Altair > Case Studies > 3D Design Transformation at Shanghai Arts and Crafts Factory

3D Design Transformation at Shanghai Arts and Crafts Factory

Technology Category

Analytics & Modeling - Computer Vision Software
Sensors - Temperature Sensors

Applicable Industries

Equipment & Machinery
Packaging

Applicable Functions

Product Research & Development

Use Cases

Clinical Image Analysis
Virtual Prototyping & Product Testing

About The Customer

Shanghai Arts and Crafts Factory is a company committed to providing enjoyable handicraft and high value-added design services. Over the years, it has undertaken a large number of design projects such as art floats and lights, gold and silver products, jewelry, packaging, and more. The factory has also collaborated with many well-known brands such as Laofengxiang, a famous local jewelry maker. The factory's designers were initially using 2D drawing software like Photoshop to represent their ideas, especially for float design projects. However, they faced challenges in explaining all the intricate details of their designs with just one side view.

The Challenge

Shanghai Arts and Crafts Factory, a provider of high value-added design services and handicrafts, was facing a challenge in advancing from their current 2D drawing approach to full 3D models and renderings. The factory's designers were using 2D drawing software like Photoshop to represent their ideas, especially for float design projects. They would quickly draw a main view of the float with dimensions and then transfer it to the float makers. However, this process was proving to be inefficient as it was hard to explain all the intricate details with just one side view. The designers had to communicate each detail to the manufacturer and discuss several times. Adding another view of the drawing created in Photoshop would take additional time. The factory was in search of a new tool to improve this process.

The Solution

The Shanghai Arts and Crafts Factory adopted solidThinking Evolve to overcome their design challenges. Evolve provides a unique NURBS-based environment for designers, allowing them to generate many alternatives with just one model. In Evolve’s 3D environment, each detail can be reviewed from any angle with a few movements of the mouse. This made it easier for the designers to explain their designs and improved work efficiency dramatically. Evolve’s built-in rendering engine allowed designers to optimize their traditional workflow. They could render floats in Evolve with the materials and models library presets, generating an image with the correct light/shadow effects in just a few minutes. This image then served as a 'baseline' for designers to add more details in Photoshop. Finally, Evolve could convert 3D models to dimensional drawings in the same work environment, making the workflow smooth and reasonable.

Operational Impact

The adoption of solidThinking Evolve transformed the design process at Shanghai Arts and Crafts Factory. It provided a smooth and efficient way to explore multiple alternatives. The 3D models created in Evolve could be reviewed from each view, which helped designers explain their design very clearly. The easy integration with current design tools such as Photoshop for ideal rendering effects and the ability to convert 3D models to dimensional drawings increased the efficiency of the float building process. The factory's creative director, Wang Bufei, praised Evolve as a perfect conceptual design tool that is easy to learn and helps generate many ideas efficiently. The factory is now using Evolve not only for float designs but also for many other projects like package and jewelry design.

Quantitative Benefit

Evolve allowed designers to create three different concepts within a few minutes.
The rendering process in Evolve could be completed in just a few minutes to generate an image with the correct light/shadow effects.
Evolve improved work efficiency dramatically.