Collaborative Mapping of a Parametric Design Space

We utilize a high-dimensional parametric design space to support a novel and intuitive method for 3D modeling. Users visually explore the design space and pick models using a continuous, map-like interface. We leverage models created by the user community to learn underlying structure in the space via kernel density estimation. This mapping of the space is maintained by a server that synchronizes all the deployed design tools. The tools leverage the mapping to allow users with no prior modeling experience to easily create unique designs by interpolating between and extrapolating from landmark models. The result is a self-reinforcing design system that becomes easier to use as more people participate. Our prototype tree modeling tool was downloaded by over six thousand users from more than eighty countries in the month following its release. Over fifteen hundred trees were voluntarily picked from the roughly hundred dimensional tree space. We report on usage patterns gathered through this deployment and on subsequent user surveys.