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Tech Talk with Peter Mate: Software & Design |
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Software and design: two words that some think should never go together. Software is often
perceived as technical, logical and sometimes just plain frustrating.
Design is more commonly associated with art. It’s about vision, the
harmony
of colours, lines, textures and space. I think many who eschew software
for a more traditional approach would be surprised to discover just how
far software has come in terms of helping in the design portion of the
job.
If you’ve ever tried using software to design a project, you may have experienced some frustrations. That’s not surprising — learning to use a new piece of technology can be challenging. But the rewards are worth it. The key is to choose the right software for your needs, and then set realistic goals and expectations. For example, if you design custom projects, make sure your software tool is able to do more than just cabinets pulled from a catalogue. Get started on the right foot and you’ll increase your chances of learning a tool that will help you in the creation and visioning stage, as well as planning and pricing among other benefits.
When clients ask you to create a space in their home or office, coming up with a design that suits their needs and tastes is crucial. If it’s a kitchen design that’s needed, you may sometimes be faced with the choice between basing your design on a “One Wall”, “L-Shape”, “U-Shape” or “Corridor” type kitchen. In many software systems, numerous variations can be created fairly quickly to get a good idea of what will work best. You can then run though various combinations of door styles, mouldings, colours, textures, and more, without having to erase or redraw. In addition to the artistic help, design software can assist with other critical elements such as measurements. For example, the famous “work triangle” can be measured and adjustments can be made to create an efficient
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