Rhinoceros 3D (Rhino) is an industry-standard modeling software widely used in architecture, design, and fabrication for its precision, flexibility, and ability to handle complex geometry.
Its intuitive interface and powerful toolset make it an essential platform for designers looking to bridge conceptual design, detailed modeling, and technical documentation within a single workflow.
Rhino for Beginners is a practical, hands-on introduction to Rhinoceros 3D, designed to help you understand the software from the ground up.
Instead of overwhelming you with theory, the course focuses on the essential tools and workflows you need to start drafting, modelling, annotating, and documenting your projects with confidence.
By the end of this course, you’ll be able to navigate Rhino’s interface fluently, create precise 2D drawings, convert them into 3D models, and prepare polished sheets for presentation or construction, all using industry-standard practices.
This workshop also includes a live demonstration based on an ongoing residential project, ensuring you learn not just tools but real-world applications. You’ll also get a brief introduction to Grasshopper, Rhino’s powerful computational design plugin.
Rhinoceros 3D (Rhino) is an industry-standard modeling software widely used in architecture, design, and fabrication for its precision, flexibility, and ability to handle complex geometry. Its intuitive interface and powerful toolset make it an essential platform for designers looking to bridge conceptual design, detailed modeling, and technical documentation within a single workflow. Rhino for Beginners is a practical, hands-on introduction to Rhinoceros 3D, designed to help you understand the...
What you will learn
01
Learn navigation, viewports, and essential commands to establish an efficient Rhino workflow.
02
Create precise 2D plans with clean, controlled geometry and linework.
03
Add and manage text, dimensions, and annotations for clear documentation.
04
Convert 2D drawings into accurate 3D forms using core modeling tools.
05
Create layouts, place views, and export drawings for presentation or printing.
06
Follow a real residential project to understand practical, real-world workflows.
07
Get a brief introduction to Grasshopper and its parametric design potential.
Methodology
This course uses a clear, progressive workflow that moves from basic navigation to complete 2D drafting, 3D modeling, and documentation. Each session builds directly on the previous one through practical demonstrations, short assignments, and real project examples.
By learning through applied exercises rather than theory, you quickly develop the confidence to use Rhino in a professional architectural workflow, ending with a brief introduction to parametric design using Grasshopper.
Program:
Session 1: Introduction to Rhino
Overview of the Rhino environment
Understanding the interface, viewports, and navigation tools
Working with units, grids, snap settings, and display modes
How Rhino’s command workflow operates and how to use it efficiently
Session 2: 2D Drafting Fundamentals
Creating lines, polylines, curves, circles, and arcs
Editing tools, including trim, extend, fillet, offset, and join
Session 3: Assignment Walkthrough and Plan Development
Solving the guided assignment from the previous session
Developing a simple architectural plan step by step
Preparing curves and drawings for 3D use
Session 4: Introduction to 3D Modelling
Generating basic 3D geometries such as extrusions, surfaces, and solids
Controlling geometry through gumball, control points, and transforms
Understanding booleans, surface creation, and solid operations
Building 3D forms from the plan created earlier
Session 5: Annotations and Advanced Geometry Tools
Adding text, leaders, dimensions, and managing annotation styles
Setting up layers, colors, linetypes, and lineweight control
Using loft, sweep, planar surface, and other advanced modeling commands
Documenting models clearly for design communication
Session 6: Layout Creation and Documentation
Setting up layouts for printing and presentations
Arranging drawings, title blocks, and sheet formatting
Exporting drawings and preparing deliverables
Session 7: Real Project Workflow
Importing architectural plans from AutoCAD
Cleaning and preparing the file
Building a practical architectural model based on a real residential project
Session 8: Bonus Introduction to Grasshopper
Creating a simple parametric setup to demonstrate possibilities
A glimpse of how computational design can enhance everyday modeling
This course uses a clear, progressive workflow that moves from basic navigation to complete 2D drafting, 3D modeling, and documentation. Each session builds directly on the previous one through practical demonstrations, short assignments, and real project examples. By learning through applied exercises rather than theory, you quickly develop the confidence to use Rhino in a professional architectural workflow, ending with a brief introduction to parametric design using Grasshopper. Program:...
