Blueprinting as we know it began its growth in popularity in the 70s. These early techniques involved a physical drafting table and other artistic instruments. It is in these processes that CAD was born. Computer-aided design, CAD, is a term used to describe digital software that allows designers, artists, architects and the like to draft digital models of products or other structures. The software has advanced tremendously in the past four decades and is projected to continue on this trajectory.
The dawn of digitized design began in the 80s, with basic CAD software being developed at a high cost. These tools were not yet made widely accessible until the late 90s early 2000s, when CAD became more compatible with common servers such as Windows. Today, it is possible to design and make nearly anything in CAD. Larger items like industrial equipment, submarines and airplanes are born from computer-aided design, as are smaller items like ice cream machines or dumbbells. Even unique, modern products like doorbell cameras and humanoid robotics have foundations in CAD.
Because of how integrated CAD has become in the world of design, there is a blossoming community surrounding the software. This technology has become the focal point of many conference speeches and product launches within the CAD network. Moving forward, CAD is expected to be seamlessly integrated with AI software to create a design companion, putting software professionals leaps and bounds ahead of those using traditional CAD. Academics, entrepreneurs, children and artists alike are benefiting from computer-aided design software today, tomorrow and beyond.
Source: SolidWorks
