I am working on whether I am drawing up a floorplan in AutoCAD or I am drawing it by hand. The scope of the project dictates what resources I utilize. For example, if I am working on furniture and accessories selection, I might quickly draw up the room either by hand or create a quite floor plan using Room Planner. Then, I would use Photoshop in order to create a mood board with material and product selections. On the other hand, if I am working on tile selection for the bathroom, I prefer to use Revit to draw it up and create some computer-aided photos for my clients. Not every project requires the same software in order to have an amazing result. Keep reading for a list of some of my favorite software/computer programs that I use and why!
One of the software programs I use during my projects is AutoCAD. AutoCAD is a computer-aided drawing program that is used by architects, engineers, other construction professionals and interior designers to create precise drawings. Typically, these drawings are 2-dimensional, but creating a 3-dimensional drawing is possible. One of the many reasons AutoCAD is useful is that the drawings are created in full scale, and only scaled down for printing purposes. This method of drawings allows the user to use different "layers" in order to help organize the drawings. As a project becomes more complex, these different layers are extremely helpful. Another reason I love this program is simple: when I erase a line, it is truly gone. There is no hint of a line, which can be irritating and confusing when there is one visible like in a hand drawn document. I use AutoCAD a lot when I am focused on being precise and trying to show all the dimensions and elements needed in order to communicate my design to other construction professionals. I use AutoCAD a lot in my larger scale projects that require a lot of detailed dimensions. I can quickly edit the drawing and show any changes that are needed using additional layers. The best part is, I can reuse any drawings I have created and therefore, can save myself a lot of time in the future. This program has a downfall, and that is the cost. It is free for students and educators, but unfortunately, there is an annual fee for those who do not fall in that category.
Another program that I love is Revit. Revit is part of the Autodesk family and it is an amazing program. It is definitely more challenging and is not for the feint of heart. Once you get the hang of it though, the opportunities are endless! This program is a BIM program which stands for Building Information Modeling. When drawing in Revit, what is being created is actually being created as a 3D element. So, when drawing walls, you are actually drawing walls! It is like the Sims, but much more advanced. Therefore, even when drawing in a 2D view, you always have to remember that it is not a 2D element you are drawing therefore it has a height, depth, width, etc. Once this gets ingrained into your mind, it becomes easier to understand. Another element that I love is that everything is connected. Therefore, making changes to a floor plan will make changes in all the other drawings. Think of it this way: when you put in flooring in real life, it is there regardless of how you look at the room. This is the same in Revit. So, if I have flooring in my floor plan, when I open my 3D view, it will also have flooring. Revit is very technical and can be very frustrating for beginners (and for those who are not beginners). I use Revit to create detailed plans and to create 3D views for my clients where I want to make sure everything looks as realistic as possible. I use Revit a lot for bathroom and kitchen designs, because in addition to giving me the opportunity to put the materials I am using in the design in the computer model, it also allows me to show light fixtures and how light is shown in the space. I do not use it on every project, as it is very time consuming to get everything right. But, if my client is willing to give me the time to do that for them, or if I feel it is necessary to get the design intent across, then I dive right in and I enjoy every minute of it! Unfortunately, similar to AutoCAD, this program is costly unless you are an educator or a student. However, it definitely is worth the cost.
SketchUp is another wonderful program that I use during my design process. SketchUp was originally intended to be used by designers, architects, artists, etc. as a way to quickly put together a 3-dimensional design. It is a quick way to put together a design for a client to show them a 3D view of their space, without having to go through the process of building it in Revit. I use this to create quick images for clients or to give them a sense of the size of a space. I also use this as a way to toss ideas around. It is a great tool to use to brainstorm different ideas as it is quick and can help you create some different options to look at and consider. It allows you to put in furniture and other elements as well. SketchUp even has the ability to create floor plans and other construction drawings, however, I have found that they are not as accurate as they are from Revit or if drawn in AutoCAD. This is due to the fact that SketchUp is attempting to create these drawings from a 3D format and therefore the drawings can be skewed. But, to show clients and to take them around their space, SketchUp is a perfect program to use and it creates endless opportunities for you. This program is offered as a free version, however, to really get the most out of it, paying for Pro version is worth it. Students and educators get a discounted price, which helps, especially as we all know that students do not always have the monetary resources to purchase any additional software for their use!
A program I use frequently is Photoshop. I love using Photoshop for a multitude of reasons. It is useful for creating mood boards, material boards (virtually), it can be used to render a room, create design boards, etc. I have used it for many different reasons and it always comes in handy. It has a monthly fee but that monthly fee has paid for itself as soon as I use it in a design. It can even be used to create logos and useful for branding! Photoshop is a great resource to promote your business or to show a professional example to a client. I find myself using it for everything and have found myself using it for things that are outside of interior design. Sometimes, you cannot find the perfect birthday card and you must create it yourself. Anyone who has used Photoshop knows that it has many uses that are outside of editing photos. Honestly, that is the one thing I have not done with it. I prefer to use other methods or to leave them as is. Photoshop is an incredible resource for designers and will be extremely helpful. Since it is affordable, it is definitely something I suggest!
In addition to Photoshop, I use Canva. I love Canva and it has a free version for anyone who wants to try it! If used for professional reasons or even just frequently, I suggest upgrading to the Pro version because you will not regret it. With that, you can use Canva as a way to save your logo and create brand templates. It is wonderful for any designer who has their own business and does not want to have, nor has the time for, keeping track of something like branding. Canva will save your color scheme, fonts, logo, and any documents you create to be used again as a template. I have used it from logos to business cards to design ideas for clients. It can be used to create so many different concepts and is just another tool at my disposal. I have even used it to create invitations to a baby shower and a very special Father's Day gift (custom mouse pads for my father's business). I love knowing that Canva has all my brand designs saved for me and all I have to do is choose my template and I can get down to the real work of designing. I have had a lot of fun creating different designs (both for my clients and for myself) on Canva and it has been a key program I use daily.
The last program I want to discuss if Floor Planner. Floor Planner is fantastic because it has a free version for anyone who wants to test it out. I love it because it is very useful for furniture space planning. It even has preinstalled furniture in it from favorite furniture manufacturers. With Floor Planner, you can quickly create a room, paint the walls and add flooring, windows, doors, furniture, etc. I love the ease of the program, as it is very user friendly. There are even tutorials if needed, so it is something that can be used by everyone. This program shows both 2D and 3D views to really give the sense of what the space will look like with different furniture and accessory items. You can even place the tiniest details of little accents to bring the space to life. The best part, the lights can be turned on or off so you can get an accurate sense of what the space looks like and can use it to show your clients. This is a wonderful tool to show a furniture plan, because as you place the different elements in the room, Floor Planner creates a document with the furniture information that you can have as well. It does the work for you! The downfall is that you are limited to what is available in the program. This can be problematic when a very specific item is needed or a very specific material. Overall, it is a great option to show complete designs for your clients and it is very fun to use!
The programs discussed are not the only ones available for designers and new ones are being introduced every day! These are just some of the ones I use, however, this is not a comprehensive list as I am always adapting and changing the way I work on projects. I like to switch it up and try different software programs or online options. This helps keep me knowledgeable about what options are out there for designers and helps me make sure I am utilizing the best options for the projects I am working on and for my clients. I also just love learning, therefore, I love finding a new program to learn because that when/if I am in need of it, I have it at my disposal.
Colleen
Comments