The thoughts behind Siigna

There has been and is a major change going on in the way representation is used to form the basis for building and making. Over the past 20 years, rulers and large sheets of paper has gradually been replaced with computer screens and mice. And the change is happening progressively. Software is developed from 2d to 3d, from design to production, CAD to CAM, from abstract lines to models with parametric dependencies or Building Information Models (BIM), from huge CAD stations to mobile devices.

This increasing complexity in software solutions has created a situation, where the available software is often tailored to fit the needs in the advanced stages of a design process, has a steep learning curve, and is expensive.

Siigna is an attempt to develop a free, more lightweight tool, that can be used in the early stages of a design process, or i general, where a relatively simple and abstract mode of representation is sufficient. It is also an attempt the create a more accessible tool, that has no cost, no installation, is easy to learn, and overlook.

The idea is that it should be as easy to open Siigna and start drawing, as it is to grap a piece of paper and start drawing.

Table of Contents A tool for the early stages in the design process A Wikipedia for visual representation Further development See also

A tool for the early stages in the design process

Siigna is created to be as simple as possible and as efficient as possible. The underlying philosophy is software that stays out of the way. In Siigna there are no difficult tools to learn or advanced graphical environment. There is only the context wheel-menu (per default). These basic ideas are meant to provide quick access to drawing tools, which gives Siigna an advantage in the early stages of a design process.

A Wikipedia for visual representation

A central part of the idea about accessibility is an online drawing library, a feature that is currently under development. The goal is that Siigna provide realtime access to information, to inspiration, and to sharing. A sort of wikpedia for CAD drawings.

Further development

But above all, Siigna is a framework, that is open for users and developers to build on. Even though the tool available in the current version of Siigna are basic, these can be replaced with more specialised tools.

See also

• Siigna mainline
• Siigna module
• Module