What software is used in the SketchUp for Beginners course?

The course uses SketchUp as the sole software, relying primarily on native tools throughout the workflow. Live Components are introduced for door and window placement, and Sandbox tools are used for site modeling and grading. Some extensions are introduced where native tools are insufficient. No additional paid plugins are required to follow the course from start to finish.

What does the SketchUp Beginners 101 course cover module by module?

The course has six modules. Module 1 covers toolbar setup, preferences, and importing a reference hand sketch to scale. Module 2 focuses on building the exterior shell and cutting door and window openings. Module 3 introduces Live Components for precise door and window placement. Module 4 runs a material study for siding and roof variations. Module 5 models the site and grading using Sandbox tools and adds entourage such as trees and people. Module 6 covers scene composition and capturing portfolio-ready views.

Is this SketchUp course truly for beginners with no experience?

The course is designed for complete beginners to SketchUp, including architecture students and early-career designers. No prior SketchUp experience is required. Participants should be comfortable with basic 3D navigation concepts such as orbit, pan, and zoom, and have a general understanding of 2D drawing terms like plans and elevations. The project-first structure means you build real skills immediately rather than working through isolated exercises.

What will I have completed by the end of this SketchUp beginners course?

You will finish the course with a complete, site-aware 3D model of a modern cabin built from a hand sketch reference. The model includes a detailed exterior shell, placed doors and windows, material variations for siding and roof, a graded site with entourage, and a set of portfolio-ready scenes and compositions. You will also have a repeatable SketchUp workflow applicable to future architecture and interior design projects.

Jun 4, 202625 lessonsBeginner

FREE with Full Access Pre-Recorded Beginner 25 lessons 5.0 Rating

SketchUp for Beginners 101

SketchUp for Beginners 101 is a project-based online course that teaches the essential SketchUp workflow for architects and designers through a single complete project: modeling a modern cabin from a hand sketch. Covering six modules, the course progresses from toolbars and reference import through exterior massing, door and window placement with Live Components, material studies, site grading with Sandbox tools, and final scene composition. No prior SketchUp experience is required beyond basic 3D navigation.

This course includes

On-demand · 3h 43m
Full lifetime access
Certificate of completion
Taught in SketchUp
Included with Full Access
Instructor Q&A

SketchUp is a user-friendly 3D modeling software widely used in architecture, interior design, and construction to quickly and efficiently create, visualize, and communicate design ideas.

This course teaches the fundamental SketchUp workflow for architects, all built around a single project: modeling a modern cabin from a hand sketch.

We'll start with the basics, importing your references and setting your scale. Then, we'll cover the essential tools for massing, cutting openings, applying materials, and shaping the site. You'll learn how to organize your model and set up portfolio-ready scenes.

This is a project-first approach to learning the fundamentals. By the end, you'll have a clean, site-aware model and a repeatable process you can use on any design.

Set up SketchUp for beginners: toolbars, default settings, and personal preferences.
Work project-first: build a cabin house on a residential lot from the ground up.
Use reference material: import a reference image and align a provided hand sketch and floor plan.
Create the exterior shell and cut door/window openings with native tools.
Place doors and windows using Live Components
Learn how to do a material study
Build the site and grading, and introduce the Sandbox tools.
Add entourage for context (trees, people, etc.).
Compose shots: set up compositions and capture scenes/views for a clear visual.

SketchUp

This course is perfect for architecture students, early-career designers, or anyone who wants to learn the fundamentals of the SketchUp workflow for a real project.

No major SketchUp experience is required, but you should be comfortable with 3D navigation (orbit, pan, zoom) and basic 2D drawing concepts (plans, elevations).

Start by setting up toolbars, default settings, and preferences; bring in and align the reference image, hand sketch, and/or floor plan. Build the exterior shell and site, keeping the interior light, and use it as a placeholder for further development.

Cut door and window openings, and place doors and windows as Live Components to maintain model flexibility. Run a material study for siding and roof variations. Model site and grading, add entourage (trees, people, etc.), then set up views and capture scenes. Use native tools first, with some extensions where needed.

Program:

Module 1 - Concept & references

Introduce toolbars, default settings, and my default preferences
Introduce and create a hand sketch from an existing floor plan
Import this image to scale in SketchUp

Module 2 - Exterior focus & basic structure

Build up the exterior of the site
Cut door and window openings
For the interior, include stabilizing walls only
- Highlight: Don’t get stuck in the weeds of the interior; focus on the exterior/site

Module 3 - Doors & windows

Use Live Components to place the actual doors and windows
Explain why Live Components are better than regular components

Module 4 - Materials & textures

Material study - variations for the siding and the roof

Module 5 - Site & grading

Showcase to the user: Because this is exterior, the site and gradings
Introduce Sandbox tools
Place trees, people, etc.

Module 6 - Composition, views & AI rendering

Start to put together the compositions
Capture scenes and views

1. SketchUp Initial Space Configuration