Sundog Eyewear is constantly changing to provide products that fulfill its commitment to
genuine performance in terms of outstanding value, impeccable styling, dependability and most
importantly superior protection from the elements. The Sundog Eyewear approach to integrating
different technologies in design and construction results in a higher state of quality that is both
functional and innovative.
Altair Evolve helps to enable much of this innovation for Sundog. It allows Sundog's designers
to start with an initial sketch, explore styling alternatives, and visualize new products with realistic
renderings, all before exporting the digital models required by others in the product development
process. For Michal Hrk this means “it allows me to get better products out to the market quicker.”
Michal had years of experience in the advertising and graphic design worlds before joining
Sundog Eyewear as Creative Director. Over the past few years his role has evolved from
traditional graphic design and communications to product design and styling of sunglasses for
both performance-sport, and casual-lifestyle. Although he didn’t have any formal 3D modeling
experience prior to joining Sundog, Michal knew he needed to move from 2D Photoshop
renderings of design ideas to detailed representations. This meant he needed a tool that he could
learn quickly, “I was looking for something that offered simplicity in the user interface, ran on the
Apple machines I was familiar with and could help me move rapidly from a 2D sketch to a 3D
model. Once I found Altair Evolve in 2009 I never looked back.”
Michal is particular when it comes to every detail of the product. With a 3D model created in
Altair Evolve he can now communicate even the smallest intricacies with people across the world,
including suppliers. As Michal states, “If a picture is worth a thousand words, an exported
geometry file that I share with our manufacturers is worth ten thousand. They can see exactly
what the intent of a particular design is.”
“The detailed control over the
surfaces in Altair Evolve allows me
enormous modeling freedom
without complexity.”
Michal Hrk,
Sundog Creative Director
One specific area of eyewear design that Michal has found Altair Evolve excels at is the modeling of a
wraparound style frame. “These glasses are not a simple geometric shape and require an organic
modeling approach,” says Michal, “the detailed control over the surfaces in Altair Evolve allows me
enormous modeling freedom without complexity.”
An Altair Evolve tool that provides an essential functionality for eyewear designs is the Stretch Tool.
The tool allows the user to interact with complicated surfaces using a simple 2D approach. For
example, it allows Michal to create a complex 3D surface and stretch it into a linear surface to
easily apply precise trims for the final shape. It then allows Michal to re-apply the newly trimmed
surface back into its 3D position. This allows Michal to integrate his 2D workflow into his 3D
models, and enables him to work quickly and efficiently to create complex organic designs with
the required precision.
After moving to 3D with Altair Evolve it quickly became apparent at Sundog that the new process
allowed increased freedom to explore a design inside the modeling environment. “I have a
picture in my mind that I want to come to as close to as possible” Michal told us. “My sketchbook
is where I hash out the ideas behind a surface or shape before I move into 3D, but at the
computer things don’t always come together as planned, Altair Evolve gives me the ability to find
alternatives and sometimes discover an unexpected and better end result.”
Among the features of Altair Evolve that assist in the development of new designs and increase
Sundog’s productivity is the Altair Evolve ConstructionTree. This advanced construction history
feature provides huge flexibility in modifying geometry throughout the entire modeling process.
“The power of Altair Evolve comes when you want to explore a design a little further. I can go to edit
parameter mode and move a point and change my geometry locally. It is a very organic way
of modeling,” says Michal.
The fast creation of photorealistic renderings to preview a final production item is important to
the design process, but its usefulness can extend well beyond that. “In at least one case we
used an Altair Evolve rendering in our marketing materials to show a new product before we had one
manufactured or even a prototype!”
