Sketchup credibility?

[Mill3r]

Hi all,

I’m a long-time Studio Pro user and have used SketchUp for many years, often alongside software like AutoCAD and others. While I’ve seen firsthand how powerful and versatile SketchUp can be, I’ve also noticed a lot of negative press and criticism about it on various platforms. Honestly, it’s disappointing because I know just how much value SketchUp can bring to professionals across different industries.

This got me thinking—why does SketchUp receive such bad press? And perhaps more importantly, what could be done to enhance its credibility and reputation among professionals?

Here’s where my thoughts get a little subjective: I’ve never been entirely comfortable with the name SketchUp. There’s something about it that feels a bit… casual, almost like it doesn’t fully reflect the serious, professional-grade capabilities of the software. The word Sketch, for example, might subconsciously imply roughness or inaccuracy, as if it’s a tool for drafts that don’t carry much weight. And Up feels almost playful, which may unintentionally undermine the perception of its capabilities. Together, the name gives off a slightly “Mickey Mouse” vibe to me—like it’s not designed to compete on the same professional level as platforms like Revit or AutoCAD, even though I know it absolutely can.

Would a rebrand—something as fundamental as a new name—help enhance its credibility and change how it’s perceived by professionals? I think it’s worth considering. A name that reflects precision, innovation, and professional standards might go a long way in shifting public perception. After all, branding is often the first impression, and it’s no secret that it can shape how a product is evaluated before it’s even used.

It’s also worth exploring whether the overall marketing and messaging around SketchUp could do more to emphasize its powerful features and technical precision, especially in fields like architecture, construction, and engineering. Highlighting its ability to integrate with other professional tools and how it’s used by industry leaders could also help dispel some of the stigma.

I’m curious to hear your thoughts on this—do you think the name SketchUp and its branding might be contributing to some of the negative perceptions? Do you think a rebrand could make a difference in enhancing credibility among professionals? Or are there other areas (such as feature perception, industry communication, etc.) that we should focus on instead?

Looking forward to hearing your insights!

[bmike]

Well if we take names at face value:

Revit is a tool for getting the most out of your motorcycle engine and annoying your neighbors.

AutoCAD is something they made in Detroit years ago to help design cars and it’s about as clunky (to me) as a Chevy Caprice Wagon with fake wood sides.

formZ is Spanx but for guys.

Archicad and Chief Architect are probably the closest things that sounds reasonable to design buildings with.

Maya was the name of my first dog.

Rhino(s) should be protected from poaching.

I’m not sure I’ve seen negative ‘press’ about SketchUp.

I do understand there are perceptions though - a long while ago I got told after one of my presentations at a conference that SketchUp was ‘just a toy’ by an engineer that I had done quite a bit of work with - he went all in on Revit. IMHO the work we built and the work we were producing with a ‘toy’ was far more interesting and far better looking than anything I worked on with his firm. The biggest difference between the work was that I felt that we actually designed and he made buildings that his software would let him model and document. (And I’m sure there are amazing buildings being designed with Revit or AutoCAD or any system… just like people designed buildings with paper and pencil and sent men to the moon with slide rules).

SketchUp is a really smart pencil, just like all the other tools we use. What we do with that pencil is up to us. And I firmly believe that using the right tool for the job is important - so if you are finding limitations to getting your work done, in a way that is affecting your finished product, then it might be time to look at alternatives. But if not… ¯_(ツ)_/¯

[dezmo]

It’s good that you compare SketchUp to “Mickey Mouse”, a nice, playful character…but what a great and professional business too!

Why should professional work be taken always that seriously? I think the name SketchUp accurately reflects that it doesn’t have to be. It’s easy to learn, simple, full of great tools and easy to expand, e.g. with extensions. It’s as easy as child’s play. Don’t sit around with your mouth shut, sulking and just focusing on business.
Play, smile and enjoy your work or hobby.

SketchUp has been SketchUp for a quarter of a century, and I hope it stays that way.

[ateliernab]

@Mill3r

why does SketchUp receive such bad press?

Sure, the Blender clan feels superior because they model doughnuts and the revit / archicad tribes because they have a very serious looking software for very serious jobs, but bad press ? that far ?
A couple of years ago, a pedantic engineer explained to me that sketchup was ■■■■ and anyone with senses would use Catia. a 7k / y software to make cars, planes, engines, rockets.
I mean sure. I’d love to see him design a bedroom in Catia.

