Innovative tech solutions– from 3D printing to project management tools and drone-based monitoring systems– are revolutionizing the way architects work. These tools allow them to optimize their workflows, increase ROI and communicate better with clients. Since the advent of the smartphone, app developers have been rolling out small, nimble tools that tackle all sorts of problems professionals encounter on a daily basis, both in the studio and on the construction site.

These 10 apps for architects have proven to be extremely useful across different aspects of the profession. They are intuitive, enhance collaboration and can integrate well with the most popular design software solutions used in the AEC industry.

Best Mobile Apps for Architects List:

#1 MagicPlan

MagicPlan makes augmented reality work to an architects’ advantage by allowing them to create accurate floor plans without the use of measuring tape, pencils, or paper. The app assembles a floor plan in a matter of minutes. All that is required is that the user stand and point a device toward the space that needs measuring. Users can also export these drawings as a PDF, JPG, or DXF and share them with collaborators. The app also includes tutorials on how to use it effectively and get fully adjusted to it.

#2 Autodesk Formit

Autodesk created Formit as part of the company’s Revit software package. The app allows architects to use real-world site information during the early design stage of a project. Formit is an intuitive, easy to use mass-modeling application helping designers make informed decisions while accessing site and climate data. It allows designers to sketch proposed design options that can be compared with program requirements and then shared with the project team for continued collaboration through Autodesk® 360. The Pro version allows users to build larger models and includes built-in Solar Analysis. FormIt started life as an iPad application, but is now available on Windows, Mac, iOS, Android and in the web browser.

#3 iRhino 3D

With iRhino 3D, architects can view models created in Rhino 3D on the go. It allows users to view native Rhino 3DM files on their iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch, pan, zoom, and rotate using typical commands. By using the navigator, they can scroll through thumbnails and quickly jump to different models, showcase them to clients and colleagues and save views as images for markup and emailing. You can load Rhino models from websites, Google Drive, Dropbox, email attachments, or from iTunes.

#4 BIMx

BIMx is GRAPHISOFT’s mobile BIM communication tool for viewing ARCHICAD models on smarphones and tablets. Architects can use this free app for Android and iOS to share designs, view them in 2D and 3D, or in virtual reality on the iPhone where the Google Cardboard is supported. BIMx Viewer allows users to download models from other sources or from the BIMx community site through iTunes to the iPad.

#5 Morpholio Trace

Morpholio Trace is perfect for architects who love to create quick sketches with the intelligence and accuracy of CAD. The app allows them to draw on top of imported images and templates, add comments and annotations, and quickly visualize ideas. It provides instant scaling, allows users to create custom entourage, landscapes and graphics, and send or print packages. It includes the ScalePen, a patent-pending technology that checks the drawing scale and zoom level continuously to automatically assign a calibrated set of technical pens. The result is simple but powerful – an array of perfect pen sizes that dynamically responds as you move around, through and into the drawing.

#6 IrisVR

With virtual and augmented reality tool gaining popularity, this new technology has also become a medium that is transforming the way the AEC industry communicates and creates designs. Tech startup IrisVR, which develops virtual reality software for professionals in the AEC industry, has already developed two useful pieces of software: Prospect, which instantly and automatically converts 3D models into fully navigable VR experiences for the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift headsets, and Scope, an app that allows you to view rendered 360° panoramas with a Google Cardboard, GearVR, or other mobile VR headset.

#7 Storyboard VR

Storyboard VR is a free prototyping and visualization tool that allows users to pull in, arrange, scale and animate simple 2D assets. Architects can upload transparent drawings and environment maps from existing sketching tools to Storyboard VR and use the app to get feedback early in the design process. It also features a VR version of PowerPoint which creates slides for effective presentation purposes.

#8 Pair

Pair (formerly Visidraft) is a tech startup that built an app which allows architects to drag-and-drop 3D models of consumer furnishings and appliances into their designs using iPhones or iPads. The firm built Pair using their proprietary computer vision and augmented reality technology that makes the app different from its AR competitors. Architects and consumers can physically walk around a virtual 3D product like it is in their home, office space or design.

