AutoCAD, Revit, or SketchUp: Which Should You Learn and Why?
You probably have heard of these three programs. Maybe you’re highly experienced in some or all, or maybe you’ve been actively avoiding them this whole time. If you are wanting to learn them, you might not be sure which one to prioritize or which one to start. The good news is that you don’t have to learn them all. Which one you choose will really depend on your goals and type of work you do within the industry.
AutoCAD: The Gold Standard for 2D Documentation
AutoCAD has been around for decades at this point, and for good reason. It’s the gold standard when it comes to 2D documentation, that is plan drawings, section and elevation drawings, and details. While some designers can find AutoCAD intimidating, with right training of core skills and adaptable workflows, it can quickly become an intuitive and efficient software program.
While AutoCAD has developed 3D capabilities, I know I personally don’t find it a good fit for interior designers or architects. (I think engineers might find it much more useful.) Other programs are better suited for 3D representation in spatial design.
Revit: Best for Commercial Work and Multi-Discipline Collaboration
The second most requested software was Revit, which makes sense as it dominates interiors, particularly within the commercial sector. As a BIM-software program, Revit not only gives capabilities for 2D documentations and 3D visualizations, it also has the opportunity for loads of embedded data to help keep track of more complex projects.
I always credit challenging myself to learning Revit is what directly led to my being given certain projects to lead. Not my creativity or design skills, but my willingness to embrace and learn a software that would eventually lead to more efficient studio practices.
SketchUp: Best for Residential and Conceptual Visualisation
The third most requested software was Sketchup. Sketchup remains one of the most user-friendly software of these three, and it’s incredibly popular within the world of residential design while still playing a big part of commercial design too. It can be used for quick, more conceptual ideas as well as highly detailed and accurate 3D models of designs. SketchUp in recent years is producing more effective visuals straight from the software, but it also works very well with rendering extensions for the more realistic visualizations that are highly effective for client communications.
Some designers find success in using SketchUp’s sister program of LayOut to produce 2D documentation. This can certainly be effective for some projects, but often collaboration and detailed precision mean working with Sketchup alongside AutoCAD is the best solution.
