2D vs 3D: The pros and cons for concept design

Digitalising your concept development: 2D vs 3D

Moving to digital Whilst 34% of concept design ideas are initially captured on paper, a greater proportion are recorded electronically.

You know why you want to digitalise your concept development process - the question now is

2D or 3D?

2D Pros

• what you used to draw on paper is simply drawn on a computer instead using a keyboard and mouse

2D Pros

Same graphical

representation

• Once your concept is in electronic format, you can share it quickly with colleagues globally

2D Pros

Easier collaboration

2D Cons

• Most 2D tools are geared towards creating engineering drawings

2D Cons

Less suited to

concept design

• 2D softwares tend to focus on individual drafting entities, rather than facilitating the consideration of alternative design options

2D Cons

Harder to explore

alternative ideas

2D Cons

Difficult to use for

prototyping

• Digital prototyping is unreliable

• Unsuitable for rapid prototyping

3D Pros

• less misinterpretation

• reduces downstream errors

3D Pros

Removes design

ambiguity

• As with 2D, electronic sending is easy

3D Pros

Sharing is simple

• Leveraging existing 3D models to evolve into new concept designs is straightforward

3D Pros

Easier design re-use

• 3D modelling is highly appropriate for rendings and simulation

3D Pros

Suitable for digital

prototyping

3D Cons

• 3D CAD applications are usually designed for locking down the form and fit of final designs, not capturing and maturing concept designs

3D Cons

Intended for detailed

design work

• The risk of this is particularly applicable to users of parametric feature-based modelers

3D Cons

Interdependences

and potential failures

• Many recent CAD tools deploy different files for different design parts, when at the concept development stage you are likely to want just a single, whole representation

3D Cons

Multiple files

Did you know?

59% of respondents

recreate part of the design

because design tool formats

aren’t compatible?

Creo 2.0

An integrated solution

Harness the benefits of both 2D and 3D to get your concept development job done – then move seamlessly into the detailed design phase.

Want to know more?

Contact us for more details on Creo 2.0 and integrating your concept design processes www.concurrent-engineering.co.uk/contact-us 0121 5069720