The Evolution of Computer-Aided Design

The Beginning of CAD: 

"Blueprints"

From the Pyramids of Giza to the Colosseum, humanity's drive to build is timeless. For over 6000 years, man was only armed with the most primitive tools. While French chemist Alphonse-Louis Poitevin advanced photochemical reproduction techniques, the true origin of architectural blueprints traces back to Sir John Herschel’s 1842 cyanotype process. This revolutionary method—using light-sensitive iron salts to create white-line-on-blue prints—became the standard for copying engineering and architectural drawings. The iconic "blueprint" we know (and smell—thanks to its ammonia-heavy development process) dominated design for over a century, until digital tools finally replaced it. 

Within a century, a man with the title “Father of CAD,” Dr. Patrick Hanratty, made the biggest advancement in manual drafting. He was the first person to computerize the process of drafting by creating a product called PRONTO in 1957.  PRONTO was the first commercial numerical control programming system. It’s the catalyst responsible for where we see Computer Aided Design work present day. 

"Sketchpad"

Computer-Aided Design kept advancing. Within the next 10 years, Ivan Sutherland introduced a product called Sketchpad in 1963, a giant step forward in human-machine interaction. Sketchpad arrived with a new graphical user interface (GUI), which helped people shift from analog methods of design to visual design. While it was now possible to digitize 2D drawings, the available technology made adoption costly and difficult. 

CAD BOOM 

1960s-1980s  Between the years of 1960 – 1980, Computer Aided Design (CAD) exploded into the marketplace with many industries adopting and applying these new tools and methods to their work because the payoff was greater efficiency. The arrival of CAD tools saw the Aerospace industry forever changed by a software called CADAM, and even Ford Motor Company created its own CAD software called PDGS for automotive design.  

• 1967: Commercial CAD use started to become obtainable for many organizations, and some software tools stood out, like Digi-graphics, made by a company called Itek. Itek’s software was detailed and graphics-focused, and this made it not necessarily cost-effective, coming in at $500K pre-license. A company called ComputerVision quickly introduced competing CAD software at a lower price. As the companies in this new space grew, so did the market demand for the software and hardware necessary, including graphic chips to support CAD systems were necessary, and in the 1980s, rewriting of code to operate CAD software on the next generations of computers drove adoption.   

• 1971: Dr. Patrick Hanratty’s ADAM (Automotive Drafting and Machinery) software broke barriers. Its interactive graphics worked on any computer that was available at the time. Unlike their competitors, the organization was able to adapt seamlessly, transitioning from 16 to 32-bit operating systems. This flexibility made ADAM the backbone of modern CAD. 90% of today's drafting tools can trace their roots to ADAM. While other products relied on rigid, expensive code, ADAM’s open design invited innovation and paved the way for other adaptable software that we take for granted. 

• 1972: 3D Modeling was born, created by Magi Synthavision. 3D rendering of images with a thing called ray tracing technology.  The entertainment industry represented first adopters/movers with this new 3D product. This platform could be used, however, for model buildings, and interest in a tool dedicated to use in building design quickly emerged.  

  

  People using CATIA

• Late 1970s: CATIA was created by a company called Dassault Systèmes. Computer Aided Three-Dimensional Interactive Application (CATIA) was a multi-platform 3D design and engineering software purpose-made for Aviation design and manufacturing. Computer-Aided Manufacturing and Engineering were born. (CAD, CAM, CAE) CATIA was later commercialized in the United States by a company called IBM, and computer-aided design quickly became widely adopted in aerospace, automotive, and other engineering-heavy industries. 

• 1980s: CAD software matures and becomes the product that we still use to the present day.  

  • Autodesk debuted in the marketplace in 1982 with a product made for use on a personal computing platform, called AutoCAD, led by a gentleman named John Walker. The product was a derivative of CATIA.  

  • The ability to use Autodesk’s AutoCAD on an affordable PC (Personal Computer) instead of on a costly mainframe computer was a significant market advantage that drove greater adoption of computer-aided drafting methods.   

Products like AutoCAD and CATIA provided more opportunities for professionals, hobbyists, or even people trying something new to begin. During the past 25 years, computer-aided design advancements have continually been made, the marketplace is saturated with computer-aided design software options that are purpose-made for virtually every industry.   

What CAD is needed in their fields: 

• Architects: They use CAD for many reasons, but mostly to bring their vision and ideas to life and see how it can look and work in the real world. They will show it to an Engineer or a Construction Managers to see if the CAD file can become a reality.  

• Engineers: Use CAD to see if it can work in a physical setting. They look at what Architects and CAD Companies create to confirm or deny the likelihood of building these CAD models. 

• Construction Companies: They use CAD to see the vision of either the Engineer or the Architect.  

• CAD Companies: Are companies that specialize in CAD work and will do everything from getting the data to creating a digital twin for your buildings. 