#9 Drone Deploy

Drone Deploy is an app that allows architects to collect aerial construction site data and images using drones, upload imagery to create accurate, high-resolution maps and 3D models for detailed analysis, manage hundreds of users and connect teams with one-click collaboration and admin tools. Project monitoring thus becomes easy and consistent, with the app helping to improve site planning and quality control, managing assets, and reducing risk on the job site.

#10 ArchiSnapper

Archisnapper is an app for iOS and Android devices which allows users to create and access field reports and punch lists on the construction site, as well as to photograph, draw, sketch, annotate and add comments. It streamlines the creation and organization of construction site data that typically requires the use of several devices and cumbersome processes. With ArchiSnapper, architects can automatically generate and edit field reports and share them with their collaborators and clients.

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Let us know which of these apps for architects do you find most useful, or if you think we’ve missed other important ones you can’t do without.

The post 10 Best Apps for Architects That Make Life Easier appeared first on Archipreneur.

Morpholio was founded by Anna and three more architects who wanted smarter mobile tools for all phases of the design process. From our interview with Jim Keen we already know how amazing architectural illustrations can be by using Morpholio Trace. Besides Trace, for sketching and drafting, the suite for iPad and iPhone includes Morpholio; a digital portfolio, Board, for mood and design boards, and Journal, a sketchbook for drawing.

Morpholio believes that design tools should amplify the creative process, that thinking with your hands is critical. And that smart software should be accessible everywhere. And almost two million downloads and users in over 150 countries speak for themselves! The apps put designers first as they fuse the fluidity and speed of working by hand with the intelligence and precision of device and CAD technology.

Keep on reading to learn how architects founded this tech startup and how Morpholio could help your practice.

Enjoy the interview!

Could you tell us a little about your background?

I am an architect. I worked in New York City as an architect for almost ten years, spending the most time at Work AC, an OMA offshoot, and then at Columbia University curating and creating public programs, publications and exhibitions at the Temple Hoyne Buell Center for the Study of American Architecture. A notable exhibition from that time was Foreclosed: ReHousing the American Dream in collaboration with the Museum of Modern Art. My interest was always in the way that design interacts with the public and it’s ability to shape culture.

What made you decide to found/create Morpholio and who are the co-founders?

Morpholio happened when the first iPad came out, in 2009. Suddenly, we were carrying these incredible devices, but they weren’t meeting any of our creative or professional needs. We were first struck by the beauty and mobility, and therefore created a portfolio app so that we could share and present our work anywhere. But, as a team, we felt strongly, even from this early moment, that the touch screen was a gift to creatives. We believed that the ability to interact with our work in a new way – by hand as opposed to mouse – would have tremendous potential for designers and artists.

My co-founders were friends from the Graduate School of Architecture at Columbia University who were starting to build apps, as well as another architect.

Because we all knew design culture so well, it was easy to generate ideas about how it might translate into device culture.

What is your role in the company?

We all collaborate on designing the features and experience of the software. I also handle all of the PR and work hard to build relationships with our community and share their stories.

What is Morpholio’s business model?

Our business model is based on subscriptions. The app is free for basic use. Pro Tools have a free trial and then a monthly $3.99 or yearly $11.99 subscription.

Morphilio’s flagship app is Trace. Could you give us some examples of how it can be used and how it helps architectural practices?

Canary yellow trace paper is very familiar to architects. It’s a tool we’ve used for decades as a drawing medium, and yet, it was one of the last things to get translated into the digital workflow. Architects use so many programs fluidly, but hand sketching is ultimately the way we communicate to create, develop, and discuss ideas.

This is where Morpholio Trace comes in. It is the only tool that takes you through the entire design workflow. From start to finish, whether you are sketching early ideas over a site photo; developing massing that require scale and measuring tools, marking up drawing sets and details, or capturing images on-site and making notes to share with a contractor; all you need these days is your iPad Pro and Apple Pencil.

It takes the fluidity of hand drawing and merges it with the precision and smart tools of CAD.

