What Is Design and Why Is It Important?
Design is a tool used by engineers and other professionals during the production or preparation of a product. Simply put, it’s the way we communicate our ideas, making them understandable and actionable.
Design as a Means of Communication
🖌️ Design helps us:
- Capture what we have in mind, starting with paper.
- Then, with the help of 3D design software, bring it to life in three dimensions on our screens.
👉 Think of design as a language that engineers use to communicate with one another. Instead of words, we use lines, shapes, and dimensions to convey exactly what we mean.
From Simple to Complex
When we start creating more complex objects, design allows us to:
- Combine two or more components into an assembly (a collection of parts that work together).
- In this assembly, we can check:
- Whether the components fit and work together properly.
- If there are any mistakes, we can identify and fix them in the software before production begins.
🔧 This saves us time and money, as we catch potential problems in the digital stage before moving into manufacturing.
Design as a Tool for Production
Design is not just about visualizing our ideas. It’s also the tool that:
- Sends instructions to machines such as:
- 3D printers.
- CNC machines.
- Other specialized tools.
- These machines, based on the design, create the part exactly as we envisioned it.
Think of design as the blueprint for a house. If the blueprint isn’t clear, the final result won’t function as intended. Similarly, a 3D printer needs a precise design to know how to build your object.
Our Focus Is on the Outcome
In this course, we won’t dive into the complex specifications required for a “perfect design” as taught in schools. Instead, we’ll focus on the final result:
- How the design you create will come out of your 3D printer.
- How to make it functional and useful without getting lost in theory.
A Tool with Endless Possibilities
Design is not just a way to create objects. It’s a creative tool that gives you the ability to:
- Imagine and build anything.
- Communicate your ideas with others.
- Create things that, until now, existed only in your imagination.
Together, we’ll learn how to use design to turn your ideas into reality.
