Alludo

The Formula Student Electric Team at TU Berlin, known as zedX, faced a significant challenge when they decided to participate in the renowned Formula Student Germany event in Hockenheim. The event was accepting entries for electric racing cars for the first time in 2010, and the team had less than ten months to design and build a racing car that would be made in a limited series of 1000 units and cost less than US$25,000 per car. The car had to meet several criteria, including speed, braking capability, design, fuel consumption, engine safety, and a comprehensive costing and marketing plan. The team also had to create a logo and promotional materials for the car, a task that fell to Philipp Kahle. He had to produce the first layouts of the four-page brochure and the logo for the car within the thirty-day trial period of the CorelDRAW Graphics Suite.

Stand 21, a French company, has been designing and producing special race clothing since 1970. The company's products are held in high regard by its 3000 customers, including multiple Formula 1 drivers. The challenge for Stand 21 was to design and produce fireproof race-wear that is not only safe but also comfortable for the drivers. The race-wear includes balaclavas, overalls, gloves, boots, and even underwear—all made from fireproof material. The clothes must also be breathable enough to wick out the driver's sweat and keep him cool. The suit has up to three layers, and all stitching and seams are fireproof too. The clothes are meticulously made by hand to ensure compliance with stringent safety and quality standards. The company also had to customize each outfit according to the drivers' wishes, including logos, sponsor names, and a variety of other images embroidered onto the suits using fireproof thread.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the US Department of Agriculture Forest Service are responsible for managing millions of acres of America's public lands. Their mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of these lands for the enjoyment of present and future generations. Increasingly, these lands are viewed from the perspective of the recreational opportunities they offer, their cultural resources, and their abundant beauty. The Roseburg District BLM and Umpqua National Forest, which border each other, provide opportunities to collaborate in the development of brochures and other interpretive projects to showcase the vast recreational, scenic, and tourist attractions of the region. The challenge was to create collateral pieces on a variety of subjects and recreational opportunities, including boating, camping, fishing, hiking, hunting, mountain biking, site-seeing, and visiting cultural or heritage sites.

Detective John Brunetti, a seasoned officer with over 23 years of service in the Forensic Services Division at West Haven Police Department in Connecticut, faced the challenge of presenting crime scene evidence in a clear, professional, and understandable manner. This was particularly important when testifying in court, where the jury needed to comprehend the evidence accurately. The challenge was compounded by the complexity of the evidence, which often included partial fingerprints or palm prints, crime scene maps, and bullet trajectories. Furthermore, the evidence needed to be presented in a way that was not unfairly biased, especially when witnesses were asked to identify a suspect from an array of photos.

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG, a leading print manufacturing equipment company, faced a significant challenge in managing the technical complexity of their printing machines. The company had to deal with the creation of operating and maintenance manuals, spare parts catalogues, and thousands of illustrations and graphics. Until 2005, they used the Interleaf Publishing System for manuals and Mondello illustrations software for catalogues. However, the underlying content management system proved inadequate for their needs. The company sought a future-proof graphics tool that could handle their extensive needs, particularly in terms of transferring existing data from Mondello and Interleaf systems. They also needed a tool that could effectively interface with various CAD systems and other solutions.

Summit Graphics, a seasoned printing company, was faced with the challenge of efficiently managing complex printing tasks. The company frequently used high-end printing features in CorelDRAW, such as specifying trap width and image trap placement. However, they were faced with a complex book cover project that required a mix of native Adobe Photoshop files, TIFFs, vector text, and spot process colors. Additionally, they were tasked by Iowa State University to print over 3,000 sequentially numbered ID badges, each with a unique name and ID number. This would typically require technical assistance from an IT specialist, adding to the complexity and time required for the project.

Adrian Fisher Mazes Ltd., the world’s leading maze design company, faced a significant challenge in designing and rendering complex maze configurations in full color. The company, which designs 90 mazes each year, needed an efficient way to share design renderings with clients located around the world. The challenge was to ensure that the various dimensions of a design, such as its navigational complexity or color treatment, could be well represented for the client’s clear understanding. This was particularly important for large-scale projects like the Jasmine Tea Maze, designed for the 2008 Olympic Summer Games in Yunnan Province, China, which was set to be the largest permanent maze in the world.

