E-LEARNING AS AN EXTENSION OF TRADITIONAL TRAINING METHODS FOR DESIGNERS CHANGING CAD/PLM SYSTEMS

The rapid evolution of CAD technologies and their integration with product lifecycle management (PLM) systems poses significant challenges for experienced designers. Transitioning to new software often requires relearning workflows and adopting unfamiliar functionality, which can lead to productivity disruptions and frustration. To address this, the company ARTECH GmbH proposes an innovative e-learning course tailored for experienced designers, specifically designed to foster their mastery of new systems. This paper explores the development and deployment of a training course designed to balance technical training with empathy for users' professional expertise and learning styles. The course uses human-centred methods to address the unique needs of experienced designers, recognizing their existing skills and emphasizing adaptive strategies rather than rote learning. Core training components include self-paced modules, interactive tutorials, and project-based learning, all aligned with real-world design challenges integrated with PLM systems. A key focus of the course is the integration of the user experience throughout the lifecycle of products and services. Designers will be guided to understand how new CAD tools affect collaboration, prototyping and the eventual lifecycle management of designs. By simulating multi-user, multi-modal scenarios, the course promotes collaborative design thinking and enhances designers' ability to consider multiple perspectives and criteria in their workflows. I