This means that not only can professionals benefit from this fast new intersection of thinking and drawing enhanced by digital magic. But that anyone can experience architecture and have access to design-specific tools that will help them start a renovation or dream up a new plan for their home or office.

Morpholio has just lanched two new augumented reality tools. Could you tell us a little about them?

Yes! Morpholio is excited to add augmented reality to Trace with the launch of AR Perspective Finder. This new drawing tool lets users uncover virtual perspective girds, to scale, anywhere — making complex sketching easy and accessible. The scaling of the projected grids is revolutionary. And is only made possible by the power of iPad and ARKit to read and interpret the environment for you. You can now capture any space and sketch on top with perspective grides and guides to help you get it right!

Morpholio is also exploring new territories in Augmented Reality with the launch of AR Color Capture, a new feature in its already popular Board app, a mood boarding app primarily for interior design ideas. The new tool lets anyone virtually sample, experience and record colors from the world around them. Not only is this a new way of experiencing color, but also a new way of allowing color to influence décor, design and sourcing.

How has your architectural training helped you in the actual running of your businesses? What specific/transferable skills have proved the most useful?

Practically, architects are trained to work very hard, and to try their hand at a variety of skills. From graphic design to various software and techniques. Which means that architects are well versed to tackle the day to day needs of a startup as they arise.

But, above all, architects look at problems differently. When faced with a challenge, we are encouraged to rethink the angle, look at it from a new perspective, maybe even reframe the question in order to propose something that is both smart and novel.

The building industry is known for being slow to adapt to now technologies. How is your experience with this? 

Designers are generally early adopters. They are not afraid to try new things and genuinely enthusiastic about finding ways to make their work smarter, faster and more productive.

Do you have any advice for Archipreneurs who want to start and build their own business?

Go for it! But stay lean. We’ve built a creative team that allowed us to do most of the work on our own without expensive outsourcing. They say that startups that have to make tough decisions early on about priorities sometimes make smarter decisions than those who take investment and don’t have the same constraints. Don’t be afraid to take risks and fail along the way. It’s all about experimenting and getting feedback as you build a community.

In which areas (outside of traditional practice) can you see major business opportunities for up and coming architects?

I believe technology is opening so many doors for makers. We see this in the Brooklyn neighborhoods where warehouses and office have been transformed into furniture, fabric and product studios and showrooms. Digital processes and fabrication are really creating new possibilities for creatives and architects already know how to work with materials and details.

On the other had, we’re seeing really interesting think tanks gather teams around solving problems across the city. I heard a story about a startup gathering architects, technologists, urban planners and public health specialists to rethink a group of disfunctional neighborhood health clinics into a highly performing network of care providers that could also better track the data. And therefore the needs, of the population they were serving. This feat required the application of both technology and design. I imagine this is more of a “social” opportunity than a “business” opportunity, but certainly an interesting segue career that could have various immeasurable rewards.

About Anna Kenoff

Anna Kenoff is an architect, curator, and a co-creator of Morpholio; a software company that makes mobile design tools for creatives and professionals such as architects and designers. As an architect, she worked in New York City leading projects for Work Architecture Company; and exhibitions and public programming for Columbia University’s Buell Center for the Study of American Architecture.

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Anna would love to see your work and hear about your experience with Morpholio Trace or Board. Drop her a line at community@morpholioapps.com

The post How Morpholio Apps Revolutionizes the Creative Design Workflow appeared first on Archipreneur.

This week’s interview is with Jim Keen, an architect, illustrator and author from Brooklyn.

Jim has been working as an architect in London, Sydney and New York for twenty years, before he pursued a career in illustration and literature.

In a time when architects have unprecedented means to depict ideas, with an explosion in technology from photo-realistic rendering to virtual reality, Jim took a step back. But his architectural hand drawings are no sentimental approach to good old sketches, rather is he using latest technology to shift the focus back to the essence of the architectural idea. His clear line drawing style communicates the design, atmosphere and space in detail but “without the fake-realness that can so easily derail presentations.”

See for yourself and enjoy the interview!

