CADIAL
Brings out CAD commands into the physical world
Timeframe: 8wk (w/ 2yr break)
wk 1-2: user research
wk 3-4: insight building + ideation
wk 5-7: sketch + mockup + user test
wk 8: CAD (Rhino) + visualisation (Keyshot)
Key skills:
#clay modelling #foam modelling #prototype testing #CMF
Every research participant (studio director, student, engineer) expressed poor user experiences with CAD due to the command tools.
Here are 4 specific problems that participants and I identified:
1. Small icons strain eyes
2. Users forget command names
3. Misclicking happens too often
4. Re-designing current CAD softwares is inefficient
How did I solve the problem?
2021, I explored a dial mouse concept. The dial would have displayed the commands.
After dozens of sketches and more than 9 clay mockups, the idea won an award.
But in 2023, extended user research revealed that users wanted more visible physical icons.
Thus, the dial pad concept was favoured by the users. 4 foam mockups were made for user testing.
Moreover, the visual language changed to become more neutral in any workspace.
How does this concept work?
1. Click a tool icon
2. Set of tools in the category appear
3. Use the dial to scroll through the tools
4. Use the trackpad to zoom + pan + rotate
The dial and the trackpad offers physical control of a CAD programme. These liberate users from physical strain which comes from constantly holding and clicking multiple keys.
Logical breakdown of CAD commands
Offer easy tool searching in both parametric and direct modelling programmes. Customisation is available for the users who wants hotkeys to a certain command.
and
No more combinations like shift + ctrl + RMB
Rotate with only 1 finger swipe
Pan with only 2 finger swipe
Zoom with only a pinch
