3D Sketching + 2D Generative AI for Car Exterior Design

DOI

Recent advances in 2D generative AI are beginning to find applications in highly specialized fields, such as car exterior design. However, the current 2D-centric approach has several limitations: each viewpoint requires a new sketch; maintaining consistency across different viewpoints is challenging; steering design development in the desired direction can be difficult. To address these limitations, we propose a novel design workflow that integrates 3D sketching with 2D generative AI for car exterior design. This workflow enables car designers to seamlessly transition between expressive 3D sketching, detailed 2D drawing, and realistic 2D generation. In a formal user study, professional car designers used our system to create new design concepts for all major car body types. They produced high-quality, view-consistent sets of 2D renderings in a short time, demonstrating diverse patterns of progressive design development.