FAQ

Flyingshapes is the world’s first designer-focused 3D ideation platform, developed in Germany by industry pioneers. Built specifically for industrial, automotive, and product designers, it transforms intuitive spatial sketching directly into production-ready 3D data.

You sketch lines directly in 3D space – either on Desktop or in XR. The software automatically generates clean surfaces in a single click, lets you validate scale and proportions at a true 1:1 scale, and produces 100% local, on-premises AI renderings in under a minute. You can also export to external software (Alias, Blender, etc) and refine there.

Flyingshapes operates at the very beginning of the design process, allowing teams to “build the right it, before you build it right”.
You can export high-quality NURBS-based curve and surface data directly into CAD applications like Autodesk Alias or ICEM Surf, or send data straight to 3D printers and clay milling machines.

Many VR design tools focus on sculpting, modeling, or manipulating geometry in a virtual environment. Flyingshapes is purpose-built for fast, line-based 3D ideation.

Its core distinction is that designers sketch 3D curves, and surfaces are generated automatically from those curves. This creates a direct connection between the designer’s gesture, the underlying lines, and the resulting form.

Flyingshapes prioritizes:

• Design flow over software complexity
• Curves and design intent over manual surface construction
• Fast exploration of multiple concepts
• Clear reading of volume and proportion
• Immersive communication and collaborative refinement

The goal is not to replace every other VR modeling approach, but to provide a focused environment for the earliest and most creative stages of design.

Traditional CAD applications are primarily designed for creating, controlling, and refining precise, production-oriented geometry. They are essential for engineering, detailed modeling, and manufacturing—but they can be complex and time-consuming when the goal is simply to explore an idea.

Flyingshapes approaches the problem from the designer’s perspective. It is a 3D ideation tool, not a conventional CAD replacement.

Flyingshapes helps answer an important question before detailed CAD work begins:

Are we building the right design?

Once the right concept has been selected, traditional CAD and surface-modeling tools can be used to develop it to the required level of precision.

Yes. Flyingshapes supports import and export of 3D models in industry-grade file formats, including STEP, STL and IGES. Files can be seamlessly exported from Flyingshapes into CAD applications and 3D printers.

Flyingshapes is especially relevant for:

• Automotive designers
• Industrial designers
• Transportation designers
• Design studios and creative teams
• Design managers involved in early concept selection
• Organizations seeking faster 3D ideation and collaboration

It is designed for people who want to explore and communicate the character of a product before committing to detailed modeling.

‍Recommended Minimum:

More Details in this technical document

No. VR/XR is optional. Flyingshapes can also be used on a desktop computer, with a graphics tablet or simply a mouse.

That said, VR/XR is highly recommended because it allows you to experience and evaluate your design spatially. You can build an entire car in XR and position every curve precisely in 3D space, making it easier to understand proportions, volume, and the overall character of your design.

The immersive environment helps you experience the design as a whole—not just as an image on a screen—and can provide a deeper understanding of how the form works in space.

Desktop gives you flexibility. XR gives you the full spatial design experience.

Flyingshapes currently supports most PC-based VR headsets with 6DOF Controllers that can connect to a PC workstation.

Best in class experience with the Apple Vision Pro via CloudXR streaming from a PC Workstation using PSVR2 controllers for interaction.

We offer customized licenses with free trial periods. To inquire the best solution for your individual needs please reach out to us.

Yes, we encourage students to learn our software. Students can apply for a free license here. ‍Also teachers can contact us for more information.