Session Details

Speaker(s): Mike DeKoning

Date: February 02, 2026

Video Recording

Presentation Slides

Session Abstract

Yes, you read that correctly. While most designers and engineers today work in 3D tools like SOLIDWORKS, many have little exposure to traditional 2D CAD. Yet 2D remains highly relevant for updating legacy DWG files, creating schematics, wiring diagrams, or technical illustrations—tasks where 2D is often essential. DraftSight provides an efficient, affordable solution. The dominant 2D CAD of the 1980s evolved from menus and command prompts to toolbars and the Ribbon. To ease the shift from this familiar but costly option, Dassault Systèmes designed DraftSight with a similar UI, including menus, toolbars, command line, and Ribbon. While intuitive for seasoned 2D CAD users, this interface can feel foreign to SOLIDWORKS users. In this session Mike DeKoning draws on over a dozen years of experience in designing with 2D CAD along with SOLIDWORKS knowledge to explore similarities and key differences, helping attendees gain practical skills to confidently use DraftSight alongside SOLIDWORKS.

DraftSight Core DraftSight Productivity & Best Practices Industrial Equipment (inc. Fabricated Metal & Plastic Products) DraftSight SOLIDWORKS