PreDesign
Enhance your design research with a new tool from SketchUp
Climate insights your clients will love
Get the valuable data you need to leverage climate insights for your project before you begin in 3D.

Generate useful insights and graphics fast
- Quickly access the graphics and talking points you need to introduce climate factors early in your design process.
Explore viable concepts early
- Identify the most effective strategies for your climate and building type, and arrive at the best architectural design response.
Keep your design moving forward
- Make a clear case to clients and colleagues for a winning concept.
Shading and glazing
- Get instant feedback on which shading solutions are best for your design.
Daylighting
- Identify the best glazing options for getting good daylight into your building.
Architectural response
- Understand the climate’s impact on your architectural design.
Outside spaces
- Discover which strategies and features you need to make outside space more usable.

PreDesign is available as part of SketchUp Pro and Studio subscriptions
TOP RECOMMENDATIONS from top experts
Ivan Borov
Interior Designer | 3Dea Design Studio
SketchUp is my “Swiss army knife” for Design. In our studio, we use it every day. It simplifies work-flow in many ways. We use it for plot & survey, design ideas, concept sketches, mock-ups, etc. I’m using a licensed product because I really respect the work of the SketchUp team, besides – you have great customer support.
Stoyan Nachev
Landscape Architect | Viridis Landscape Architects
In our practice, we use SketchUp on daily basis. It allows us to execute our ideas with great quality and speed. Thanks to LayOut we create documentation, based directly on the 3D model. Furthermore, V-Ray for SketchUp is an amazing addition when we need photorealistic renderings.
Teodor Rachev
Interior Designer | Creative Industries Academy
Simple, efficient, powerful, and with no quality compromises. SketchUp is the ultimate creative machine. It gives you the opportunity not only to be as precise as you need to be in your architecture work but also can help you unleash your creativity. I believe there is no faster and funnier way to visualize ANYTHING.
PreDesign
Enhance your design research.
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Tom Kaneko Design & Architecture: Sketch, Design / Build in Practice
"A big win is that I can quickly update the section views using Skalp for SketchUp, and LayOut automatically picks up the changes. The final proposal from LayOut is what I use for the planning application." Tom Kaneko is an architectural designer and SketchUp ninja specializing in bespoke residential retrofits and extensions in the United Kingdom. In this conversation, we delve into his workflow and how he uses SketchUp to deliver value to his clients within the constraints of a tight budget.
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A Constructible Model with M Moser Associates
We spoke to Jason Li, Associate and Charles Corley, Director of Organisational Development at M Moser Associates about how virtual design and construction complements an integrated project design and delivery approach.Over the past fifteen years, M Moser, a global AEC firm with an extensive track record in workplace design and construction, has used SketchUp and LayOut not only for design and conceptualization but as a vital communication tool throughout the project delivery process.

Workplace Furniture Design: the Danish Way
Icons of Denmark started as quite a traditional furniture agency, representing Danish furniture brands for the U.K. market. We’ve always had a hands-on approach to representing furniture and pride ourselves on being very knowledgeable about our products. We have a high level of technical know-how for how the furniture can be used, what sorts of applications the furniture has, and certain activities in an office where the furniture has relevance.
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Designing Innovative Workplace Interiors with 3DEA Bulgaria
Ivan Borov got the 3D bug at fourteen when he collaborated with a friend on a project using SketchUp and Google Earth. He was fascinated by SketchUp’s accessibility and technology as a whole. Whilst studying interior design in Milan, a short film submission that combined his love for graphic design, video, and photo editing won him a scholarship.
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Make (Even) Better Drawings with LayOut
For presenting work to clients, planning boards, contractors — whomever — we still use 2D drawings to convey design and detail. That’s pretty clear. And if you read this blog you’ve seen that LayOut is the most efficient way to turn SketchUp models into diagrams, drawings, CD sets, presentations, or even just scaled prints.
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From concept design to construction with SketchUp
When you walk through the entrance, you have a view of our manufacturing unit. Everything made there is designed in SketchUp. You can see the steel being welded together. Northpower Stålhallar builds steels halls so our building is, of course, built with a steel frame. Find out more in the blog below
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