Altair > Case Studies > Revolutionizing Industrial Design with solidThinking Evolve: A Case Study on Steve McGugan

Revolutionizing Industrial Design with solidThinking Evolve: A Case Study on Steve McGugan

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Technology Category
  • Functional Applications - Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES)
  • Networks & Connectivity - Bluetooth
Applicable Industries
  • Buildings
  • Education
Applicable Functions
  • Product Research & Development
Use Cases
  • Additive Manufacturing
  • Building Automation & Control
Services
  • Hardware Design & Engineering Services
About The Customer
Steve McGugan is an award-winning industrial designer based in Denmark with over 30 years of experience in various areas of product design. He received his education at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA. Steve worked as an in-house designer for Bang & Olufsen in Denmark, where he designed the Form 2 headphones, which have become a classical icon after being on the market for over 25 years. In 1988, Steve founded his own design studio and has worked for several clients from around the world and in many different industries. Aesthetics are extremely important to Steve, and he has a preference for Apple computers due to their user interface and design.
The Challenge
Steve McGugan, an award-winning industrial designer based in Denmark, faced the challenge of designing and modeling complex products using 3D modeling and design tools. With over 30 years of experience in various areas of product design, Steve needed a flexible and efficient 3D modeling software that could run on his Mac computer. His initial CAD-based platform of choice was a solid modeler, which he used for many years. However, about a decade ago, he found it was no longer flexible enough to meet his demands. The market was saturated with many Windows-based machines that he felt lacked aesthetics. He needed a solution that would not only meet his design needs but also align with his aesthetic preferences.
The Solution
Steve found his solution in solidThinking Evolve, a 3D modeling software suggested by a colleague. After a quick demo, Steve was immediately interested in the software due to its combination of solid and surfacing controls and its parametric capabilities that his older software did not have. He was also impressed with solidThinking’s support and service, which helped him understand the program and significantly improved his learning curve. Steve now uses Evolve as his main 3D modeling tool and has become incredibly proficient in the software. He has used it to design a variety of products, from a set of salt and pepper shakers inspired by the architecture of a new building to a modern-looking Bluetooth stereo receiver. The flexibility of Evolve allowed him to model complex shapes and quickly adjust designs to meet changing requirements.
Operational Impact
  • The use of solidThinking Evolve has led to closer and better collaboration between Steve, his clients, and manufacturing teams. The software's flexibility and parametric capabilities have allowed Steve to design and model complex products more efficiently. It has also simplified the process of client quoting and presentation, and improved communication with manufacturing teams. The direct output from Evolve has been particularly beneficial in communicating with manufacturing teams, as the files can be sent directly to them and are compatible with their software programs. This has streamlined the manufacturing process and reduced the potential for errors or misunderstandings. Furthermore, the support and service provided by solidThinking have been instrumental in helping Steve learn and understand the program, significantly improving his learning curve.
Quantitative Benefit
  • Creation of multiple different products spanning many industries.
  • Simplification of client quoting and presentation.
  • Improved communication with manufacturing teams.

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