Coomer Media Group, a Lexington, Kentucky-based design and production firm, specializes in creating graphics and advertising campaigns for a wide range of projects, including custom automotive artwork for the NASCAR racing circuit. The company's software of choice is CorelDRAW Graphics Suite. However, the company often faces tight deadlines, such as a 48-hour window to create a truck design for Timber Wolf. The challenge was not only to create an eye-catching design within the given timeframe but also to ensure that the decals fit perfectly on the vehicle without needing to be re-cut during installation. The design also had to be versatile enough to be used in various promotional efforts, not just on the NASCAR vehicles.

Miguel 'Gorilla' Lopez, an experienced artist, cartoonist, and animator, faced the challenge of managing a two-person operation, Gorilla Enterprises, and competing with larger animation studios. The need for speed, efficiency, and quality in their work was paramount to keep up with the competition. The process of creating animations involved copying rough pencil drawings by hand with ink on high-quality paper, scanning them into the computer, and then creating vector illustrations. Ensuring line quality consistency across all scenes and making necessary adjustments was a time-consuming process. Additionally, creating animations required grouping and ungrouping various parts of characters, which was a complex task.

Barbara Webster, a talented quilter and founder of Starforest Quilts, was faced with the challenge of creating intricate, kaleidoscopic patterns of photographic images for her quilts. Traditional methods of quilt designing were not sufficient to achieve the level of complexity and precision she desired. Moreover, she wanted to incorporate high-resolution photographic images in vivid color on 100% cotton fabric, which was virtually impossible without the use of advanced technology. The challenge was to find a solution that could help her create these intricate designs and print them on fabric in a high-quality manner.

An Original Occasion, a Los Angeles-based special events production company, was facing challenges in effectively communicating their vision to clients. The event planning industry is highly competitive and conceptual, making it difficult to convey the intended event design and details through words alone. The company was struggling to provide a realistic picture of the event, including props, decor, and lighting effects, which was causing confusion and misinterpretation among clients. This lack of clarity was affecting their proposal acceptance rate and their ability to stand out in the multi-million dollar event planning industry.

Peter Litger, the CEO of a Car Body and Spray Painting Center in Germany's Rhein-Sieg district, faced a unique challenge. His business was not just about fixing scratches or dents on vehicles; it was about creating unique, artistic designs on vehicles, transforming them into moving pieces of art. However, creating these designs by hand was a time-consuming process, and it was difficult to ensure consistency and precision in every design. Moreover, Peter was one of only two people in Germany who painted by hand using an airbrush, which added to the complexity of the task. The challenge was to find a solution that could help streamline the design process, improve efficiency, and maintain the high quality of the artwork.

Logique Communications Inc., a Toronto-based marketing and communications firm, was approached by Alpha Health and Wellness, a personal training company, to help them update their logo, business cards, and other marketing collateral. The company wanted to expand its core fitness offerings to a more holistic approach, including 'balance-of-life' and 'life coach' services. The challenge was to create a logo that conveyed a sense of positive energy flow. The initial creative brief included a triangular, spiral-shaped symbol that was to be the basis for the 'A's in the word ALPHA. The remaining letters 'LPH' were to be designed using a rounded, sans-serif font. The challenge was to create a visually pleasing symmetry while maintaining the essence of the brand.

Herdwick Landscapes, a UK-based company specializing in the creation of period stone dolls' houses, faced significant challenges in their production process. The company, founded by Peter and Kate Kelsall, was inspired by the rugged beauty of England's north-west Lake District and aimed to create miniature models that accurately represented the classic stone buildings found in this region. However, crafting these intricate models by hand was extremely time-consuming and physically challenging, particularly when working at a 1/48th scale. The finer details, such as fretwork, windows, and doors, were particularly difficult to produce. The labor-intensive nature of the work also limited the range of styles they could offer, and some elements, like windows and fireplaces that light up, were simply too small to create by hand at the 1/48 scale.

Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI), a global leader in digital signal processing and analog technologies, faced a significant challenge in its Technical Information Solutions (TIS) department. The TIS team, responsible for creating documentation supporting the company's custom semiconductor product lines, needed a tool that could seamlessly integrate into their documentation workflow. They relied on an XML-based content management system to publish, version, and repurpose product documentation. The team received source graphics in various formats, including AutoCAD, Visio, and WMF, which needed to be converted for use in both print and web documents. The challenge was to find a software package that could easily edit and convert these graphics into the various file formats required for their publishing processes. Furthermore, the team was planning to standardize on a single file format, SVG, in the future. Therefore, the solution they chose had to support this powerful open standard graphics format.

