With the advent of hyper-advancement of computer technology came Computer-Aided Design (CAD). CAD is basically a professional aide in designing that was first offered to engineers and architects. Its popularity and reputation were soon recognized by other technical people in the field of design and construction and even mere design aficionados with little or no amount of formal professional training.

CAD mostly involves the CAD software and some specialty hardware. Among the capabilities of CAD are wire-frame geometry creation; three-dimensional parametric feature-based modeling; solid modeling; freeform-surface modeling; automated design of assemblies (which are collections of parts and/or other assemblies); creation of engineering drawings from solid models; electrical-component packaging; inclusion of programming code in a model to control and relate desired attributes of the model; programmable design studies and optimization; sophisticated visual-analysis routines, for draft, curvature, curvature continuity and many others.

CAD made the look of modern buildings possible. Most architectural firms can