Expert: Bob - 8/13/2008

Question
Hi-I am a former interior design professional re-entering the working world after raising my family.(14 years)  I have a Bachelors degree in Interior Design and worked for 10 years in the design industry.  I did all my drafting by hand.  I haven't had any luck finding an AutoCAD course geared toward interior design in Connecticut. My question is should I buy the latest version of AutoCAD and try to learn on my own?  I am very computer and Windows-friendly.  Do you have any suggestions on how to find the appropriate training?  Thanks

Answer
Hi --- good for you. As you can see, you found someone who understands. I ASSUME you mean you want to get a job with a firm, but your question.

Points
1-- cant you find an ACAD class for architecture at all?? Similar  enough.
2-- if you take ANY ACAD class at a community or technical college, you can download free student software, to use while you learn more on your own. BUT, you cant use even a block from that in commercial work, or the drawing will print with a big warning.
ALSO -- "I went to CCC college to get the basics and learned the rest by redrawing my old projects" sounds better that self taught.
3-- as you have figured out, we who are older must show we work the new ways -- so you might well want to learn Autodesk Architecture (AutoCAD plus Intelligence) or Revit (database, not drawing)-- after you get plain drafting handled.
4-- usually it takes a year or more to get good. If you take an available class to get the software, use online tutorials, get a good book, learn good habits >> start to do over some of your old projects in AutoCAD, since you can concentrate only on the tool, not designing.
5-- Autodesk products are free to download for 30 days in most cases/ Go to Autodesk.com and look at them. I would use Autodesk Impression to tart up a project, and skip learnging the rendering in AutoCAD.

Hope this helps


BOB