Enhanced software tools for early 3D design process

今天，3D设计在许多应用领域都很重要，例如建筑和室内设计，工业和机械设计，模拟，培训，娱乐等。目前大多数3D设计软件都是针对后期设计过程的，在这个过程中会发生改进。很少有工具可以有效地应用于早期的设计过程，在这个过程中产生想法，研究替代方案等等。这样做的结果是，设计师没有很好地探索设计空间，从而导致次优的设计结果。当前提案背后的见解是，在3D设计过程的早期阶段需要不同的工具，以使人们具有创造力，更好地探索设计空间，从而产生更好的设计，从而产生更有竞争力的产品。虽然工具不能直接产生创造力，但它们可以激发创造力。例如，早期设计阶段的软件工具需要简单易用——这样用户就可以专注于设计，而不是界面——但功能强大，需要促进创造性的探索。我以前的工作已经产生了3D软件，易于学习和简单易用。目前的提案将为早期3D设计过程开发增强的软件工具。特别是，它提出了新的技术来创建和修改常见的物体形状，如斜面和弯曲的物体。此外，我们将着眼于有效的方法，便于大规模设计的操作。第二个研究领域将开发软件工具，使设计的几个版本更容易工作，因为早期的设计工作很少只涉及一个设计方案。另一方面将关注于合并不同的版本和研究技术，以更好地支持设计过程的迭代特性。第三个研究领域将针对协同设计，因为大多数3D设计项目涉及多个利益相关者。由于现有系统的限制，协作通常在设计过程中受到限制。基于一种新颖的交互式桌子和墙壁基础设施，该研究将与专业设计师合作评估允许参与者在会议期间自由协作的系统如何影响设计。

Today, 3D design is important to many application areas, such as architecture & interior design, industrial & mechanical design, simulation, training, entertainment, etc. Most current 3D design software is targeted at the late design process, where refinement happens. Few tools can be applied productively in the early design process, where ideas are generated, alternatives are investigated, etc. The consequence of this is that designers do not explore the design space well, which leads to suboptimal design results. The insight behind the current proposal is that different tools are needed for the early phases of the 3D design process to enable people to be creative, explore the design space better and hence generate better designs, which in turn leads to more competitive products. While tools cannot directly be creative, they can stimulate creativity. For example, software tools for the early design stages need to be simple to use - so that users can concentrate on the design, not the interface - yet powerful and need to foster creative exploration. My previous work has already yielded 3D software that is easy to learn and simple to use.The current proposal will develop enhanced software tools for the early 3D design process. In particular, it proposes novel techniques to create and modify common object shapes such as slanted surfaces and curved objects. Also, we will look at efficient methods for the easy manipulation of large-scale designs. A second area of research will develop software tools to make work with several versions of a design easier, as early design work rarely involves only one design alternative. Another aspect will focus on merging different versions and investigate techniques to support the iterative nature of the design process better. The third area of research will target collaborative design, as most 3D design projects involve several stakeholders. Due to limitations of existing systems, collaboration is usually limited in the design process. Based on a novel interactive table and wall infrastructure, the research will evaluate in collaboration with professional designers how design is affected by systems that allow participants to freely collaborate during a meeting.