A visual language for paper-based computer-aided form sketching

Abstract

Due its efficacy in rapidly externalizing form concepts, paper-based sketching is still extensively used by practising designers. It is a common practice that form concepts are sketched on paper prior to being translated into three-dimensional (3D) virtual models for further development. However, the userinterface of commercial Computer-Aided Design (CAD) systems does not support the automatic translation from sketches to 3D models. This research is concerned with the development of a visual language to link form sketching on paper with CAD. Due to the idiosyncrasy in form sketching, this language is prescribed to the designers to communicate their ideas to the computer. To this end, the prescribed sketching language, PSL, is based upon modelling principles commonly found in CAD systems. PSL is composed of user- and pre- defined graphical elements and a set of rules for drawing them on paper.