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In this blog, we answer the following questions about parametric design:
- What is parametric design?
- What are the differences between parametric and traditional design?
- What is generative design?
- How can parametric design be used to collaborate?
- What are the benefits of parametric design in the Cloud?
- What software tools do I need for parametric design in engineering and construction?
- What are some examples of parametric design applications for engineering and construction?
Parametric design explained
Parametric design is a design approach that uses flexible models that can be adjusted and solved quickly to automatically generate a solution. A more formal definition can be found in Wikipedia: “The parametric design process is based on algorithmic thinking that enables the expression of parameters and rules that, together, define, encode, and clarify the relationship between design intent and design response.”
To make it simple, you can think of parametric models like an Excel sheet. You put a formula that links to a cell, change the number in the cell, and the sheet automatically calculates the right answer for you.
The same goes for more complex parametric design models. By simply changing the input variables (read: parameters) within a parametric model, you can immediately see the effect this has on the design outcome. A good parametric model includes all key elements of a project and can dynamically be changed based on new knowledge, insights, or requirements (material, dimensions, and so on) that come along during a project.
Parametric design versus traditional design
With traditional design, models are created, changed, and checked manually. As everyone in the business knows, it is very unlikely that you will find a good solution the first time trying. Usually, you must iterate several times until you find a solution that fulfills the requirements. On top of that, requirements and circumstances often change throughout a project, meaning even more iterations are needed before you get a good outcome. This process is time-consuming and not fun at all.
Automated & optimized designs
That is why parametric design models are so popular. Here, all components of the design rely on parameters, meaning that if a parameter changes, everything else automatically changes as well. This means you spend less time updating and calculating models. This time you can invest in finding better and more optimized designs and exploring new solutions. Moreover, you are flexible and always ready in case requirements or circumstances change.
Thus: A traditional model provides one outcome for a structure at a time, while parametric design models can be used to automate designs for every possible outcome structure you can think of!
Generative design versus parametric design
Both parametric design and generative design are often called the future of design, and that is for a good reason. Just like parametric design, generative design approaches are faster than traditional design approaches. With both, designers can make real-time changes to their models, which can be reused in future projects as well.
More automation with generative design
Even though a lot of people often use both terms to indicate the same thing, they do differ from each other to a certain extent. These differences lie in the degree of design automation. Generative design takes it a step further than parametric design, using an algorithm that generates thousands of design options. These are all analyzed and compared to each other to come up with the most optimal outcome (considering the requirements) or with solutions you have maybe never even thought of yet.
Generative design and artificial intelligence
Lately, generative design is becoming even more powerful thanks to the inclusion of artificial intelligence. Here, machine learning algorithms can be used at both sides of the equation: To generate different designs and to evaluate and rank these designs according to their performance.
In short, this means that where with parametric design we still have to manually change the parameters and check the result by hand to find a solution. Generative design actually allows us to choose the design we prefer out of a set of designs that all fulfill the requirements. To avoid confusion: Throughout this article, we will use the term parametric design to indicate both parametric and generative design.
Collaboration through parametric design
There are lots of people who use parametric design to automate parts of their workflow (e.g. repetitive calculation processes). This is already very beneficial, but to reap the most benefit from design automation, we must take parametric design to the next level by also enabling active collaboration.
Collaboration between stakeholders
With collaborative parametric design, we mean that different stakeholders work together on a single tool to find a solution for a problem. These models integrate data across different software packages and disciplines to include all key elements of the project, saving time and making the process less prone to communication errors.
Collaboration between disciplines
Additionally, we also mean active collaboration in creating parametric design tools. This means that, instead of reinventing the wheel, different people and organizations cooperate to create better and more powerful tools than they can create individually.
The rise of web-based parametric design applications is helping to reach collaborative parametric design. These applications are hosted in the Cloud and can be accessed anywhere through the internet and are user-friendly, which enables people with all kinds of different backgrounds to use them. Additionally, they serve as a single source of truth making sure everyone always works with the same version of the data and tools.
The benefits of parametric design in the Cloud
We have already mentioned several good reasons why you should use parametric design but to sum it up, here are the nine biggest benefits of creating and using parametric design applications in the Cloud:
- Design speed: Calculate designs at the push of a button with the power of Cloud computing.
- Optimized designs: Rapidly generate hundreds of designs to choose the best one from.
- Flexibility to change: Adjust to new requirements without affecting your planning.
- Automate: Get deeper insights into the effects and risks of your choices.
- Error reduction: Mitigate risk for human mistakes and increase accuracy.
- Digital assets: Use your models for multiple projects and keep improving over time.
- Better collaboration: Work together and make sure everyone uses the same logic and data.
- User-friendliness: Create tools that people with diverse backgrounds can use.
- Intellectual property: Provide access to your knowledge without sharing the logic.
