Lesson video

Hello, my name's Mrs. Taylor, and thank you for joining me for our lesson today.

Today, our lesson is Design Development With CAD: Communal Areas, and this is part of the iterative design student living unit.

The outcome: I can use 3D computer-aided design to develop ideas.

We have four key words, CAD, which stands for computer-aided Design, virtual modeling, which is the creation of digital 3D representations of objects or designs.

Development, which is improving and building on design ideas to make them better and testing, which is trying something out to see if it works well.

There are two parts to the lesson, the benefits of virtual modeling and virtual modeling to test ideas.

We are going to start with the benefits of virtual modeling.

The modeling of design ideas does not always mean physical modeling.

Virtual modeling is an alternative to physical modeling that brings different benefits to the designer.

Virtual modeling is the creation of digital 3D representations of objects or designs.

Virtual modeling uses CAD.

We can see here an example of a CAD model.

CAD stands for computer-aided design.

CAD enables designers to create drawings, designs and models digitally, and when connected to a compatible machine, it can be used with CAM, which is computer-aided manufacturing.

Here we have a check for understanding.

What does CAD stand for? Is it A, computer-aided directions? B, calculated area design, C, computer-aided development, or D, computer-aided design.

Pause the video and have a go.

Wonderful.

Let's have a check.

That's right.

It's D, computer-aided design.

Well done.

Virtual modeling using CAD has benefits over physical modeling.

It's faster to design.

You can create and change your ideas quickly on a computer.

It's accurate.

CAD lets you measure things exactly with no guesswork.

It's easy to fix mistakes and iterate.

You don't have to start over if you make a change.

And it saves money, you don't need to buy materials for the early versions.

Further benefits of virtual modeling using CAD over physical modeling include you can test your design.

You can see how it might work before building it.

You can share your work.

It's easy to send your design to your user or other designers that you are working with and less waste.

You don't use up materials just for testing ideas.

We now have another check for understanding.

Which of these are benefits of virtual modeling compared to physical modeling? Is it A share your work? B, easier to do; C, less waste or D, longer process? Pause the video and have a go.

Wonderful.

Let's check.

That's right.

It's both A and C.

You can share your work easily and there is less waste.

Well done.

When developing and iterating design ideas, there are benefits of using virtual modeling.

Faster to design than physical modeling.

Once you have learnt how to use the CAD application, ideas can be drawn quickly.

It's easy to iterate.

Existing ideas can be adapted easily and quickly rather than having to make a whole new physical model or damaging it, and you can test your design.

Virtual models can be tested for things such as movement, size, and dimensions.

We now move to task A.

There are two parts to this task.

Part one is explain three benefits of using virtual modeling CAD instead of physical modeling during the design process.

And part two, using 3D CAD, draw at least one virtual model of one of your design ideas for student living.

Pause the video and have a go.

Good luck.

Fantastic.

How did you get on? Let's have a look at some of the answers you may have come up with.

Your answers could include, virtual modeling using CAD allows designers to make quick changes to a design, which saves time compared to rebuilding a physical model.

It also enables accurate testing of the product, such as checking how parts fit or move together, helping to spot problems early in the process.

Additionally, CAD files can be easily shared with users or team members, which helps gather feedback and make improvements before anything is made physically.

And Alex shares his design brief and virtual model with us.

Design a storage solution for kitchen utensils and cutlery.

The product needs to help save space and must be efficient to use.

The solution must appeal to university aged students and be able to be manufactured at an affordable price for students, and we can see the image of Alex's design drawn using CAD.

Well done.

We're going to move to the second part of our lesson today.

Virtual modeling to test ideas.

Virtual modeling using CAD can be extremely useful for testing ideas.

When we test, we are trying something out to see if it works well.

Designers test their designs to find out what works, what doesn't, and how to make them better before creating the final version.

The testing can then lead to development of design ideas.

Development is when the designer improves and builds on design ideas to make them better.

What things do you think can be tested with virtual models? Pause the video and have a think or talk to the person next to you.

Fabulous.

Let's have a look.

Sam says, "I could test the size and dimensions of the design." In CAD, you can test the size and dimensions of the design by typing in the exact measurement whilst you create it.

This means you can make sure every part of your design is the right length, width, and height and will fit its purpose.

Proportions and dimensions can also be tested quickly and efficiently using CAD.

Proportions and dimensions can also be tested quickly and efficiently using CAD, using the parametric modeling.

Parametric modeling allows you to easily change the dimensions of designs.

You can update these live in the virtual model to see the changes.

The proportions of this design have been altered to see what it would look like with shallower compartments.

What do you think of this design? Does it work well or not? Here we have a check for understanding.

What is the purpose of testing? Is it A, to finish the product faster? B, to find out what works and develop the design or C, to avoid creating any drawings.

Pause the video and have a go.

Wonderful.

Let's check.

That's right.

It's B.

To find out what works and develop the design.

Well done.

Jun says, "I could also test that the product will function in the way that it is meant to." In some CAD applications, the function of a product can be tested by using tools that simulate how it would work in real life.

For example, if you are designing a door hinge, CAD can show you how the parts move when the door opens and closes.

This helps you to see if the parts fit and move correctly without getting stuck or breaking.

Laura says, "I could test things like stress points and the strength of my product." In some CAD applications, your design can be tested in a simulation.

The simulations can test things such as stress testing, structural buckling, thermal stress, or even be able to tell you things such as how to make your design lighter without compromising strength.

Here we can see some examples of CAD models being tested, and as Laura says, I could test things like stress points and the strength of my product.

Here we have a check for understanding.

Which of these would not be classed as a model of a design? Pause the video and have a go.

Wonderful.

Let's check.

That's right, it's C.

C is a sketch, so it is not a model of a design.

A is a CAD virtual model, and B is a cardboard and pipe cleaner model in real life.

A physical model.

Well done.

Aisha says, "I could test out different materials, finishes, and colors for my design as well." And here we can see a CAD drawing of a design in an alternative material.

This time a timber rather than a polymer.

By modeling in CAD, you can make quick changes and test different materials and finishes.

Most CAD applications allow you to render your designs quickly in a variety of materials such as glass, polymers, metals, textiles, and timbers.

We now move to task B.

There are two parts to this.

One: Use virtual tests to develop at least two iterations of your design using CAD.

And part two, evaluate and explain the new iterations.

Pause the video and have a go.

Best of luck.

Fantastic.

How did you find that? Let's have a look at some of the answers you may have come up with.

Alex shares two of his virtual models with us and explains, "I tested alternative materials and examined how they would look and function using timber and metal rather than polymer.

The timber is aesthetically pleasing, but it is heavy and much harder to clean and keep hygienic than metal." He also says, "I also tested by altering the hooks to be detachable and interchangeable.

Single hooks for simple utensils like a ladle and a double hook for a more complex and heavier item like the tin opener." Well done.

We now have a summary of our learning today.

The modeling of design ideas does not always mean physical modeling.

Virtual modeling is an alternative to physical modeling that brings different benefits to the designer.

Virtual modeling is the creation of digital 3D representations of objects or designs.

Virtual modeling using CAD can be extremely useful for testing ideas.

Designers test their ideas to find out what works, what doesn't, and how to make them better before creating the final version.

The testing can then lead to development of design ideas.

I'm really pleased you could join me for this lesson today and well done.