Land Use Planning
This Vectorworks 2D Basics course is designed for beginners who want to learn how to apply Vectorworks in a practical way within the fields of spatial planning, urban design, and landscape architecture. You will be introduced step by step to the 2D drawing tools and learn how to create accurate and well-organized drawings. During the course, you will build a single project file in which you will work with drawing methods, layers, classes, dimensioning, and presentation techniques.
Vectorworks is a powerful and flexible CAD platform widely used in urban planning, spatial planning, and landscape design. When you launch Vectorworks, you’ll find yourself in a well-organized workspace designed to make the drawing process logical and efficient. The interface consists of tool palettes, menus for project settings, an attributes bar for graphic properties, and a drawing area where you build spatial plans and designs step by step. A solid understanding of this workspace forms the foundation for working on spatial projects in a pleasant, structured, and professional manner.
Vectorworks is more than just a drafting program. It is a design platform where creativity and technical precision come together. Whether you’re working on an urban development plan, a subdivision, a landscape design plan, or a site plan: Vectorworks gives you the freedom to quickly sketch ideas and then develop them into clear, true-to-scale 2D drawings. Understanding the structure of drawings—such as site plans, floor plans, elevations, and details—is essential for professional use in urban planning.
At its core, Vectorworks offers an intuitive and flexible way of drawing, supported by smart tools and a logical system of layers, classes, and object properties. This ensures clarity and consistency, even in more complex spatial designs.
This course has been specially developed for beginners and users who want to build a solid foundation in Vectorworks, with a clear focus on urban design, landscape architecture, and spatial planning. Do you already have extensive experience with Vectorworks? Then a follow-up course would be a better fit for your level.
For this course, it is helpful—but not required—to be familiar with a CAD system such as AutoCAD, MicroStation, or BricsCAD.
Vectorworks is a versatile CAD software that supports the design process from the initial idea to the technical implementation. The program combines precise 2D drafting with a flexible project structure, making it highly suitable for spatial and planning-related design disciplines. With Vectorworks, you can, among other things:
Some key features of Vectorworks include:
Despite the growth of 3D design, 2D drafting remains an essential part of spatial and urban planning projects. In virtually every plan, 2D drawings form the basis for communication, decision-making, and implementation.
Accuracy and clarity: 2D drawings provide immediate insight into spatial structures, dimensions, and proportions.
Efficient workflow: Changes to plans can be implemented quickly without having to modify complex models.
Clear communication: 2D drawings are easily readable by policymakers, clients, consultants, and contractors.
Fundamental design skill: the principles of 2D drafting form the basis for further exploration of BIM and spatial design processes.
2D drafting offers a clear and structured way to capture spatial ideas and forms a solid foundation for further technical and planning development.
In the Vectorworks Basics course, you’ll learn to work with the program’s most important 2D tools, focused on spatial applications. You’ll practice drawing lines, circles, polygons, and polylines, and learn to position objects accurately using numerical input and the smart cursor. You’ll also discover how to align, rotate, and scale objects to create clear and accurate floor plans and drawings.
An important part of the course is the structured setup of spatial projects. You will learn to work with layers, classes, symbols, and groups to keep complex plans organized and manageable. Dimensioning, scales, and line styles are also covered in detail, ensuring your drawings meet professional and planning standards.
Finally, you’ll learn how to prepare your 2D drawings for presentation and output. This includes working with viewports, layouts, print settings, and importing and exporting DWG and DXF files. This way, you can share your spatial plans accurately and professionally with clients, government agencies, and other partners.
The Vectorworks Basic Course offers a solid and practical introduction to the program, with an emphasis on urban planning, landscape architecture, and spatial planning. By taking this course, you’ll benefit from:
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Contact usThe first day of the course is entirely devoted to getting acquainted with Vectorworks and building a solid foundation in 2D drafting. You will learn how the program is structured and how to work efficiently within a single project file.
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By the end of the day, you will have a solid understanding of the Vectorworks work environment and will be able to independently create and edit simple 2D drawings.
On the second day, you will build on your 2D skills and learn how to structure and present drawings professionally. The focus is on clarity, accuracy, and output.
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After this day, you will be able to set up a complete 2D project in VectorWorks, structure it clearly, and present it correctly to clients and contractors.
Do you have questions about the course content? Or are you unsure whether the course aligns with your learning goals or preferences? Would you prefer an in-house or private course? We’d be happy to help.
No, no prior knowledge is required. The course is designed for beginners and starts with the basics of the work environment and 2D drawing techniques. Even participants who have already worked with the software to a limited extent will benefit from a structured and practical refresher course.
Yes. Vectorworks is ideally suited for BIM-oriented workflows. Even though this course focuses on 2D, you will learn to work with a project structure (layers, classes, and object information) that aligns directly with BIM principles. This 2D foundation provides an important basis for later work with intelligent objects, quantities, information management, and model development within BIM projects.
Absolutely. Vectorworks is widely used in urban planning, urban design, and landscape architecture. Its powerful 2D tools make it possible to create clear, scale-accurate plans, parcel maps, green infrastructure plans, and site plans. Thanks to its combination of drawing capabilities and project management features, Vectorworks is ideally suited for planning and spatial design projects.
The main difference lies in their approach and philosophy: AutoCAD is primarily a technical drafting program that relies heavily on commands and lines. Vectorworks offers greater design freedom, has a more visual interface, and combines drafting with object-oriented workflows. In addition, Vectorworks is inherently more tightly integrated with BIM, design, and presentation within a single environment, whereas AutoCAD is primarily used as a pure CAD drafting platform.
By the end of the course, you will be able to independently set up and develop a complete 2D project in Vectorworks. You will be able to create accurate drawings, organize them logically, dimension them correctly, and present them professionally or export them for use in design, BIM, or spatial planning projects.
