7 Common Questions About SketchUp with Mark Lauricello

This week we talk to Mark Lauricello from Trimble SketchUp about the powerful, yet simple, design software.  Mark is a SketchUp guru and ambassador for the brand with years of expertise explaining the benefits of SketchUp and the 3D Warehouse. 

With its roots in the architectural and construction space, SketchUp has created a lot of buzz in the interior design and contract furniture industry.  Mark answers some common questions about SketchUp and gives us insight into how manufacturers can use the platform to reach thousands of potential customers.

1. What is SketchUp anyway?

SketchUp is 3D for everyone. We try to make SketchUp the most intuitive way to draw in 3D. 

SketchUp was first developed as a 3D conceptual design tool for architects moving from the drafting board to the computer, but it’s abstract and intuitive nature makes SketchUp great for any application where 3D visualization is important including interior design, product design, construction, engineering, and set design.

We believe SketchUp is the most popular 3D design tool on the planet. 

SketchUp gained a lot of popularity while it was with Google, but it’s now owned by a company called Trimble. Trimble’s focus is on building design and construction, making it a great home for SketchUp.

2. I’ve heard SketchUp is a free software?  Is this true?

This is sort of true. We offer two versions of SketchUp. SketchUp Make is our free version anyone can use for personal home design and DIY projects. SketchUp Pro is our paid version that’s licensed for professional use. Basically, if you’re using SketchUp to make money, we ask you to pay for it. We think it’s pretty inexpensive for what it delivers.

The core experience is the same for both versions, but SketchUp Pro includes features geared for professionals and comes with LayOut -- our presentation and documentation application.

3. Why is it important for the contract furniture industry to learn more about SketchUp?

We think SketchUp is important for the furniture industry because SketchUp provides a common design language for communicating in 3D with project architects, interior designers, builders, and owners. 

We believe that communicating design intent in 3D is important because we see our world in 3D and anyone can look at a 3D model and understand what a finished project will look like.

Most people can’t understand 2D CAD drawings and no one wants to pay for proprietary BIM software to participate in a project, but because of this trend toward 3D and BIM, property owners expect to see photo-real renderings and real-time 3D walk-throughs of a project before they commit. 

SketchUp provides an incredibly forgiving and cost-effective platform for accomplishing this and for overcoming many of the challenges involved in collaborative design-build projects.

4. Do interior designers really use SketchUp?

Absolutely! Behind architecture, interior design is the most common use for SketchUp. 

We know this by looking at SketchUp registration stats, but thanks to our incredible education program, we also know that interior designers have been learning SketchUp in school for years and continue to today.

5. Where do SketchUp users find SketchUp models?

SketchUp comes with 3D Warehouse, our content sharing platform. 3D Warehouse is a free resource where anyone can find, download, and share SketchUp models. With nearly 3 million models, we think 3D Warehouse is the biggest library of models on the web. 

And best of all, every model on 3D Warehouse is free!

One pro-tip for using 3D Warehouse: try the advanced search. 3D Warehouse is so big that it can overwhelm users. 

The advanced search helps narrow your search based on model attributes, popularity, and other parameters that help you zero in on the perfect model.

If you just can’t find what you’re looking for on 3D Warehouse, I recommend checking out Podium Browser, FormFonts, and SketchUcation for great SketchUp content.

6. What’s the best way for contract furniture manufacturers to use SketchUp for marketing?

There are many ways contract furniture manufacturers can use SketchUp for marketing. If connecting with architects and designers is the goal, the best way to do this is by offering light-weight, architecturally appropriate SketchUp models of your products for download on your website and on 3D Warehouse.

You let the design community know your company speaks SketchUp when you share product models. 

By inviting project architects and designers to explore how your products interact with their space in 3D, you can connect with designers when critical decisions are being made and help initiate conversations with project stakeholders.

SketchUp is also great for internal marketing efforts. SketchUp works great for product illustrations both in print and on the web. 

SketchUp provides an excellent visualization platform for setting up renderings. SketchUp even works great for trade show booth design.

