So the list below is from the ones I think have the most options, best interfaces, or just nice overall experience on the tablet. While I am not an expert in digital sketching (or pen/paper for that matter) I have tested and use many sketching apps regularly. I know that digital sketching is just as much a skill as pen/paper sketching. So below is a portion of “the best” from my list of mobile applications for architects, designers, and AEC personnel. Those categories are Research, Create, Collaborate, Present, Document and Manage. I have a large 15-page list of applications, and I have it broken down into workflow categories essentially based on the design process. Just like many software companies, apps are moving to a subscription model and that is just a fact of life in the 21st century. While I know we all like free apps, but sometimes you still get what you pay for … and the app market is no different.

Another little note here is that many of these have some costs associated with them or have a paid version that offers increased features. While some of these do not have a pure desktop version, they still integrate via the cloud in many ways. This is a top priority for me to ensure efficiency. I have been dabbling in the Apps for Architects realm for many years and in that time, not much of the landscape has changed for us, unfortunately.įor me, one of the most important factors in the mobile application is the need for it to be available on all my devices and linked to my computer at work, my desktop … So many of the apps that I utilize are those with this type of full integration. Sometimes this works well, sometimes it does not. What I have been doing for years is looking at nonspecific AEC apps and testing to see if they can be adapted to our benefit. Basically the drive to create useful and successful apps for our industry does not exist. And then not many in our industry have the knowledge to design and code apps, so again the field narrows. Secondly, the app market is only about 6% in the sector of productivity. So that is the first knock in this market. If you look at statistics from the Department of Labor, there is not a very large percentage of people in the industry. So the market for AEC centered mobile apps is not a very large arena.

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