Our industry can be unforgiving when it comes to constant deadlines, project pressure, burnout/fatigue and just general stress….
I know I’ve been feeling it these last few weeks.
You may have even noticed I hadn’t posted on youtube, social media or even this newsletter nearly as often as I normally do. Sorry about that!!
I’ve written in the past about burnout and overwhelm (here’s a post on some tips to help!) so I don’t really want to dive into that again today, though I may have some new thoughts on it in coming posts.
Today I want to share some tips on how to make things easier in day-to-day drafting, particularly when using AutoCAD or Civil 3D, though many of the tips in today’s video will equally apply to almost any task or software.
It can be so easy to burn hours of our days and projects simply by making a few minor mistakes early in the process.
It’s usually not one big glaring error that throws things off the rails.
It’s small things that are easy to miss: poor planning, organization issues, and simply just winging it from the start.
In today’s video we’re going to get you and your projects back on track with simple fixes to common Mistakes we don’t even know we’re making!
Don’t wait until the end of a project to create your first PDF.
Generate check plots throughout the design process.
It’s one of the simplest ways to catch:
• Lineweight issues
• Annotation problems
• Missing labels
• Viewport mistakes
• Scale errors
Fixing a small issue today is much easier than fixing twenty of them the day before a deadline.
This week’s video covers seven of the most common workflow mistakes I still see in AutoCAD and Civil 3D projects, and, more importantly, how to avoid them.
We cover topics like:
• Starting projects with the wrong setup
• Better drawing organization
• Data management tips
• Xrefs and project collaboration
• Templates and standards
• Workflow improvements that reduce rework and save time
Whether you’re new to AutoCAD/Civil 3D or have been using it for years, these are simple habits that can make a noticeable difference in your day-to-day workflow.
Watch the full video here:
7 CAD Mistakes That Waste Hours Every Week!
If you want to learn how to streamline your AutoCAD workflows, including setting up templates like the ones I share in the video, check out my AutoCAD fundamentals & workflows course here to learn more and download templates right aways: https://cadintentions.com/hurry
One of the biggest ways to speed up a project isn’t drafting faster…
It’s starting with better data.
That’s why I’ve been really impressed with Ecopia.
Their AI-powered platform converts aerial imagery into highly accurate vector mapping data, roads, buildings, sidewalks, vegetation, parking lots, and more—ready to use in AutoCAD and Civil 3D.
Instead of spending hours tracing or building existing conditions manually, you can start with a clean, detailed base plan and focus on the design work that actually adds value.
Sometimes the best productivity boost isn’t working faster...
What automation or AI tool has saved you the most time recently?
Hit reply and let me know I’m always looking for new tools and workflows to test and share.
That’s all for today!
Cheers and happy drafting
Brandon
P.S. If you’ve got a colleague who’s always stressed and fighting deadlines, be sure to forward them this email or send them a link!
They’ll thank you later.
Comments
Nothing yet. Say the first thing.
Sign in to join the conversation.