School of Architecture

Faculty of Architecture and Planning

Design Software

This page provides tips on which software to use for a particular purpose and how to get started. Except as noted, software is available for both Mac and PC.

Dalhousie University provides Microsoft applications in Office 365: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, etc. Go to my.dal.ca, log in, and click on the waffle at the top left.

For video conferencing, refer to the Remote Communication page.

1. Graphic Design

Adobe Illustrator CC
Useful for: making drawings and graphic art; laser cutting
Available from Adobe; also on Arch-Plan lab computers (see above)
Tutorials: Adobe; Lynda (free access to Lynda with a Halifax library card)

2. Image Processing

Adobe Photoshop CC
Useful for: editing photos and images
Available from Adobe; also on Arch-Plan lab computers (see above)
Tutorials: Adobe; Lynda

3. Page Layout and Compositing

Adobe InDesign CC
Useful for: producing documents with images and text; process portfolios
Available from Adobe; also on Arch-Plan lab computers (see above)
Tutorials: Adobe; Lynda

Conceptboard (web-based)
Useful for: design process, desk crits, and online collaboration (with Zoom)
Available from: Conceptboard
Tutorials: Conceptboard

4. 2D Drafting

AutoCAD
Useful for: 2D drafting, laser cutting
Available from: Autodesk (free)
Tutorials: Lynda
(For 2D drafting, see also Rhinoceros and VectorWorks below.)

5. 3D Modeling and Rendering

SketchUp
Useful for: 3D modeling, terrain mapping, site analysis, rendering, solar studies, rapid prototyping
Available from: SketchUp
Tutorials: SketchUp

Rhinoceros
Useful for: 2D drafting, 3D modeling, complex geometry, digital fabrication, rendering, solar studies, rapid prototyping
Available from: Rhino3D
Tutorials: Rhino3D

VectorWorks
Useful for: 2D drafting, 3D modeling, building information modeling (BIM), rendering, presentation drawings, solar studies
Available from: VectorWorks
Tutorials: VectorWorks

Revit
Useful for: building information modeling (BIM), 3D modeling, parametric modeling, producing drawing sets
Available from: Autodesk
Tutorials: Autodesk

6. Visual Scripting

Grasshopper for Rhino
Useful for: parametric modeling, physics simulation, hosting plug-ins for BIM, site and energy analysis, augmented reality projection, structural analysis (note: Mac version is not fully functional)
Available from: Food4Rhino
Tutorials: Grasshopper 3D; Mode Lab

7. Rendering

V-Ray
Useful for: 3D visualization and presentation renderings from SketchUp, Rhino, and Revit
Available from: Chaos Group
Tutorials: for Rhino; for Revit

8. Energy Calculation

Matchbox (web-based)
Useful for: energy modeling
Available from: Matchbox
Tutorials: n/a

9. Website Design

Adobe Portfolio CC
Useful for: web hosting and design
Available from Adobe; also on Arch-Plan lab computers (see above)
Tutorials: Adobe

10. Digital Presentations

Keynote
Useful for: making digital presentations
Available from: Apple (free)
Tutorials: Apple; Lynda

11. Video Production and Editing

iMovie
Useful for: editing videos
Available from: Apple (free)
Tutorials: Apple; Lynda

Adobe Premiere Pro
Useful for: producing and editing videos
Available from: Adobe
Tutorials: Adobe

12. GIS

ArcGIS
Useful for: digital maps
Available on Arch-Plan lab computers (see above)