7. What’s SketchUp’s future?  Why should I get involved now?

SketchUp’s future is incredibly bright in my view. Trimble has invested a lot in SketchUp since acquiring it and we’re now starting to see this investment bear fruit. 

In just the last year, we’ve added functionality to SketchUp that enables users to work with data from Trimble’s 3D scan technology, we’ve integrated Sketchup with Trimble’s new collaboration platform -- Trimble Connect, and we’ve brought SketchUp into the world of augmented reality thanks to Trimble’s partnership with Microsoft and its Hololens platform.

While I can’t talk about future features, you’ll see us continuing to focus on these themes of reality capture, collaboration, and augmented reality or as we call it “mixed” reality going forward. 

Overall, our plan is to continue SketchUp’s legacy of being an incredibly versatile 3D design tool for everyone.

The best way to get involved is to start designing in SketchUp and communicating your products and ideas in 3D! You can download a free trial of SketchUp Pro at sketchup.com. 

If you’re interested in offering your products in SketchUp format but aren’t sure where to start, please contact Erik for more information about getting started.

Contact us to learn more about SketchUp model creation and SketchUp's 3D Warehouse.

5 Things Designers Dislike About Downloading Symbols From Your Website

Ever wish you could be a fly on the wall when a designer visits your website to find and download your symbols?  Imagine what they might say--would you be proud?

As I always preach (because of repeated confirmation from designers), your website is the #1 place that designers will look for your symbols.

That's a good thing, because on your website you can control your product message.

It's your website that presents all of the spec sheets, photos, and symbols--your site is a shrine to your products.

Here are a few complaints that I've heard from architects and interior designers about manufacturer websites and the challenges they faced when they tried to download the symbol they want.

1.They can't select the individual product symbol they need

Many manufacturers make the mistake of posting their symbol library online by offering a link to a .zip file or folder where the designer has to download the entire product library.

On some occasions this may be the desired way to access your symbols, but more often than not, designers look for an individual product and not the entire product line.

Give them the ability to come to your site and download the exact model they need to get started on their design.


2. There are no product images associated with the symbol search results

Even if you give the designer the ability to download individual products from your website, do you give them the ability to see a thumbnail or an image of the product symbol?

I reviewed several manufacturer sites where the search results lead to an endless tree of product numbers and codes.  You have to drill down through folders and folders of numbers and letters to find what you need.

Then, once you've found the product number you need, how can you be sure what model truly is?

This is the problem with the "folder tree" interfaces that were popularized by Windows '95.  It's too many numbers and alphabets and not enough eye pleasing images.

Designers tend to be visual people, so make sure your symbol search results give them an idea of what they will download.


3. You'll never believe this one... There is NO search field available

Come on!  How many times have I seen symbol search interfaces on manufacturer websites that don't offer the ability to search for the product that is needed.

 In this world of "Google this and Google that," place a search box next to your symbol search interface so designers can search for the specific symbol they need.

4. They can't search by product category or product line

Some symbol search interfaces on manufacturer websites offer the ability place a search via a field but not a way to search by a category (ie: "desk" "chair" etc.), or a way to search by product line.

Let's say a designer sees your new chair at NeoCon, they have a new Revit project, and they would like to include your chair.

They go to your site: furnituremanufacturer.com and find your symbol search interface and search for the Revit chair you offer them.  

But you haven't given them a drop down list of your products... just a search field.  

How will they be able to find your gold winning chair for their design?

On your symbol search interface, give the designer the power to click a drop down of all your products and refresh their memory.

I'm sure they'll find the Revit model they need and will place an order with you!

The same goes for product category.  When they come to your site and they want to find a chair model for their design, give them the drop down menu where there is a list of product categories: "chairs," "desks,"--you name it.

5. There is no way they can search by file type

You've given them all of these creative ways to slice and dice your symbols and download them from your website.  Lets help your customers get even more specific...

Often, manufacturers don't give customers the ability to choose which file type they would like to download which can make for a tedious search experience.

It's important to include a drop-down or selection field where users can pick and choose the file types they want to download, whether that is AutoCAD, Revit, or SketchUp models.

Learn about how Connect Search can make it easy for your clients to download your symbols.