Hand-drawn designs were used by the earliest architects and draftsmen. With the introduction of the computer, two-dimensional (2D) design software such as AutoCAD® became popular. More recently, three-dimensional (3D) modeling software such as Revit® has made it possible for draftsmen to create 3D drawings of buildings, bridges, and other structures quickly and easily. A Revit® designer may also act as a drafter, entering the designs and ideas of architects and engineers into a computer modeling program, depending on his role. Other Revit® designers create their own designs in architecture, engineering, interior design, and manufacturing.
A draftsman who works as a Revit® designer works under the supervision of more qualified design professionals. He collaborates closely with engineers and architects to gain a thorough understanding of their plans for buildings, bridges, roadways, and other structures. The Revit® designer creates 3D drawings on his computer to model the potential project based on the information provided by these professionals. He then prints these drawings on a plotter, which is a large printer. He then presents these drawings to the design team for approval and review before making any necessary changes with Revit® software. A Revit® designer in this position may also work in manufacturing, where he creates 3D models of new products while they are still in the design and research stages.
Some Revit® designers are also engineers or architects who work independently. To plan new projects or renovations, these professionals meet with homeowners or commercial building managers. The designer can show the homeowner how the project will look once it is finished by drafting it in Revit®. This type of modeling can be used to improve the performance and layout of a space, such as in a manufacturing plant, or simply to improve the aesthetics of a home to please the owner.
More technical modeling projects may fall under the purview of a Revit® designer. Building information modeling (BIM), for example, can be used to analyze a building’s energy efficiency and performance using Revit® and similar software programs. This enables building owners and managers to make decisions about heating and cooling upgrades, as well as the replacement of industrial equipment with more energy-efficient and high-performing units. BIM is also useful for estimating the cost of a renovation or new project because it provides contractors with a much more detailed picture of the work than traditional 2D drawings. Designers who do this kind of modeling work can work for engineering firms or as freelance consultants.