Project Delivery

David, In response to your frustration about learning to draw on the computer. When I was able to get my first job working for an Architect I must say that the learning curve was very steep because it takes patience you cannot learn all you need to know in one session. I can tell you that you can learn to draw relatively quickly. You have to remember that these programs are meant to be user friendly and anything you need to do is right on the screen in front of you. You may have to uncover it in a window somewhere on that screen but it is there. I can tell you that initially what worked for me was, I had to keep telling myself that I have spent many years in manual drafting classes and are doing the same thing, but in a different medium. I became more proficient to the point that the firm leaders rely on there draftsmen to produce. It was a slow start but after a couple of years I learned to fly. I would not have been able to be as successful if I didn't have someone who is there to answer questions when you get stuck. Alot of the times it is a simple fix and you can be on your way. Stick with the basics and don't try to do to much. Start out with simple problems like trying to draw a box and dimensioning it. It may seem silly but you have to start small. Once you understand the basic principles then you can do more. I would also like to point out that there are a few different programs Autocad light is all you need for 2d drafting, Autocad is used for 2d and 3d applications, drafting, modeling and rendering it can be daunting to figure out so you must learn 2d drawing first and then expand on you knowledge from there. I was fortunate to be able to work at a firm that paid to have someone come in and teach Revit so I was able to take an18 hr class from Micro Cad. It was tough at first because there is learning curve but I can tell you that once you have the basics down you can do anything you want. It is incredibly powerful what you can do with Revit and you would be suprised at how easy it is. It makes drafting very easy and you have to remember that it also knows that you want to draw in 3d so with a few more steps you can make a 3d model. Of coarse the possibilities are endless with the accurracy of what you are trying to make. In order to not be overwhelmed keep it simple for a while. I would start out with Autocad light because of the price and learn from there. You can do all of communicating with your collueages from there e-mailing drawings making pdf's of your drawings to send them to your local printer. It is easy to learn how to draw on the computer then you have to learn how to get your work off of the computer. I would say it is never to late to learn Autocad and the benefits I am sure will help you tremendously. Keep the faith. and practice, practice practice. Good luck to you my friend! ------------------------------------------- Brian Parnell Assoc. AIA Project Manager Pinner Associates Oceanside NY -------------------------------------------

I think every opportunity you get to learn a new system, the more you maintain your value.  I have a small design firm here in California, but we use Revit.  We recently gained a contract with an entertainment company for a large, complicated ride and restaurant, and at their request, used Autocad 3D.  I am consistently aware of services and capacities that I don't have by not using revit.  I think Revit is very valuable. 

Secondarily, revit allows you the opportunity to be the architect all the way through the system: with knowledge of Revit, it is possible in some cases for you to lead the way, rather than chasing behind.

on a separate but related thing, I've heard the comment "its a CAD thing", and that tends to be a covering excuse.  translate that to I don't know how to fix it, and I can get you to stop asking about that if you think its all the computer's issue.  By understanding and working with Revit (or your selected BIM system), you have the opportunity to fix the problem and help your team understand that fixing the small problems helps the whole office.

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Brad McDonald AIA
Architect
Reveal Studio, Inc
La Crescenta CA
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Michael Clark AIA
Director Of Design
H&H Design-Build
New Albany IN
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David:
All of the suggestions I have read are very good.  I am your age and converted to Revit 5 years ago.  It took me quite a while to quit thinking in Autocad and start thinking in 3D. 

Learning Revit was as painful as when I first learned Autocad, but now, I love Revit, am 50% more productive, and would never go back to straight Autocad.  

Watch some of the tutorials on The Revit Kid. (www.revitkid.com) They are great!

All, I agree that it is essential to develope CAD skills in order to function as a small firm and 3D is rapidly becoming the medium for presenting ideas to clients. That said I have observed that, for may of us, ACAD light heavy or otherwise is a program that takes a certain non-intuitive mindset and is rapidly becoming obsolete. Aside from BIM functionality Revit attempts to provide a more intuitive 3D approach. It has long been in a state of development and as I percieve from having drafters use it, is lacking in good 2D functionality, is not especially compatible with flavors of ACAD in drawing exchange and less so in tools and menues. Despite these shorfalls, the conventional wisdom and the conventional training is to stick with what are percieved to be the most broadly adopted programs. By dint of being the heavy weight, Autodesk programs tend to rule in most US markets. Another 3d option that is widely learned because it is free and intuitive is Sketchup.

For those of us who are doing much of the work themselves, my experience is that  the MAC/Windows Vectorworks offers a reasonably priced and highly capable program that is developing BIM, modeling, rendering capabilities, and Sketchup compatibility without loosing the excellent tool set they developed for 2D work. They also offer excellent tech support. The downside with this and other less widely used programs is that drawing exchange between programs looses 3d and graphic qualties that take extra time to resolve. This inhibits direct editing when working on a drawing done in another program. The smaller user base also means that options for hiring temporary or permanent design support is limited.

Consider this advise, but do take the time to evaluate a couple of programs before going through the pain and excitement learning any of these programs.
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J. Merrick AIA
Merrick Architecture and Planning
Portland OR
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