Alex Casabo is an industrial design engineer from Barcelona. From a young age, Alex always wanted to be an inventor of some sort. This prompted him to take up industrial design engineering at Elisava, Barcelona School of Design and Engineering. Since graduating, Alex works as a freelance designer who specializes in multiple design principles, including industrial, graphic, interior, and footwear design, to name a few. He also works as a teacher at Elisava. While he has dabbled with Rhinoceros and Creo in the past, the COVID-19 pandemic has also allowed him to brush up on Blender and Cinema 4D. His primary design software of choice is SolidWorks. He brings it all together in KeyShot and tells us more about why it’s such an important part of his process.

Alex Casabo

Modeling software used: SolidWorks
alexcasabo.com | Behance| Instagram | Yanko Design

What sparked your interest in product design?
I was obsessed with car design way before I was even old enough to drive. When I discovered product design was a career option, I knew that was what I wanted to study. It was the best decision I ever made because now I really enjoy my job. It combines creativity and aesthetics with manufacturing and engineering, and I think that’s beautiful.

What is unique about the process or approach you take to a project?

For the last 10 years, I have been lucky to work with many clients and studios in different design disciplines: graphic design, interior design, fashion design, and of course, product design. Whenever I start a project, I take into consideration who the product is for and how it is going to be used. This helps me determine which graphics, colors, and materials I should use.

Where in the process do you use KeyShot?
I usually use KeyShot during the middle of the design process and before the final 3D model is finished. KeyShot helps me better understand the surfaces I’m working with and helps me figure out the materials, colors, and parts I’m going to feature in the final rendering.

KeyShot helps me better understand the surfaces I’m working with and helps me figure out the materials, colors, and parts I’m going to feature in the final rendering.

What projects have KeyShot been used for?
One of the recent projects I worked on is Hayche, a London furniture brand in which I used KeyShot for the marketing images and animations. I love pushing the limits of the software with my personal projects and challenges for Render Weekly or Yanko Design competitions, in which there are no boundaries to creativity.

Overall, how has KeyShot helped save time, money, and/or improved quality?

KeyShot is your best ally if you want a great quality project in a short time. Even without deadlines, there are limitless options you can explore and make the most of. I often find myself spending hours and days refining the light, materials, and compositions of my renderings.

What advice would you give to someone who is interested in doing what you do?
If you are really into product visualization, invest your time to learn and play with the software you plan on using. For me, it is very easy to lose track of time as soon as I open KeyShot. You should also be up to date on new trends, do your best with each project and check what other designers you admire are working with.

“You should be up to date on new trends, do your best with each project, and check what other designers are working on.”

See more at alexcasabo.com