by
“Shapr3D helps me create 3D models and systematize base configurations. It helps me develop and validate concepts before the team gets into the detailed process of modeling for manufacturing on Autodesk Inventor.”
Raymond Cyr is VP of Design and Development for Ducharme Seating, a Montreal-based company that provides spectator seating solutions for a wide range of venues, including arenas, theaters, stadiums, concert halls and auditoriums. As a design manager, he uses Shapr3D to create concepts and show them to his team.
He graduated from the Université du Quebec in Montréal with a degree in industrial design. Before he started working for Ducharme Seating, he was an industrial designer and R&D manager for Leader Industries Inc, a company specializing in the design and manufacturing of protective eyewear for sports, industrial and military usage.
At the beginning of his design career, Raymond used CADKEY surface and solid modeling on a daily basis. He was also modeling parts for injection mold making. When he became an R&D Manager, he was introduced to SolidWorks and Autodesk Inventor, but never went so far as to become a pro user - he used them as a way to review the work of the 5-person design team that he manages. Since he discovered Shapr3D, he’s been using the software on a daily basis to communicate his ideas and feedback more effectively.
Part of Raymond’s role is to share his design point of view for development projects - many of the ones he works on are related to theater seating. Ducharme is well-known for providing spectator seating solutions and for their expertise in resolving fixed seating requirements for the institutional market in venues like schools, colleges and universities, libraries, places of worship, healthcare facilities, and military bases. The projects he works on are basically custom seat development for these spaces.
While Raymond worked with Autodesk and desktop CAD software for 15 years, he found that neither were the right tools for concept creation. And as a design manager, the software didn't quite fit the bill for his needs.
To those just starting out with Shapr3D, he suggests the following:"Autodesk Inventor and similar software are simply not the right tools for concept creation. They are neither easy to learn nor use. In my opinion, they were not created for design managers like me who need to create concepts and be able to present those ideas quickly without the need for a high-end portable computer."
Showcasing the current design project for Ducharme Seating
Shapr3D model of a theatre seat
“I would advise everyone who is just starting out not to be afraid of the difficulties of learning the software. It’s actually not that hard. I keep learning all the time by attending the biweekly webinars hosted by Shapr3D. They have so many valuable tips and tricks on how to model and how to make your workflow more efficient. Take advantage of them!”
Front view
Back view
