I am fluent in AutoCAD, however I choose to work exclusively in Sketchup in Layout. Primary reason: I can understand what I’m drawing in 3D. 2D is an abstraction/ diagram and requires a trained/ strained eye. Everyone can comprehend 3D, and it eliminates the need to imagine. Visualization is instant, helping to expose and solve potential issues. 3D transcends language, education, and experience. Perhaps I’m lacking the ability to imagine, but I’ll take 3D anatomically correct model any day over a 2D diagram. With that said the industry is lagging and requires orthographic projection to translate design into construction (we may see this phased out in our lifetimes). So depending on the project I’ll provide the detail in 2D and 3D. I’ve done enough of these that I can provide the same detail as a 3D axonometric or a 2D “CAD” detail all from the same SketchUp model using scenes and styles. Contractor doesn’t like it in color, Ok I turn off my stacked raster image to just show the vector linework. All geometry is done in Sketchup. Annotation is in Layout. When my MEP’s and structurals want CAD I do an export process that includes layers (topic for another thread).
Everyone switched to BIM for the ease of Door & Window schedules, and sacrificed the architecture as a result. They traded door schedules for generic modelers, with generic components, and we now we have generic buildings everywhere. I see a direct relationship. The biggest issue, what are we even looking at? 3D solves that problem, and no other architectural modeler on earth does it better than SKUP. Just my 2 cents
