Sketchup UR Space

Q. Hello James! Please tell us something about yourself

A. My name is James Ogston, I run the company Ria Solutions UK Ltd. I have been working in Architecture for 14 years prior to moving into the design software market for CAD and 3D Design communication and presentation. I worked in the Autodesk arena for 6 years before realizing a different avenue of interest where I found at that time, 3D that was difficult costly and cumbersome to support and train, I then discovered a whole new focus on fun, affordability, intuitive and powerful 3D called SketchUp that has now positioned me to where I am today. I was heavily involved in detail construction design whilst spending my time in Architecture. I have been training many designers in 2D, 3D CAD software for 14 years, with standard, but more extensively in bespoke training and support consultancy. With Ria Solutions we offer competitive software sales, support and training using major design applications to UK - European market.

Q. How did you find SketchUp?

A. I first discovered SketchUp whilst running an Autodesk Architectural Desktop (AutoCAD Architecture) Training Course in Lerwick, Shetland Islands for a design firm there. After 3 days of painstaking training an attendee named Mark Fuller mentioned how complex and time intensive, plus how costly ADT was and offered me a look at his new discovery software application called SketchUp. After class he presented to me 10 house designs all sitting in place on top of a site survey plan - using version 4 SketchUp. He displayed an onscreen animation of the project using pages, known now as scenes. I loved the sketchy edge effects he had applied but as a trainer of 3D CAD software I asked him a very important question. How long did it take to create the work and he mentioned - one day! Straight away I calculated that recreate similar definition and detail 3D work with the applications I knew very well in that time was impossible for me as an expert trainer at that time. At that point Mark Fuller mentioned it is called SketchUp you should look into this application. I really will return the favor to this gentleman one day for this lead. So Lerwick, his office was the golden blessed ground to start my SketchUp journey. My next goal was to contact the original creators of SketchUp - @Last Software. To find out if I could participate in spreading the word of SketchUp to the world, I was to learn that at that time operations were planned to set up SketchUp presence in UK and Ireland, Europe and beyond. And the opportunity for me to prove my capabilities and become a contract accredited trainer - reseller could be a good possibility.

Q. When was Ria Solution founded?

A. Ria Solutions was foundedin August 2004. We had just started up Ria Solutions at that time and the company was so young. @Last Software requested us to meet up via conference call interview. Then we meet up in London to go through training requirement etc. So I was trained by the training manager and co-founder Mark Carvalho whom I really owe a lot to. He was my mentor. And I do miss him on the scene - thoughts shared by many. He ran the training department at @Last Software and is as far as I see - the voice of SketchUp. So I had the privilege to be trained by the training manager and co founder.

Q. Tell us something about your ATC

A. Since the Google acquisition, Ria Solutions received Google SketchUp ATC status, as the first in UK and Europe. Having been involved with SketchUp pre Google and now to see it grow into an ever increasing giant, I love to see this 3D Design and communication tool’s simple message spread across the world. It is amazing to know that when I was first involved with SketchUp training and sales it was a possible dream to maybe realize that only is SketchUp could get further out there how it would change many minds and ideas so that 3D can be more intuitive and not a tough struggle. It is now talked about by millions of people and how it integrates with Google Earth, Google Maps and Street View really places an all around a full virtual, communication tool that reaches out to each and everyone out there. It also does this in the most intuitive and interesting manner for not just designers but for hobbyists, kids and everyone alike. Google SketchUp not only just looks at general sectors of business in which many design software supports, but with the Google brand - it encapsulates a new and growing 3D trend for all. Google Earth, Google Maps and Street View really provide an all around a full virtual, communication experience.

Q. What are the services and courses Ria Solution provided?

A. We offer ATC training on full certified SketchUp courses, essentials 1 and 2, advanced skills, advanced landscape, geomodelling and Layout 3, SketchUp and presentation for non SketchUp users and Google Earth. Our ATC and tailored courses are aimed at all designers and technical specialists, marketing and executives. Our advanced power user training courses always offer clients with the highest knowledge levels at this time. And bespoke company training supports anything that clients want to solely work on to actual contract or presentation deadlines. We are certifying our skills to our clientele who learn what they really need without referring and guessing from any other online or written training resources. We offer a modelling, cgi rendering and animation service to companies and also train sell and support other complimentary applications to SketchUp. We offer a fast and professional service to clients so that they see how time can be Used efficiently, working up great models and visuals with great economic value and just produce better professional working and presentation documents doing so. Our Main objective is that we and our clients enjoy and learn every time when working together use and we deliver on time with best results. We also offer live venue training across the UK, onsite or online web training services. Every client is important and 3D anyone can learn and enjoy the 3D experience too

Q. What is the aim to start an ATC like Ria Solution?

A. I have been so lucky to have a long standing relationship with SketchUp and with so many years of expertise, to see SketchUp grow in its infancy is remarkable.