The Refilwe Community Project, a South African charity for disadvantaged and vulnerable children, was facing challenges in producing marketing and fundraising materials. The charity, which supports over 200 children and infants, is heavily dependent on donations and has to make the most of volunteered services and thinly-stretched staff. The process of outsourcing graphic design and video production was not only costly but also time-consuming, with a lot of back and forth with external designers or video producers. This was slowing down the approval process and increasing production time. The charity needed a solution that would allow them to be self-sufficient, save money, and cut down on production time without compromising on the quality of their marketing materials.

Ferris State University (FSU) is a leading technical and professional university that offers a wide range of programs to over 11,000 students. The Center for Student Services at FSU is responsible for producing a variety of educational materials, including course catalogs, class schedule books, recruitment posters, campus maps, directional signs, and calendars. These materials are used by students, faculty, visitors, and administration, and they rely on high-quality, accurate graphics to display important information. The challenge was to save time and reduce the costs of outsourcing these projects. Craig E. Westman, Ph.D., Associate Dean of Enrollment Services and Director of Admissions and Records at FSU, was looking for ways to make the creation of class schedule books more cost-effective and visually appealing to attract potential advertisers. He needed a software application that was easy to use, offered creative flexibility, and produced professional-quality results.

Abracadabra Signs and Designs, a signmaking company known for its unique and memorable cartoon characters, was facing a significant challenge. The company, led by Steve Thomas Greer, had built its reputation on hand-painted murals and signs, a process that was both time-consuming and labor-intensive. As the demand for their work increased, the company found it increasingly difficult to keep up with the growing number of projects. The traditional signmaking process, involving paint, brushes, and cut vinyl, was slowing down their workflow and limiting their ability to take on more jobs. Steve recognized the potential of digital printing to speed up processes and increase productivity. However, he was hesitant to make the transition for fear of compromising the unique, hand-crafted look that was the trademark of his company's art.

Richard Parrish, the owner and founder of Vinyl Creations, a small signmaking shop in Port Orange, Florida, faced a significant challenge. Despite having no formal training in graphic design, he needed to create professional-looking vinyl signs, banners, and decals for his clients. His clients often brought him logos on paper, asking him to create banners or signs based on these designs. As a small business, Vinyl Creations had limited resources and manpower, with only three employees who had to be prepared to do a bit of everything. The challenge was to find a solution that would allow them to create high-quality custom graphics efficiently and confidently, despite their lack of formal design training.

The Munich University of Applied Sciences was faced with the challenge of teaching future technical writers how to create ergonomic and intuitive products. The goal was to explain complex devices using images and technical drawings. The university needed a software that could run on both Mac and Windows systems, and that was easy to learn and use. The software also needed to be able to support popular file formats, as the students would be working with different CAD systems in their professional lives. Furthermore, the university wanted to develop strong media competence among the students, which required the software to be able to work together and with other systems.

DiGiMATiON, a leading developer of advanced broadcast and place-based multimedia authoring solutions, was in a partnership with Matrox Video Products Group to produce Matrox Infonet TV, an integrated information delivery system. The challenge was to provide an interface for their software, Audience.tv, that was feature-rich yet easy to customize and user-friendly. They needed a program that could serve as a layout, design, and rendering engine for creating graphical content for a wide variety of broadcast media. After considering several products from competitors, they found none that could match the capabilities of CorelDRAW Graphics Suite. The suite's ease of use, tight integration, and advanced three-dimensional graphics effects were the deciding factors.

Careline Crisis and Trauma Centre, a South African charity, is dedicated to supporting the community in its darkest hour. The organization runs a life skills training program, Careline Print Media, which aims to provide new career opportunities to residents by teaching them how to produce a wide range of marketing material using CorelDRAW Graphics Suite. The challenge was to offer recovering addicts and trauma victims a new lease on life. The Careline Halfway House, based in Durban, serves as a refuge for substance abusers who have completed a three-week detox program and individuals who need a safe haven to recover from trauma. The organization needed a way to provide these individuals with skills that could help them launch successful new careers in graphic design and printing.

Tadcaster Grammar School (TGS) in North Yorkshire, England, is a bustling educational institution with over 1500 students aged 11 to 18. The school's Design & Technology Department was facing a significant challenge. The students, particularly those interested in graphic design, lacked the necessary software tools to produce their best work. The school was using two or three different software packages, which were not only time-consuming but also required the teachers to train the students on different platforms. This situation was diverting the students' focus from their projects to learning how to use the software. Moreover, the existing software was not compatible with the school's design equipment, such as the laser cutter and the plotter. This incompatibility led to a lot of reformatting, resulting in wasted time and effort, and causing frustration among students and teachers alike. The school recognized the need for a comprehensive solution that would address these issues, particularly the compatibility problems.

