The Future of CAD | Jon Hirschtick | TEDxBeaconStreet

Summary

The speaker discusses how manufactured products have improved lives worldwide, from everyday items like bicycles and smartphones to essential farming equipment. They highlight the revolution in product design tools, particularly the advent of 3D CAD software, which allows anyone with a smartphone or tablet to design professional-level products. The speaker demonstrates this by collaboratively designing a battery pack for an electric bicycle using a cloud-based platform, emphasizing the power of teamwork and accessibility in modern design. The session showcases how technology democratizes design and enables anyone, anywhere, to create impactful products.

Takeaways

• 😀 Every person on Earth benefits from manufactured products, whether it's a robotic surgery system, an iPhone, or farming equipment in Sub-Saharan Africa.
• 😀 Manufactured products are created by professionals like engineers and designers who use advanced tools to make these innovations a reality.
• 😀 The speaker works on software tools called computer-aided design (CAD), which are used by professional engineers and designers to create products.
• 😀 A revolution is happening in product design, and it's not just for professionals – everyday people can now use these tools too.
• 😀 With the advent of 3D CAD tools, even a mobile phone can be used for professional-level product design.
• 😀 Open-source designs allow anyone to build products, and the design software being used today is free for such projects.
• 😀 Collaboration is key in modern product design, as designs are often created by teams, not just individuals.
• 😀 In the past, CAD systems were used by a single person, but now, tools like Google Docs allow real-time collaboration on 3D designs.
• 😀 Multiple people can edit a design simultaneously, making the process faster and more efficient.
• 😀 Interactive design tools allow changes like rounding corners, adding details, and selecting colors, making product designs more customizable.
• 😀 The ability to collaborate globally and design together in real-time demonstrates the power of new technology in product design and innovation.

Q & A

What is the main point of the speaker regarding manufactured products?

The speaker emphasizes that manufactured products, ranging from robotic surgery tools to mobile phones, improve lives worldwide, including in less developed regions like Sub-Saharan Africa.

What is CAD, and how does it relate to the speaker’s work?

CAD stands for Computer-Aided Design, a software tool used by professional engineers and designers to create product designs. The speaker has spent 35 years building software tools in this field, specifically for product designers.

What major change in product design is the speaker highlighting?

The speaker highlights a revolution in product design tools, specifically the availability of professional-grade 3D CAD software that can now be used on mobile phones or tablets, making it accessible to a wider audience.

How does the speaker demonstrate the accessibility of design tools?

The speaker uses Onshape, a professional 3D CAD system that runs on a phone, to design a battery pack for an electric bicycle, showcasing that anyone with a mobile device can engage in product design.

What is the significance of open-source design in this context?

The speaker emphasizes that by using open-source design, anyone can access and build upon the product design, democratizing the design process and encouraging innovation.

How does collaboration play a role in modern design?

Collaboration is key in modern design, as demonstrated by the speaker's use of collaborative CAD systems that allow multiple people to work on a design simultaneously, similar to Google Docs.

What are some of the specific features of modern CAD systems like Onshape?

Modern CAD systems, such as Onshape, allow real-time collaboration, mobile access, and detailed 3D modeling, enabling professionals and amateurs alike to work together on a design.

Why is the speaker using the audience’s input during the design process?

The speaker engages the audience to demonstrate how product design can be a collaborative effort, and to highlight the flexibility of the CAD system, which allows for interactive decision-making during the design process.

How does the speaker make the design more visually appealing?

The speaker adds aesthetic details such as rounded edges, a custom logo, and color choices to the design, demonstrating the level of customization available in modern product design tools.

What is the role of software tools in the revolution the speaker mentions?

Software tools like Onshape are at the heart of the revolution in product design, as they provide powerful, accessible, and collaborative design capabilities that were once limited to expensive systems, opening up the field to a broader audience.