The Interior Design Department of JD School of Design powered by JD Institute of Fashion Technology recently conducted the “Advanced-Level Drafting & Rendering Workshop in SolidWorks” for their BSc 2022 and MSc 2023 batch in Interior Design & Decoration to bring a well-curated asset of the workshop that aimed at equipping students with the fundamentals of skills in drafting and 3D rendering. Focusing on the power of SolidWorks, the workshop helped refine the students’ capabilities to create complex models, solve problems with the help of advanced tools and plugins, and generate renders that would help them to rise as a benchmark in the world. 

Workshop Objective and Outcomes

The primary objective behind the workshop would be to teach some advanced drafting techniques, including 3D rendering, through the use of SolidWorks’ powerful Visualize rendering plugin that is a game-changer in the design as well as presentation process by which the students can generate photorealistic images and create impressive marketing visuals and also validate design elements before actually putting them into production. The participants were expected to leave this session ready to apply the advanced rendering techniques they would be learning and be completely proficient by the end of the session.

Explore the purpose and potential behind SolidWorks Visualize.

The workshop delved into the rendering features of the Visualize rendering plug-in. Such a plug-in provided the ease of integration with SolidWorks, thus greatly simplifying the process from design to visualization. The students were taught how these could establish very aesthetically pleasing visualizations for presentations to clients and other material that could be used for marketing purposes where they could openly express their designs with photorealistic details. The session would emphasize that high-quality visualizations were not only necessary for aesthetic appeal but also as an aid in the validation of design elements such as colours, materials, and finishes before the preparation of physical prototypes.

Participants learned to create simulations of various materials and textures with perfect accuracy. This puts the ability of the maker to select better material and, therefore the final product is more real in its preview to the clients. In interactive renderings, such as 3D animations and virtual reality presentations, new opportunities for stakeholders’ engagement are brought about to the students to ensure that they have thorough explorations of their designs and valuable feedback.

Hands-on Learning Outcomes

To guarantee that all students would have hands-on experience with using SolidWorks Visualize, the workshop was designed in a way where each pupil learned setup for scenes, material change, and lighting adjustment to make renderings as attractive and engaging as possible. Lighting setup, both natural and artificial sources, was a detailed aspect of understanding since these impact the visual attractiveness of the final output. Students practised and refined their skills further in the arena of scene composition, which included the selection of good backgrounds and camera angles with properly prepared perspectives to bring life into their design.

The workshop also provided space for making animations – the other important part of the course. The attendees learned to show the product’s functionality dynamically. That helped all such participants to increase their portfolios with great visuals. Exporting high-quality images and videos for presentations and marketing became routine, as well as equipping the students with the tools to communicate to the clients their design conception.

What makes the workshop so outstanding is that it discusses how the factors of business in rendering could work for the advantage of students by building a competitive edge, featuring uniqueness in the market, and encouraging better engagement with clients. Providing lifelike images and animations with the designs can help designers create a better understanding and discussion of their designs, therefore making presentations more impactful and memorable.

The workshop was very apt for students who wanted to master the art of rendering and come up with an excellent design portfolio. It equipped the students not only with technical knowledge but also with the ability to convey and communicate design ideas visually, which prepared the students even more for presentation, thus raising their confidence when talking to clients.

This Advanced-Level Drafting & Rendering Workshop in SolidWorks provided the learning experience combining technical skills with the practical business acumen that may allow professionals with interior design to fly in their field. As such students continue on their journey, the knowledge and skills acquired as part of this workshop will undoubtedly prepare them for real-world design challenges with creative imagination, precision, and professionalism.