Zazo Aguiar, an experienced designer and animator, was hired by Mauricio de Sousa Produções, a 50-year-old comics business in Brazil, to modernize and streamline the company’s operations. The company, with a workforce of 500, comprised of designers, inkers, writers, and illustrators, who collaborated to create animation for television, toys, and licensing. However, the company was grappling with increasingly tighter deadlines, limited production capacity, and the physical storage space required to store the finished pencil art and artwork. The traditional method of creating characters using pencil and then paying an inker to add the finishing color was proving to be time-consuming and costly. The need for a solution that could automate the design process, increase production, reduce costs, and eliminate the need for physical storage space was evident.

Engineered Systems Incorporated (ESI), a small Canadian company, designs, prototypes, and manufactures specialized integrated electronic systems for both small innovative companies and large blue-chip clients. However, to compete with larger engineering firms and win the business of companies like Co-Generation Systems Inc., Ontario Public Works & Utilities, General Motors, Advantage Engineering, and many more, ESI needed a technical design software that was cost-effective and could integrate seamlessly into a number of other applications. The software needed to provide a complete design solution that could carry a product from initial concept to production. The challenge was to find a solution that would allow ESI to compete successfully with larger companies by finding time- and cost-saving efficiencies.

Kerr-McGee Corporation, a $14 billion independent energy and chemical company, is a global leader in oil and natural gas exploration. The company operates on six continents and serves customers in over 100 countries. The engineers at Kerr-McGee receive large amounts of geological data from surveys conducted worldwide. The challenge lies in converting this raw data into precise and useful geological maps. The responsibility of creating these maps falls on the shoulders of graphics supervisor Anthony Mata and his team of designers. The team needed a reliable, flexible, and efficient tool to handle the vast and diverse geological data and transform it into accurate maps. The tool also needed to be capable of exporting the maps in various formats and printing them directly to large-format plotters.

The University of Applied Sciences Zittau/Görlitz, with its 3,800 students, 130 professors, and 100 researchers, faced a significant challenge in terms of technical illustration software. Despite the importance of such software in various disciplines at the university, they had only a few licenses for Corel DESIGNER Technical Suite. This was particularly problematic in the field of analytical and bioanalytical chemistry, where the software was crucial for illustrating quantities and substances, making the invisible visible. Prof. Dr. Manfred Gey, a professor of analytical and bioanalytical chemistry, and his students often had to search for minuscule traces of substances, requiring the sensitivity of the analytical devices to measure a substance in parts per billion. The lack of sufficient software licenses hindered the efficiency and effectiveness of their work.

Vaughn Hockey, a leading manufacturer of ice hockey goaltending equipment, faced the challenge of meeting the growing demand for unique and customized equipment. As hockey's popularity increased globally, the company needed to stay ahead of the curve and maintain a competitive edge. The company understood that while the functionality of a hockey pad or goalie mask is important, the shell and overall appearance significantly drive sales. Each product model needed to be distinct and stand out from the competition. The company also offered a retail line of products that allowed customers to submit their own custom designs for their equipment. This required a powerful and efficient software solution to bring these designs to life quickly and accurately.

Ronaldo Regel, a 2D artist at Tortuga Studios, is tasked with developing complex characters and scenarios for animated television series. His role involves creating highly detailed vector drawings of characters to streamline the production process and facilitate the work of the series’ animators. However, the process of creating these characters is time-consuming and complex, often taking up to six hours to complete one character. Furthermore, many of the series he works on include multiple characters, which significantly increases the time spent on design. Ronaldo needed a solution that could offer the flexibility and creative power to efficiently complete complex designs with the professional-level quality that animators require.

Sierra Designs, a manufacturer of outdoor equipment and personal apparel, faced challenges in streamlining its apparel-design process from initial conception through manufacturing. The evolution of the outdoor-apparel industry and the corporate success of Sierra Designs have both produced challenges for the company. Fashion-savvy consumers and an increasingly competitive marketplace demand increasingly greater flexibility and creativity from the Sierra Designs team. The company also deals with powerful retail partners that expect nothing short of the absolute best in terms of quality and on-time delivery. In addition to its domestic manufacturing facility, Sierra Designs' apparel division depends on partnerships with contract manufacturers overseas in Asia. Design, for the Sierra team, has therefore become a complex process in which clear communication at every stage is critical to success.