---

@bmike

Well if we take names at face value:

not sure what Revit stands for, AutoCAD sounds like a software to make… automobiles ? or stuff automatically ? formZ I’ve never tried, I’m a millenial not a GenZ, Archicad and ChiefArchitect are well named. Maya is a long gone Mesoamerican civ. Rhino(s) should be protected indeed. and Blender is a kitchen tool. Vectorworks is fine, it tells you what it does. 3dsMax sounds like a nintendo handheld. Cinema4d a movie making tool. and so on.

looking at all the names, sketchup for a tool that takes your sketches and make them 3d is not that weird.

[Box]

Perhaps they should take a leaf out of our book.
From todays news headlines.

[bmike]

UpSketch

[Stevo1]

I think there are 2 main reasons for this.

1, Sketchup used to be absolutely free until Trimble took it over. I think that had a bad smell for sketchup users especially hobbyists who could not afford it any more

2, SU has not added function to modelling, like basic stuff round corners and perhaps make quads and basic subdivision amongst others.

[Box]

@Stevo1

Sketchup used to be absolutely free until Trimble took it over.

Sketchup started life as a paid for pro product, it was google, some years later, that decided to offer a free version expecting everyone to populate google earth for them. Once they realsed that wasn’t going to happen google abandoned it.
Thankfully Trimble, a commercial organization, purchased it so that it didn’t get buried by google, like most of their abandonware.

[Stevo1]

I was being objective I am aware that it was paid before google and sketchup, but the program was not that popular prior to the google acquisition, I remember that time when Trimble took over. It does not matter which company it was, rightly or wrongly people took it badly, having to pay for what was once free. Human nature…

[Box]

@Stevo1

I am aware that it was paid before google and sketchup

Ok, but that is part of the issue, far too many people think and/or repeat the idea that google created it and they altruistically gave it away and therefore it must be a simple non serious program.

[Stevo1]

Yes I remember that there was so much speculation as to how much it was bought for but that figure was never disclosed

[dezmo]

@Stevo1

having to pay for what was once free

Please do not forget about Make versions…and still there is a free version!

[Anssi]

@Stevo1

but the program was not that popular prior to the google acquisition

What evidence do you have to this claim?

I understand that SketchUp’s market share among serious 3D modellers was already quite high and growing before the acquisition. IMO releasing the free versions might have been a mistake that has diverted development resources away from the paying product.

@Stevo1

having to pay for what was once free.

That has not happened. Since the first Make version was released by Google there always has been a free option.

[CJT1963]

Hi MillerLuke & all,

I’ve not seen negative Press for SU, can you provide any links to this so-called Bad Press !

However, as with most software, user gripes now & then always pop up requesting this-n-that tool to be added or with speed improvements etc; this is just normal critical user Wishlist commentary in hope for future upgrades. SU HQ seem to resist adding native power tools such a ‘Parametrics’ for building elements & seem to concentrate their direction on improving its current usage with existing tools etc.

I’ve never considered SU as ‘powerful’, just addictive & intuitive at manual 3D drawing, the ‘powerful’ item I guess could apply to the endless list of Extensions.

The name SketchUp may have been chosen to reflect the software’s ease of use and focus on intuitive 3D modelling, like sketching on paper. I’ve always liked the name & I consider it a good name because it’s short, memorable, and accurately conveys the software’s primary function in my opinion.

As SU is so flexible, it can fit in well with many disciplines & can produce rough quick 3D sketches & equally some SU Pro users can make it fly with professional grade Architectural Plans & presentations.

My thoughts are that as SU seems to be advertised everywhere & alongside higher-end Parametric Architectural Software, it appears to be doing quite well in sales in the Professional arena either as additional secondary software for those who use higher-end CAD products or those who can use it for their primary CAD works.

Therefore, I don’t think it needs to enhance its credibility and reputation among professionals, SU’s ability to empower users, regardless of their technical background, to create 3D models effectively is quite clear. I’m sure most professionals understand its strengths & weaknesses to add it to their CAD armoury if required.