You have a lot of experience as a practicing architect. When and why did you decide to shift your focus to illustration?

I really enjoyed my architectural career, and over twenty years I was able to work in London, Sydney and New York for both Grimshaw Architects and KPF. I feel very lucky to have achieved what I did.

However I was feeling increasingly restless and wanted to try other approaches to life while I still could. I’ve always wanted to write fiction and I’ve used hand drawn illustrations in successful presentations for years so decided to take the plunge two years ago. I work on illustration in the day and my novel, ‘The Streets and The Skies’ at night while my children are asleep.

Did 20 years of working in an architectural office prepare you for your life as a freelance illustrator and author?

It is a huge help. After working so long ‘on the other side of the table’ there is a sort of short hand you develop in architectural conversations. This means the amount of time architects have to spend explaining the design or revising my work is very small compared to cheaper non architect renderers.

I’m also fluent in the 3D software architects use so they can just provide the model and I do the rest – camera set ups, whatever is needed which is very different from the ‘traditional’ illustrator who wants everything given to them.

Fiction is completely different but being self disciplined and working to tight schedules is something that definitely crosses both careers!

What differentiates your illustrations from photorealistic renderings, which are flooding the architectural world?

Renderings have become so overused they no longer have any impact. Clients are bored of them and the same old presentations give the same old results.

Hand drawing makes your work stand out from the crowd so you immediately make an impact. As it is looser in its character it allows the designer more time to design and helps the client focus on what is important – the space not on the details.

Hand drawing is a clearer, faster and more original means of design communication than digital images these days.

How do you promote your illustrations? Do you do marketing?

I had a lot of plans when I started out but the work came in so quickly, I so far haven’t done any marketing at all apart from my websites – www.jimkeen.com and www.mechanical.one. I’m finding there is a reason startups have two people, one to get the work and one to do the work! I’m looking for a marketer now to help if anyone wants to reach out to me …

What are your tools for “spacial” storytelling?

Apple chose my work to publicize their new iPad Pro as I’ve worked very hard to develop a style of illustration that explains space as clearly and simply as possible with iOS tools. I draw with a 12.9” iPad Pro and use a MacBook Pro when needed.

They’re just tools though – it all starts with the design intent. What is the image to convey and why? Once I understand that I mock up the layout first, proportions, entourage, colors then add as little detail as I can. Less is more if you want the client to appreciate the space quickly.

Look at the illustration style of Hergé in Tin Tin for instance, so much is communicated so simply. There is a great quote from him, “I would have drawn less but I didn’t have the time.” Which explains it well,

like minimal architecture minimal illustrations take far more work than throwing everything possible into the image.

What software do you use to create your illustrations?

iOS – Morpholio Trace and Procreate on an iPad Pro and Photoshop on MacBook Pro for illustrations. Scrivener for writing.

Do you have any advice for archipreneurs who are interested in starting their own business?

Why should anyone use you or your product? You have to be extremely clear about that and have a good reason. (I’ve spent far more time explaining why I draw than I expected!)

Oh and be prepared for most people not to understand why you’re leaving your day job :)

How do you see the future of the architectural profession? In which areas (outside of traditional practice) can you see major opportunities for up and coming developers and architects?

AI and automation are going to reduce architectural employment significantly over the next 30 years. Any job that is rule based (space planning, zoning, scheduling etc) is going away sooner rather than later. However AI will struggle with social interactions so the future is more than ever dependent upon how we interact with each other and the space around us.

About Jim Keen

Jim Keen is an award winning architect who worked for Grimshaw Architects and KPF in London, Sydney and New York. After twenty years in the profession he switched to pursue a career in illustration and literature.

He has perfected a style of visual communication so effective that Apple commissioned art work from him to promote their new iPad Pro. This clear line style communicates the design intent instantly without the excessive detail computer renderings are forced to provide. This enable the client to focus on the design and space instead of details.

He has written three novels, the third of which, “The Streets and The Skies,”  is due out next year.

The post Visualizing Architecture: How Jim Keen’s Hand Drawn Illustrations Stand out from Renderings appeared first on Archipreneur.