The DesignTalks CAD usage survey: complete it and we'll give you a helping hand as well

DesignTalks launches comprehensive CAD usage survey Results will offer valuable insight into design and manufacturing working environments DesignTalks www.design-talks.com, the online community and discussion forum for UK design and manufacturing businesses, has launched a comprehensive survey into UK CAD usage and its impact on daily working life. Participants in the survey, which is open to all UK designers and manufacturers, will be entered into a prize draw to win one of three VEXplorer remote control robot kits and a 3Dconnexion SpaceNavigator. Seven runners-up will also receive a SpaceNavigator. The VEXplorer comes with the SolidWorks Student Design Kit, which provides numerous design, rendering, and animation options, including the ability to download add-on parts from the Internet using the same tools as engineering professionals. The survey delves into a range of design and manufacturing business issues, including how much time CAD users actually spend designing, which other administrative or management tasks they also have to perform and how they might achieve greater job satisfaction. “Advances in CAD technology have enabled designers to speed up their product development processes, which should allow time for taking on more design projects,” says DesignTalks Director Ben Bush. “But the increasing pressure to reduce product development times and become more competitive means designers may be having to fit design work between increasing amounts of administrative, process and management tasks. The DesignTalks survey should shed some interesting light onto this issue and give us a clearer picture of where the balance currently lies.” DesignTalks, which is backed by SolidWorks, recently welcomed its 1000th member It is hoped that the survey will encourage further new members to sign up to DesignTalks, which offers a lively forum in which to debate current issues and provides a valuable resource for white papers and articles on a wide range of industry topics. Ends About DesignTalks DesignTalks is the ideal place for UK designers and manufacturers to debate the hottest topics of the moment. As well as providing an online debating environment DesignTalks will also be producing whitepapers and other resources designed to help manufacturers get the best from design. The focal point for DesignTalks will be a regular series of roundtable debates. These live events will allow leading figures from UK design and manufacturing to discuss the topics and issues the industry must face if it is to remain competitive in today's shrinking global market. DesignTalks is presented by SolidWorks UK, provider of intuitive 3D CAD tools. SolidWorks is committed to supporting UK designers and manufacturers with fresh thinking and useful resources, and DesignTalks is the latest demonstration of that commitment.