The fields are just to name a few so many fields today use CAD work from colleges wanting 3D tours to show the dorms to people that want to go there but are out of state, or real estate realtors/brokers wanting digital twins of the buildings they want, or even an energy solution company wanted 3D models to see how the energy usage are in buildings. CAD software has made tremendous improvements since AutoCAD and Revit first came out. It has improved workflows in ways that people 20 years ago would not have thought of. The time flow for creating 3D models and 2D plans. Which helps all stages of the process because now drawing a floor won't take all day. With CAD adaptability from the 1960s to the present day, we went from having drawings on mainframe computers to being able to do it in the palm of our hands.  

Last 20 Years: 

2000s: We experienced similar changes to what we saw with Autodesk/CAD coming out, and in the year 2000, Revit was introduced to the public as a leading BIM software. To this date, many BIM companies use Revit because it can always adapt to new technology. In 2002, however, Autodesk bought out Revit and is a part of the Autodesk family, making Autodesk the Adobe of BIM with an ecosystem now. Today, cloud-based collaboration lets global teams edit the same Revit model in real time, erasing the delays of paper-based workflows. Autodesk made the drafting room essentially all digitalized, and instead of sitting behind a drawing table, you are now behind a computer.  

Dominik Kalbarczyk has an impressive CAD background specializing in MEP design, recalls the industry's slow shift to 3D: “When I started, 3D modeling was not as mainstream as we see it today. Now, 2D coordination is rare.  Since my start, I've noticed many improvements in work-sharing capabilities and coordination. Autodesk Docs is one program that has been making huge improvements, making things like workflow, work sharing, and communication between companies easier. Revizto is a program that gives Navisworks a run for its money when it comes to coordination. In the next 10 years, AI will be explored more, so I wouldn't be surprised if it started to make its way into some of those Autodesk programs to make things more seamless. 

FUTURE OF CAD: 

The CAD industry has undergone a huge transformation since the 2000s, shifting toward being more collaborative and efficient. A trend that went off in the 2010s with cloud-based add-ons. No longer confined to localized teams, designers can now access the work across continents. Delivering projects faster and expanding their clientele globally. Real-time collaboration became the norm, reshaping workflows and expectations.  

Now, the AI revolution is pushing boundaries even further. Emerging tools like Splats (A process of turning video into 3D renderings) are disrupting traditional modeling. Imagine capturing space on a camera and letting the software render itself into a 3D model. While it is in the early stages, this still poses changes to what the future could be.

 CAD roots can be traced back to Poitevin creating the blueprints in the 1800s. Now, with all the technology, we are facing a different type of industrial revolution. The question isn't whether we adapt or not, it's how we can work with the changes in technology and be able to work with the changes and not get stuck protecting and outdated methods that serve no real purpose anymore. It is just the tip of the iceberg. You can do much more. We are at the turning point where AI will be working hand in hand with humans like an order of nature. With us being in the third industrial revolution, the way we work, live, and be human is all going to change from this point forward. 

References:  

1. 3DFindIT  3DFindIT. (n.d.). 60 years of CAD infographic: The history of CAD since 1957. Retrieved April 10, 2025, from https://www.3dfindit.com/en/corporate/engiclopedia/60-years-of-cad-infographic-the-history-of-cad-since-1957 

2. Airedale Springs Airedale Springs. (n.d.). The evolution of Computer-Aided Design (CAD). Retrieved April 10, 2025, from https://www.airedalesprings.co.uk/blog/the-evolution-of-computer-aided-design/ 

3. LinkedIn Article Srivastav, N. (n.d.). The evolution of CAD software: Journey from paper drawings to digital modeling. LinkedIn. Retrieved April 10, 2025, from https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/evolution-cad-software-journey-from-paper-drawings-navneet-srivastav-d6dqc/ 

4. ZMainframes ZMainframes. (n.d.). Mainframe computers vs. desktop computers: Unraveling the key differences. Retrieved April 10, 2025, from https://zmainframes.com/zlog/mainframe-computers-vs-desktop-computers-unraveling-the-key-differences/ 

5. Fast Company  Fast Company. (2015, September 24). Adapting radically to find meaningful growth. Retrieved April 10, 2025, from https://www.fastcompany.com/3059989/adapting-radically-to-find-meaningful-growth 

6. Autodesk Revit Overview  Autodesk. (n.d.). Revit overview. Retrieved April 10, 2025, from https://www.autodesk.com/products/revit/overview 

7. American Machinist (Magazine Article)  American Machinist. (n.d.). The CAD/CAM Hall of Fame. Retrieved April 10, 2025, from https://www.americanmachinist.com/cad-and-cam/article/21892098/the-cad-cam-hall-of-fame 

8. Ware, M. (1999).  "Cyanotype: The History, Science and Art of Photographic Printing in Prussian Blue." Science Museum, London.  

9. Wikipedia (Revit Entry)  Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). Autodesk Revit. In Wikipedia. Retrieved April 10, 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autodesk_Revit