Product Concept Sketches
I used to specialize in marker and other media physical sketches, but I mostly switched digital sketching, first on a Cintiq display and later on a iPad Pro XL. Autodesk Sketchbook was my first digital sketch app of choice. I still occasionally use Sketchbook, but I prefer Procreate and use it on an Apple iPad Pro XL. Procreate has so many available “brushes” and effects. I have also used Adobe Fresco and Concepts but no longer have an active license.
Modelling Tools
I specialize in NURBS, Parametric Solids, SubDivision and T-Splines, and Polygonal Quads modelling.
Autodesk Alias: (Advanced user) Used for product development, my first seat of Alias ran on a SGI machine and cost HP over $150K!
In the 90’s it was the gold standard for creating non-geometric product forms.
Rhino: (Intermediate and only have Rhino 4). Rhino is another NURBS based surface modeler and much less expensive. Rhino and Alias can produce similar results in the right hands. I have used both, but am more proficient in Alias and often used it in conjunction with CREO, SolidWorks, and Onshape to produce water tight and organic shaped product forms.
Parametric modeling CAD tools. Although I used CREO Parametric on a few HP Partner projects, most products at HP are designed with CREO Direct Modeler and are developed across geographies via a huge library called ModelManager (library has over 30 years of product archives).
SolidWorks (Intermediate user). I also used Alias + SolidWorks for the caseparts on a few hp sprocket products, working with partners including Foxconn and Alps.
In parametric modelling, a 3D model is built from a series of 2D sketches and 3D features. Each sketch and feature is defined by parameters, such as dimensions and geometric relationships. A key benefit of SolidWorks and Parametric modelling is changes can be made easily by simply modifying a parameter in the original sketch or feature. The entire model will automatically update to reflect the change, which is crucial for an iterative design process.
A similar Parametric Modelling program I have been using is PTC Onshape (Advanced user). The UI and process for creating parts is similar, but it is a Cloud Based program. No software to download or upgrade and I have never lost an hour of work because of a crash. Onshape also has a few more direct modelling features than SolidWorks and in my opinion has a newer, easier UI, and can produce some freeform shapes easier. But it really depends on what you are used to!
I used Fusion 360 (Intermediate user) for a bit too and that is also similar to SolidWorks and Onshape but has a timeline vs a history panel and bar… Fusion 360 also has T-Splines which are similar to SubDivision Surface modeling for freeform organic shapes. T-Splines are a bit easier to modify than SubDivision Quad modelling. It would take me a few weeks to get used to Fusion 360 again…
Polygonal modelling and animation
Maya (Advanced user)I started using Maya in the 90s when it was the gold standard for Polygon, NURBS, and Subdivision surface modelling. The Subdivision surfaces could be converted to polygons or NURBS for manufacturing. The latest Arnold renderer makes Maya much more competitive. See my many examples of Maya vs Blender vs Keyshot renders.
Blender (Advanced user)