The software platform Motif Design brings highly complex building models into a collaboration-centric browser format. When the collaborative design software company Figma launched its public beta in 2016, its browser-based web and interface design tools were a quick hit, putting the startup head to head with the dominant design software company of the day, Adobe. The premise and the interface were so simple, Figma soon became a go-to tool for designers.
Architectural models finally come to the browser
Why This Matters
Motif Design is applying the browser-based, collaboration-first model that made Figma a hit in web and UI design to architecture, letting complex building models live and be worked on in a browser. If it works, it could loosen the grip of heavyweight desktop CAD/BIM software and change how design teams collaborate in real time.
Key Takeaways
- Motif Design brings highly complex architectural building models into a browser-based, collaboration-centric platform.
- The approach echoes Figma's 2016 public beta, which won designers over with simple browser tools and challenged incumbent Adobe.
- Architecture software, long tied to heavy desktop applications, is a potential next target for cloud-native collaborative design.
Worth a Look
Logitech MX Master 3S Wireless Mouse — Browser-based design tools like Motif live and die by smooth panning and zooming through dense building models, and the MX Master 3S's precision scroll wheel and side thumb wheel make navigating huge canvases effortless. Customizable buttons let you map shortcuts for your favorite modeling and collaboration workflows, and it pairs across multiple computers for studio work.
See Logitech MX Master 3S Wireless Mouse on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Get alerts for these topics