Alternative 3D and CAD was originally aimed at the computer geek. SketchUp in its simple form completely avoids that initial daunting feeling for any user who wishes to jump in. We always demonstrate the power and fun that ATC training delivers to anyone, even if they are not coming from design background, they will earn, develop and join SketchUp’s 3D modeler community experience that is why with the free and pro versions, anyone can make the choice exactly how much they want out of 3D and not the other way round - " I want more out of this but cant " feeling.

Don’t forget, there is a simple and complex side when modeling in SketchUp, so anyone wishing to participate in ATC certification should have a good review on Google’s online basic introductory YouTube training videos before attending.

This really helps you to get more from our courses, and helps us to express the true meaning of SketchUp and its benefits. The best understanding of what SketchUp is about and how it should be utilized is to watch how industry experts use the application and as all the questions. Our ATC Services are built around years of expertise, its uses and work flows. SketchUp is a problem solver for design and construction. Its further power’s are shown when introducing Ruby script extensions to help you work much quicker and more efficiently. Our very interesting addition to Google SketchUp is of course LayOut 3 – SketchUp’s Paper space! We get great reactions from designers who for the first time learn that PRO and LayOut are just what was SketchUp was missing all along. We see many Design Professional presentation’s and CAD like documents being churned out Whether it is to simply communicate an idea, planning purposes or to work up marketing brochures web and graphics artwork, we see this new presentation tool as SketchUp’s parent.

Our ATC and consultancy services offer Google’s certified training methods that provide each and every attendee with a unique understanding and skill base we believe in using our legendary SketchUp hands on approach handed down from the early existence. It is great to see the ATC channel grows with Google’s support and we often look back to our engagement with SketchUp and watch the 3D evolution spread to others. We do enjoy that.

Q. How do you utilize SketchUp in Ria Solution?

A. We use SketchUp for our clients, for our business and to train others plus offer Google SketchUp Pro sales. It plays a very important role in the business. Especially as costs are tight these days and deadlines are even shorter. So we can deliver using SketchUp. Many of our client projects stayed unviewed acknowledging copyright but our models are vast in number and great in quality whether they are presented in SketchUp, LayOut or if supported in a rendering engine. The SketchUp file format is accepted more and more now; company copyright on SketchUp models is now as important as before and it is

Almost like magic how the .skp and .layout file format has found its way into many offices and businesses.

We break SketchUp into 3 categories - Geomodeling, conceptual, and detailed. We have always known that SketchUp can be used for detailed to working drawing outputs but we know and have proof that at this time it is best for specific sized projects and to specific detail at this time – unless you have a trained expert or experts to drive it.

We see our clients use SketchUp to fully design Services (M&E) and sign off in 3D with the clients invested interests. 2D CAD like drawings using version 8 PRO LayOut 3. CONCEPT TO FULL DETAIL.... can be achieved again with expert training working up proposals cleanly and fast.

Q. Why do you prefer SketchUp?

A. It pays for itself the first time you create a model. The new user experience is remarkable to watch. They have accomplished more in SketchUp than they could with any other without the same struggle. Also the affordability of it with the added option to dabble with the free version first. It is hugely extendable – using thousands of Ruby scripts. Anyone can relate to real 3D by touching and handling the model by themselves rather than the software dictating this. Decisions can be made early on and during regular design team and onsite meetings. Speed of use is there to realize .Simple interface dialog boxes to click less and just get a task done. The appearance and design of the toolset and interface style is attractive and favorable for anyone from kids to elderly, saying elderly - I trained a retired 75 year old Architect who was scared of computers and CAD for many years. He was enlightened and quite emotional when he completed the ATC essentials 1 and 2 one day course with us. SketchUp and LayOut versatility along with many companion products shows that businesses and individuals wish to learn and embrace it and this extends the ever growing SketchUp community. So why not start again and understand the needs of everyone. After all we all enjoy the real world – so why should complexity and terminology control that.

Q. You are with SketchUp since @LastSoftware. Till date how do you see the evolution of SketchUp?

A. I see the evolution of SketchUp’s 3D trend continue to grow but at a louder frequency and its welcome knock at your door – really expected as natures own way of reshaping 3D design.

