What do you do if the product design software you're using is limiting your 3D modeling capabilities?

1 Assess your needs

The first step is to identify what you need from your product design software. What are the features, formats, and functions that are essential for your 3D modeling goals? What are the gaps or problems that you encounter with your current software? How do they affect your workflow, quality, or collaboration? By answering these questions, you can prioritize your needs and evaluate your options.

2 Explore alternatives

The next step is to explore alternative software solutions that might suit your needs better. There are many 3D modeling software available in the market, each with its own strengths, weaknesses, and pricing. Some of the popular ones include Blender, SketchUp, Fusion 360, SolidWorks, and Rhino. You can compare their features, reviews, and tutorials online, or try out their free or trial versions. You might find a software that offers more flexibility, functionality, or compatibility than your current one.

4 Use plugins and extensions

A further step is to use plugins and extensions that can add functionality, features, or compatibility to your product design software. Plugins and extensions are software components that integrate with your main software and provide additional capabilities or solutions. For example, you can use plugins and extensions to import or export different file formats, create realistic textures and materials, generate complex shapes and patterns, or automate tasks and workflows. You can find many plugins and extensions online, either for free or for a fee, depending on your software and needs.

5 Optimize your workflow

The final step in making the most of your product design software and 3D modeling skills is to optimize your workflow. This can be done by planning your 3D modeling project ahead of time, creating a consistent naming and organizing system for files, folders, and layers, saving your work frequently and backing it up in multiple locations, utilizing shortcuts, macros, or scripts to speed up processes and reduce errors, testing and validating 3D models before exporting or printing them, and seeking feedback from clients, colleagues, or peers. Doing this will help you increase productivity, quality, and satisfaction as a product designer.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?