ARES vs AutoCAD, MX Master 4, and BIM for Good
This week’s smartest reads in architecture, engineering, and CAD, curated for busy design pros.
Design X Technology Weekly Brief – June 3, 2025
It seems like it was just yesterday that we got our first smartphones and shortly after learned about selfies!
This week, I learned that you can get a free selfie... from outer space.
The future’s weird. But that’s why we’re here. Let’s get into it 👇
🧠 Insight of the Week
Why Autodesk Isn’t the Only .DWG Game in Town Anymore
AutoCAD has long been the king of .DWG, but there’s a real global duel heating up.
Competitors like ZWCAD, BricsCAD, and now ARES Commander are offering full compatibility, better pricing, and workflows that cater to multi-platform CAD teams.
It’s the biggest shift in CAD competition since the rise of LT vs full AutoCAD, and it’s worth paying attention to, especially if you’re a small firm or freelancer thinking about licensing costs.
👉 Read the breakdown on Architosh
🛠️ Tool of the Week: Logitech MX Master 4 is Coming
If you use your mouse like a power tool (which you should), Logitech just teased the MX Master 4, and it looks like the most refined version yet.
Expected improvements:
⚙️ Improved scroll wheel (MagSpeed 2.0)
💻 Better multi-device workflow switching
🔋 Longer battery life + USB-C fast charging
🖱️ Upgraded thumb wheel + customizable shortcuts
Perfect for designers and drafters who are still using the free generic mouse that came with your system (What are you doing!!! You could be so much more efficient and comfortable :) PS. Check out the 3D Connexion CADMouse if you use AutoCAD/C3D or any modeling software daily!)
👉 Preview the MX Master 4 here
📰 Headlines You Need to Know
1. Get a Free Space Selfie with Mark Rober’s New Satellite
You read that right. Engineer-turned-YouTuber Mark Rober just launched a $5M satellite that lets you take a selfie from space.
It’s free. It’s weird. It’s genius PR.
And if you’re in architecture, infrastructure, or engineering, this is a great example of what happens when tech, design, and storytelling collide.
2. How Wardle Used BIM to Deliver One of Australia’s Most Complex Buildings
This Autodesk case study spotlights Wardle, an Australian architecture firm, and their cutting-edge use of BIM to manage multiple stakeholders, data flows, and design iterations on a high-profile university project.
Key Takeaway:
Clean standards, great coordination, and flexible modeling = fewer delays, better design outcomes.
👉 Read the Autodesk customer story
3. How AI and BIM Could Help End Homelessness
A research team recently proposed a radical solution to housing insecurity using data-driven design and AI-enhanced BIM.
It’s not just about buildings, it's about policy, predictive modeling, and human-centered planning.
If your firm ever works on affordable housing or urban design, this article is packed with useful (and forward-looking) ideas.
⚡ Quick Tip of the Week
AutoCAD Plotting Trick: “DWG to PDF.pc3” Is Still Your Friend
Having weird lineweights or blurry plots?
Set your output device to DWG to PDF.pc3, and match it with a clean CTB file. It’s still one of the fastest ways to get sharp, scaled PDF drawings that actually look like what you want.
Want to learn more about plotting, plot style in particular, check out this video here:
📚 XREFs (Links)
👀 What’s Next?
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See you next Monday!
Cheers