A Look Back: Design software has come a long way

This issue examines how software helps landscape designers create their ultimate designs. It’s easy to appreciate how far the industry has come when you take a look at where it started. Computer-aided design (CAD) has evolved from a desktop computer and mouse to a laptop to now a tablet and other mobile devices.

Design software has become more than just a platform to develop a project — it is now a communication tool with clients and installation crews, and it aids in project estimation. Design software is becoming increasingly valuable in 3D design as well. Take a look at an excerpt from a July 1994 Landscape Management article about the early days of CAD.