When the design compliments the function, it is easier to break it down and introduce new ideas from existing or imaginary sources.
The car design allows a better terrain adjustment or aerodynamics. The design of the breaks allows the distribution of airflow and supports cooling. The tread patterns of a tire are designed to displace water so that the tire and the road maintain contact. We could adjust the design the way we wish based on already established principles of function. Once we understand the real-world function, we can focus on translating the design into 3D. Knowing the answers will greatly increase the chances of creating a proper 3D model representation. These would be some of the questions to answer before even starting with modeling. Why does Ferrari look like a Ferrari? What key design separates it from others? Or, why do brake calipers look the way they do? Is the design random or does it support an important function?
How are the engine parts built? Are they singular pieces or complex pieces made of many smaller ones? If it’s a terrain car, what is the engineering behind its role that supports its function? Once we understand the tools, topology, form, and function, translating our ideas into 3D will be very straightforward.Ĭoming back to a car example, how would we create a car 3D model based on what we´ve learned so far?īefore we even begin, we would gather a lot of references that could explain the car’s function as a whole or its parts.įurthermore, we would search for answers to questions like:Īre we modeling a streetcar or a terrain car?