CATIA Natural Sketch — Dassault Systèmes

An innovative 3D sketching application that allows designers to ideate naturally while instantly visualizing concepts in three dimensions.

Project Overview

CATIA Natural Sketch bridges the gap between traditional 2D sketching and complex 3D modeling. The product was designed to reduce friction in early concept exploration by offering an intuitive, gesture-based sketching experience integrated within the CATIA ecosystem. The goal was to enable designers to focus on creativity rather than technical constraints.

Responsibilities

• Led UX and product design research to product demonstration, interactions, and visual language.

• Defined intuitive 3D sketching workflows aligned with designers’ mental models and existing CATIA tools.

• Worked closely with R&D teams to prototype, test, and refine innovative interaction paradigms.

Challenges

• Translating freehand 2D sketches into accurate and expressive 3D forms while preserving design intent.

• Balancing simplicity and advanced functionality for both novice and expert users.

• Integrating new interaction models within a complex, performance-driven 3D platform.

Results

• Delivered an award-recognized product praised for its intuitive UX and creative efficiency.

• Significantly reduced concept development time and improved early-stage design exploration.

• Introduced patented interaction and design technologies, later influencing emerging 3D and VR sketching tools.