by Shane Henson — June 3, 2013—Configura, maker of CET Designer software, announced the launch of CET Designer 4.0 in late May. Although geared toward interior designers, FMs overseeing the building or revamping of office spaces might benefit from learning more about this innovative workspace planning software.
CET Designer is a smart, rules-based parametric tool that is fast and easy to use. The all-in-one tool enables users to create layouts, quotes, photorealistic renderings, installation drawings, movies and reconfigurations. CET Designer 4.0 includes such design improvements as the ability to create custom shapes and worksurfaces, and rendering improvements that include the ability to make walls transparent or partially transparent. Additionally, a Material Lab with product materials is included in 4.0.
CET Designer 4.0 also lets users work with even larger drawings. The component block feature allows users to quickly replicate and edit blocks of components independent of panels. Improved type styles let designers change fonts and color on text. In addition, the highly visual CET Designer helps interior designers to specify manufacturers’ contract furniture products in 2D and 3D space. Changes are applied instantly.
According to Configura, in a survey of dealerships using CET Designer, users estimated 65 percent more value-added output with CET Designer as opposed to similar software products. The 4.0 version does, however, now have support for importing objects created in AutoCAD 2013. It also added support for Revit 2014, in the RevLink Extension.
Paul Riches, a designer for Heritage Office Furnishings, a Steelcase dealer in Vancouver, is working on an 850-workstation project using CET Designer and says it has been extremely beneficial. “I can’t imagine completing this job through manual specifications or CAD-based tools, he said. “We’ve cut our production time up to one-half.
