About this course

Vectorworks is a versatile CAD and BIM software used for interior design, architecture, landscape, and entertainment design. It offers robust 2D and 3D modelling, rendering, and documentation tools, enhancing creativity and efficiency for professionals across various industries.

This course takes place from 6-9pm, on each of the 4 evening dates in the series.

Course Description

Discover the potential of Vectorworks 2D with our three-day short course offering a comprehensive introduction to 2D drafting and design using Vectorworks software. Throughout the course, you will gain a comprehensive understanding of the 2D environment within Vectorworks, starting with an introduction to the user interface, navigation techniques, and essential drawing tools for creating precise technical drawings. The course is structured to guide students through the core features of 2D drafting, including setting up design layers and classes, utilising drawing tools such as lines, polygons, and circles and understanding the use of snaps and constraints to produce accurate drawings.

Over the duration of the course, you will explore more advanced 2D drawing techniques, learning how to create and manage symbols, work with hatches and fills, and use annotation tools for dimensioning and labelling your drawings. The course will also cover best practices for organizing drawings, including the use of viewports, sheet layers and title blocks to produce professional-quality documents. Additionally, you will explore methods for customising and streamlining the workflow, such as setting up templates and using the Resource Manager to manage libraries of reusable content.

By the end of the course, you will have developed a solid understanding of Vectorworks 2D capabilities, enabling you to produce detailed, accurate, and well-organised technical drawings.

This course is ideal for interior designers, architects, and other design professionals who are either new to Vectorworks or seeking to further their 2D drafting skills. You will leave the course with the confidence and skills necessary to efficiently create and manage 2D drawings within Vectorworks, ready to apply these techniques to your real-world projects.

Topics covered:

  • What is Vectorworks
  • Understanding Vectorworks Workflow
  • Overview of the User Interface and Workspaces
  • Document Setting and Vectorworks Preferences
  • Setting up Toolbars, Pallets and the Working Scale
  • Navigating your drawings: Zoom, Pan, Fit to page, Fit to objects
  • Object Selection and Deletion
  • Drawing tools: Line, Polyline, Rectangle, Circle, Arc, Ellipse, Double-Line Polygon
  • Using Object Snaps
  • Attributes palette
  • Object Info palette
  • Editing tools: Move, Copy, Rotate, Scale, Trim, Connect, Combine, Mirror, Offset, Fillet, Join, Move by Point
  • Modifier Tools: Reshape, Add Surfaces, Clip Surfaces, Compose, Decompose
  • Drawing Plans, Elevations and Sections using accurate dimensions
  • Understanding and setting up: Classes, Design Layers, Sheet Layers and Viewports
  • Organising your drawing using Classes
  • Setting Line Weights, Line Types and Colours
  • Setting up and using a basic Template
  • Creating, Using and Editing reusable content: Symbols
  • Managing symbols via the Resource Manager
  • Applying Hatches and Patterns to objects
  • Creating and setting up Views for easy navigation
  • Adding Dimensions to your drawings
  • Annotating your drawings
  • Working efficiently between Viewports and Design Layers
  • Printing/Plotting your drawings to PDFs at the correct scale

All computer-aided design courses are taught on PC computers at the Bloomsbury Campus.

Course Materials

Included

All materials for this course are included in the course fee.

All necessary equipment will be provided for use on the course, including the use of a PC for each student.

What students need to bring

Notepad and pen

Additional information

Possible equipment restrictions in tutor absence.

Timetable

Evening Timetable

Course teaching 6-9pm
Students arrive between 5.30pm-6pm
Teaching finishes 9pm

General Information

Short courses are open to anyone aged 18 and over. The course fee covers tuition and materials where stated. You will need to bring all other items listed under the ‘Materials to bring’ section.

Refreshments

Coffee and tea are included in the course fee, but you will need to bring lunch with you to eat in the refreshments room. There are also plenty of other local venues to purchase food.

Access

If you have any specific access needs, we will need to know about your access requirements in advance. Please tell us about your needs in confidence by emailing: [email protected] This venue has steps to the front reception, with limited access via a side gate to the ground floor. There is a small lift to higher floors or stairs.

Safety

Short course students are required to sign a safety compliance form as part of West Dean Health and Safety regulations.

Refunds and cancellations

Please refer to our terms & conditions below.

Disclaimer

The information given is accurate at the time of publication. However, West Dean College reserves the right to cancel or amend courses if circumstances require.

Terms & Conditions

Tutors

Hitesh Maroo

Specialising in 2D and 3D software, Hitesh helps interior designers, architects, structural engineers and product designers to create realistic models, empowering professionals and students to enhance their skills and advance their careers.

Courses of interest

How to grow ideas with drawing: for artists, makers and crafters

21 to 23 Feb 2025 | West Dean
Places available
Tutor: Anna Marlen-Summers |
Suitable for all
£316

Vectorworks – a comprehensive introduction

24 to 26 Jan 2025 | London
Places available
Tutor: Hitesh Maroo |
Beginners/Intermediate
£400