Blog Posts

Bowling is the secret to BIM Mastery

Who’s the better bowler? A guy who can throw perfect strike after perfect strike OR the guy who never misses picking up a spare. It’s the guy who can pick up the spares. Of course 12 strikes gives you the best possible score, but perfection is the wrong goal. If you can only throw strikes, you’re a one trick pony. Picking up spares is much harder. Here’s another way to

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ArchiMAG review of ArchiCAD 16

ArchiCAD 16-FIN — three wishes granted So this is a long review, but it’s great and worth the time to read. Severi Virolainen, the author of the article and CEO at M.A.D. (publisher of ArchiMAG and Graphisoft Reseller for Finland), isn’t shy about sharing the good and bad of ArchiCAD 16. No surprise, he’s overall very positive. But he doesn’t pull his punches. Here’s two of my favorite parts: ArchiCAD’s

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Pantheon of Workmonsters

In a world of https://shoegnome.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/1d-2d-3d-intersection.webps, there are workmonsters… Much like I came up with the realization that I was a https://shoegnome.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/1d-2d-3d-intersection.webp years before I started my company and blog, the concept of workmonsters has been floating around in my head for a long time. What are workmonsters? They are a special breed of coworkers. I have a feeling that you already understand. This is just a small sampling of archetypes.

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Compatibility note: ArchiCAD on Windows 8

Well Windows 8 is out. That means it’s time to start learning about compatibility issues with it and older software (ei any software that was released before today). Keep an eye on this ArchicadWiki page for continued updates about ArchiCAD and Windows 8. Nothing too surprising Supported versions: GRAPHISOFT is maintaining compatibility for ArchiCAD 15 and ArchiCAD 16 and connected products (BIMx, BIM Server, BIM Server Manager) on Windows 8.

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Tips, Tricks, and Cheats… ArchiCAD Dimensions

Dimensions in ArchiCAD are super basic, right? Well here’s a video on some tips, tricks, and cheats regarding this essential tool. I cover about 15 to 20 different aspects of ArchiCAD’s Dimension Tool. So clearly not an exhaustive or comprehensive discussion. If there’s interest, I’ll gladly do more videos like this for various tools and features with ArchiCAD (ei, back to basics videos). Hopefully regardless of your skill level a

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Frustrating ArchiCAD Things That Need to be Changed: You

Okay that title is a little facetious. But you should expect that from me by now. There is a wonderful thread on LinkedIN that was started two weeks ago on the ArchiCAD Residential Designers Group. You need to be a member to view it, so a direct link to the thread is a little annoying to include. If you’re a residential designer who uses ArchiCAD, it’s a great group to

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Simple Addon – seriously all of them for $19.95?

I will no longer listen to anyone bitch about how much it sucks that in ArchiCAD we can’t copy 3D elements in Sections or Elevations. I’m sure one day Graphisoft will give us this feature, though it’s not high on my personal list of needs or wants. Perhaps it’s because I’m used to not having it. Or that I’m working more and more in 3D, so it’s less necessary. Or

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Facebook, Twitter and Shoegnome

Late last night the Shoegnome Facebook page reached 500 Likes. That’s awesome. The Shoegnome Twitter feed is a little smaller at 381 followers. Thank you everyone. There’s plenty of information on both those sources that doesn’t show up on the blog so for even more on BIM, ArchiCAD, and the future of Architecture, follow both. Shoegnome on Facebook Shoegnome on Twitter   On to 600 & 400…

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BIM and IPD

All the credit for this cartoon goes to Austin Cramer, Managing Editor of DesignIntelligence. If you’re not aware of DesignIntelligence, you need to be. Here’s a snippet from their website: DesignIntelligence is the Design Futures Council’s bi-monthly report on the future, delivering original research, insightful commentary, and instructive best practices. Design leaders rely on DesignIntelligence to deliver insight about emerging trends and management practices, allowing them to make their organization

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