[Syksy]

it’s true that sketchup has unlimited potential, it’s a software i’ve been using for over 14 years, however, even today, the number of job offers available for using sketchup can be counted on one hand. in the industry, other software are requested, and in architecture too. it seems that using sketchup is seen as a tool for kids. something we know is not true, but it’s real that in the job market it is not highly valued.
on the other hand, it must also be said that sketchup has a lot of wasted potential and lacks precision or the ability to interact with more data, without having to rely on external extensions. letting developers solve things at will is positive, but it seems like an easy and lazy solution if these things are not taken into account in the original version.

[eric-s]

@Stevo1

having to pay for what was once free.

It can feel frustrating if this were truly the case but context here is important. Go back in time to around 2006 and recall this new(ish) google product called Google Earth. Up until then google earth (like our earth is today) was just flat. There was an aerial of cities draped over terrain perhaps but no buildings. Google saw SketchUp as a way to get users to make buildings for them. They released a bunch of new tools we use today, like Add Location (and some like Building Maker that is not available or relevant anymore) specifically for the purpose of ‘populating cities’.

Very soon after this effort was under way (2010), Google started using aerial Lidar, which was way better than the low poly, user generated bldg models. And then in 2012, Trimble steps in and takes it off Googles hands for them. The rest is history as that’s where we’re still at. It took a lot of time for Trimble to transition away some of the offerings and services Google had established. For example their maps data integration had an expiration date built in to the sale negotiation…and when that day came…we now have Bing and Digital Globe data rather than googles data inside of SketchUp.

Long story short. Stuff changes. There’s sometimes a good reason behind it beyond just plain corporate greed.

To answer @Mill3r , the OP’s request for rebrand ideas…firstly, no I don’t think it would do anything for perception. I think for every 1 hater out there, there’s at least 100k people who love the joy and simplicity of SU - I guess that’s a ‘problem’ with a great piece of software…we all want it to be even better.

But let’s entertain the idea of a rebrand just for fun. What would be better than SketchUp? Love to hear y’all’s thoughts. Here are some ideas to get the ball rolling:

• Sketch3D (that sounds like it already exists)
• ModelUp (and ModelUp Pro!)
• Easy3D
• Blue Axis
• Design3D
• 3D Designer
• …

[jean_lemire_1]

@eric-s

Love to hear y’all’s thoughts

Easy Sketch.

However, I think that the name SketchUp is OK. Changing it could create confusion.

Also, to add to the list of other softwares, I would add Catia from Dassault Systèmes and, of course, Blender.

As for SketchUp, it can be very precise and, with plugins, can help in modeling intricate objects that would be difficult to produce with some of the other softwares mentioned in this thread.

Keep in mind that the software is only a tool. The user is the most important part of the design process.

Some experts can produce wonderful models with limited tools and beginners can produce sloppy models even with the most expensive softwares.

[Mill3r]

@CJT1963

I’ve not seen negative Press for SU, can you provide any links to this so-called Bad Press !

Its not too hard to find this ““so-called bad press”” here are a couple of examples. Note i have blacked out the name as its not fair to call people out who cant defend themselves as per sey.

There’s plenty on reddit also:
https://www.reddit.com/r/architecture/comments/wplvst/does_anyone_else_think_sketchup_sucks_as_a_program/

Like i said before i use SU alot and pay for it but i wanted to create a discussion about this as there is still stigma with the software.

[Mill3r]

I think your 100% correct.

[Mill3r]

@eric-s

To answer @Mill3r , the OP’s request for rebrand ideas…firstly, no I don’t think it would do anything for perception. I think for every 1 hater out there, there’s at least 100k people who love the joy and simplicity of SU - I guess that’s a ‘problem’ with a great piece of software…we all want it to be even better.

But let’s entertain the idea of a rebrand just for fun. What would be better than SketchUp? Love to hear y’all’s thoughts. Here are some ideas to get the ball rolling:

• Sketch3D (that sounds like it already exists)
• ModelUp (and ModelUp Pro!)
• Easy3D
• Blue Axis
• Design3D
• 3D Designer
• …

Thanks for the examples, out of your selection I like Blue Axis… Blue Axis 3D or something would be pretty cool.

I think there defiantly needs to be some development on the software but maybe the selling point is keeping it simple you need to model everything by hand as per say which i guess does have some benefits.