ACM CHI 2026 · Research project
CAMeleon: Comparing Fabrication Workflows in CAD to Support Design Reasoning
How can CAD help designers consider more than the fabrication workflow they already know? CAMeleon enables comparison of alternative workflows and previews their outcomes for the same 3D model.
Research problem
Novice makers often begin with a familiar fabrication method and software. As their designs develop, another workflow may better fit their goals, but earlier modeling decisions can make it difficult to change direction. The research explores whether presenting alternatives within CAD helps designers reason about those decisions.
Interaction and workflow
- Import: Load a 3D model into CAMeleon.
- Compare: Preview how different fabrication workflows would realize the model and examine their trade-offs.
- Choose and export: After selecting a workflow, export machine and human instructions for fabrication.
The system uses workflow comparison to make fabrication decisions available for exploration as a design develops.
Research and evaluation
The team interviewed seven fabrication educators to understand how comparison tools could fit into teaching and used their insights to refine the prototype. In a user evaluation with 12 participants, guided comparison helped participants consider a broader range of workflows, reflect on trade-offs, and experiment with new planning approaches.
See the peer-reviewed paper for the complete study and limitations.
Demo video
The video is loaded only when you choose to watch it, so the page remains lightweight on mobile and does not autoplay while scrolling. To use the software, open the interactive live demo.
Publication and resources
Comparing Fabrication Workflows in CAD to Support Design Reasoning. CHI 2026. DOI: 10.1145/3772318.3790516.
Additional information, acknowledgments and the full author list are available on the official project page.