Brandy Ryan
Alias 2024 Masterclass
We asked Mike Turner to do some production testing on Alias 2024 during the development beta cycles to prove the software in production use. As a result, you may notice small variations in User Interface style and layout in the released version of Alias 2024 – tools and icons may look a little different.
Out of that testing comes a Masterclass (over two series) on modeling in Alias 2024. This content equates to 4-7 hours of modeling condensed into 30 minutes, which are spread out over 4 episodes.
In Series 02, Mike works on an autonomous vehicle for utility applications.
In E01, Mike offers an overview of the projects he’s done with DGDesign, talks about his background in off-highway and utility vehicle design, and introduces the current project: a small, electric vehicle platform suited to a variety of applications.
In E02, Mike starts to explore and develop the basic concept of the small, electric vehicle platform for a specific purpose: package delivery.
In E03, Mike works through variants and details, iterations on the four applications for his small, electric vehicle platform.
In episode 04, Mike reviews his high-level approach to the simple tools and techniques he used for basic concept exploration in Alias. A number of these tools and techniques are similar to those used in Mike’s first Alias Masterclass series (you can access the full recap in S01 E04).
Disclaimer: This video was done in an Alias 2024 preview release, so some tools or icons may look slightly different than the final release.
If you’d like to look under the hood at the Wire file Mike created for technical details or inspiration, you can download the Alias Wire file here:
This model is provided for educational purposes and is not for commercial use.
You can watch the full video here or scroll down for specific highlights.
Alias Masterclass Series 02, episode 04 — Summary
In this short video, Mike reviews his approach to the simple tools and techniques he used for basic concept exploration in Alias.
- High-level overview of the simple tools and techniques for a basic concept exploration
- Modeling principles for a series of styling and functional variants
- Keeping it simple: low order/low degree surfaces and curves
- Don’t be afraid to use simple placeholder geometries to get things up and running
- “Do as little as possible” – use CAD wherever you can and see what shortcuts of your own you can create
- Adding details to enhance visual appeal and reality – build up a library
- In reality: design process is iterative, goes through many, many variants over time
- Basic models are okay for initial communication of the idea
- Alias highlights – many practical applications within design, not just Automotive
- HAVE FUN!
Mike Turner’s Alias Masterclass, Series 01 recap
- E01: Establishing the basics: from set-up through developing volume and form to rear graphic details
- E02: Refining the form: how to develop the basic concept of the package
- E03: Details and final renders
- E04: Reflections on designing in Alias 2024
Mike Turner’s VRED design series
Mike’s first series covers a Fifteen Eleven case study, data import, intro to backplates, other rendering techniques, and his ideation of the DeLorean car.
His second series focuses on off-highway vehicle design, including a Liugong case study, working with large data sets, digital shadow plots, adding decals and dirt to your designs.
His third series turns the lens on public transportation, with episodes on industry insights, interior rendering and VR set-up, raytraced interior rendering, and exterior rendering.
Stay tuned and check out our Autodesk Automotive on LinkedIn, subscribe to our Alias and VRED YouTube channels, and follow us on Facebook.
Sharpen Your Skills
Alias and VRED Learning Editions are free for non-commercial use. Learn more and start your journey today.