2024-11-14T12:00:23-05:00 https://archinect.com/news/article/85307936/instantly-see-your-designs-in-the-world-with-context Amelia Taylor-Hochberg 2013-10-29T19:00:00-04:00 >2013-11-23T01:20:30-05:00 <img src="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/jk/jk8cuy3jyre1527z.jpg?fit=crop&auto=compress%2Cformat&enlarge=true&w=1200" border="0" /><em><p>At its core, Context encourages hyper-efficient iteration by allowing designers to see their work three-dimensionally as they&rsquo;re in the creation process. The goal is to radically reduce the time and effort it takes to realize a fully-developed design, which in turn will let designers spend more time on brainstorming great ideas and less time on the mechanics of bringing them to life.</p></em><br /><br /><p> <a href="http://www.livesurface.com/context.php" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Context</a>, an app for Mac from former Apple and IDEO designer <a href="http://www.joshuadistler.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Joshua Distler</a>, allows anyone to apply their designs to a real-world setting in a simple, reactive way. The app works in sync with Adobe Illustrator to essentially map a design (for a book cover, bottle label, cake decoration, etc.) onto its complementary surface, realizing the design instantly, virtually. Without resorting to cumbersome (and expensive) physical prototypes, or adapting designs into Photoshop environments, anyone can easily visualize their project in each stage of the iterative tweaking process.</p>