It started way back, the market just needs to see its power and personally experience it. Why work with an application that is well marketed and branded but takes weeks to work up something you can’t touch and share? Too much money and time is wasted out there. Referring back to my first experience with SketchUp at TAYCAD in Lerwick 10 houses in one day against 10 houses in one to two weeks using other software, does that add up?. Mark Fuller said to me – I’m not sure if the houses are accurately modeled but look at the detail. He was convinced at the outset. I see and hear SketchUp awareness becoming stronger all the time. The word SketchUp is whispered and recognized being by many now. I am seeing many who looked at SketchUp a few years back and really didn’t appreciate it or think it would not evolve; they are now revisiting where they last left it. We do strongly feel the message and marketing of SketchUp now needs to be pushed. All other industry software apps are steering their way to realize SketchUp’s integration and toolsets more now than ever. Many discussion forums are being set up by folks who may or may not have seen it years ago but realize now what it’s all about

Q. How do you like to see SketchUp develop in future day?

A. Further development in LayOut to provide annotation links to the group or component models that would save typing time would be great for a more direct tagging feature When annotating drawings.

More 2D drawing tools, hatches and dimensioning will be well received by all.offering a better understanding and integration of ruby scripts to avoid timely searching across the internet would be invaluable. Better management controls to extend SketchUp’s functionality in offices, better Model management controls in an office for IT and design team management. And more integration of current third party free form and scheduling tools, BIM integration to SketchUp and improved rendering and stylizing. Support to multi core processing and improved compression on file size especially with textures and complex models. In general terms I see SketchUp being the primary 3D tool for kids and educational establishments, small businesses to large commercial design firms alike. I see it as a new working trend and I think the penny could drop. It is like fashion. It is all about time and fashion. 25 Years of 2D and 3D CAD and we all still struggle. SketchUp takes you where you want to be straight away.

Q. According to you what is the USP of Ria Solution?

A. We not only offer professional sales, training and support as a specialist training and reselling provider, we get involved with our clients on projects and work out the best workflows that both we and the client can achieve in the time scales and budgets allowed. With a close understanding of design and presentation, we talk and respond to each and every requirement that is required from us whether it is using SketchUp or other apps; after all we believe that with our multi faceted business skills come multi faceted workflows using different apps along with various training options. We often show clients what they can achieve in the shortest of time so that they realize the levels that they could reach themselves over time. We commit out time and are very passionate in what we offer. It’s the use of the software and not the thrills of glossy images that we focus on. Many clients we talk to are very clever and know that normally the big demonstration looks good and after sign up they are left with a bad taste in the mouth. When I used to work for the AEC CAD SIDE - TOO MUCH EMPHASIS was spent on after sales, support and training. We ARE ALWAYS LEARNING and receive positive responses direct from clients first time around – e.g. the software delivers a new and exciting way to work. SU offers that VERY CLEVERLY to all. Simple, fun, and powerful1 and wont break the bank.

Q. As a trainer how you have seen the potentiality of SketchUp as a designer tool?

A. Search, Listen Realized, Explore and just do what you set out to do. No strings attached. It’s branded with Google behind it. Focuses on a pleasurable invite to play and learn 3D that has taken software industries at least 25 years to convince the market to buy into but still struggles to deliver to all along with hidden costs. If any child picks SU up that says it all. It is full 3D without any hidden disappointments. Its cost – it comes in both free and pro version. I’m sure your intelligence will guide you there? It is easy to use. If you buy it you will get complete satisfaction and many benefits.

Q. How is the popularity of SketchUp among the newbie designer?

A. It is magnetic to designers and they are keen to learn more. They can achieve much by surprise. It will pull users over to use it very quickly. All newbie designers from what I see is that they use it during their academic years and fully during employment. It is very well received and they are lucky to have it in helping to express their visions and concepts. Most of the designers will be using or should be using it.

Q. Please give some advise to the budding designer

A. Firstly, understand that SketchUp is a designer’s best friend; it has no boundaries as to its capabilities. You can be as loose or as accurate as you wish with plenty scope to keep things simple or add more complexity before further embellishing your designs using inbuilt styles, inbuilt or external rendering and animation apps.Try it out for free and then learn the benefits of the pro version. Take your ideas and concepts and bring them to life and avoid lengthily explanations to client and design team members. Use the model to engage their ideas in a digital. It works well alongside others with SketchUp at its core. Will be the best 3D experience they could expect for their very own needs

Q. What is your advice to the team of Sketchup ur Space?

A. I love your new site. It invites new and easy focus and emphasis on SketchUp, its community and what everyone can realize about Google’s Design Software. There are valuable resources for information and takes each and everyone’s own personal SketchUp Space and presents personal experiences and opinions in a slick way to help get the word out there explaining many attributes and its community spirit.

I am very happy to see this new resource available to the world without having to be a member of a hidden group of members before you get noticed. You have shown that

There is great importance and interest for each and everyone out there to learn the best SketchUp methods from Google’s first and longest established SketchUp Authorized Training Centre. Well done