Design Studies “Show Off” Project Tutorial by Katrina Black A tutorial on how to create a ‘modern desk’ in Google SketchUp

What are we going to make? We’re going to make a modern desk in Google SketchUp. The desk will consist of drawers, cool shelves. Through this tutorial you will learn how to use different tools that SketchUp offers, and how to add colour to your creation.

About Google sketchup SketchUp is a powerful program by Google for 3D modelling, it can be used to create many, many things. From architectural and interior design, to designing things for engineering. It is certainly not a program limited to only professional architects or engineers, but it is also a program that even teenage students in school are learning how to use. So don’t worry if you’re afraid that SketchUp might be too difficult, because it’s not. By the end of this tutorial, you’ll be familiar with a lot of the tools.

Making the base Start by selecting the Rectangle tool to draw the starting shape of your desk. 2. Instead of trying to get the perfect measurement for your desk by pulling until you get it, you can type in the length and width you want and press enter to receive accurate dimensions. 3. This is what your base should look like.

raising the base 5. I’ve decided to use 29” for my dimensions. 4. To raise the base, select the push/pull tool and hover your mouse over the top of the base. 6. This is what your desk should look like now. 5. I’ve decided to use 29” for my dimensions. (this is usually how tall desks are in real life)

Making the legs on the left Since I’m going for a modern and unique look for my desk, I’m going to make ‘bent’ legs on the left side. 8. Use the arc tool to draw the legs. 9. Use the push/pull tool and drag the arc you just drew. 7. To create the legs, I will first make a rectangular base for where the legs will sit. I’m making mine 2” wide

Adding drawers Now we’re going to add drawers to our desk! This step is going to require the rectangle tool a lot. 10. Let’s make the width of our drawers by simply using the rectangle tool and drawing it onto the face of the desk. My width of my drawers are 11” 11. You can add however many drawers you want, at whatever size. It’s all up to you! I’ve decided to go with one 11” by 11” drawers, and two 11” by 9” drawers.

Making a right leg We’re going to make the last leg on the right side to ensure stability for our desk. 13. This is the best step in the tutorial because we’re going to delete all the side we don’t need- which is everything but the top and what we added on. 12. On the right side, find the middle point and make a rectangle that’s 1” on the left and another 1” on the right. Our right leg is now 2” wide.

Pushing and pulling Currently our desk is kind of flat, so let’s do some stretching! These steps will require the push/pull tool. **Note: This will create some holes that we will have to fill in later 14. First, make the desk top 1”. 15. Extend the drawers.

Adding repairs/Deleting lines After pulling and pushing, a lot of holes were added, so let’s fix those. This step is a bit tricky, since we’re going to be deleting unwanted lines as well. This will require both rectangle and push/pull tool. 16. Re-draw the drawers except the top, and SketchUp will auto fill the middle. 17. Draw the 1 inch top of the desk on the left side and use the push/pull tool to pull it to the left end of the desk. Then re-draw the top drawer.

The right leg Fixing the table leg on the right will be really tricky, and will require you to re-draw a lot of lines. 18. Use the push/pull tool to pull the right leg. I’ve decided to make mine 2”, so the leg’s base is square. Now your fixed desk should look like this.

Adding detail Right now, our desk looks really plain, so let’s add some detail to make it more realistic and appealing to the eye! This step might be tricky too. In the next few steps, I’m going to be adding knobs to the drawers. I’ve decided to go with rectangular knobs, but you can choose any kind you want. However, if you’re using circular knobs, the next couple steps, until 22, are not necessary for you. 19. Draw your knob with the dimensions you want. It does not matter where you draw your knob right now. I’ve decided to draw mine 5” by ½”.

Drawing knobs 21. Now it’s time to group your lines together. To do this, you must select one of the lines of the rectangle you just created, once you’ve done that, hold down shift, and click the next three lines. When they’re all highlighted blue, right click and choose “make group”. Now a duplicate of the rectangular will be made, but instead of 4 individual lines, it’s all connected as one. This will make it easier to move. *The circle knob users can refer to this part of the tutorial now. 22. Select the move tool. 23. You can now move your knob to where you want it. To make sure your knob is placed straight, find the midpoint (purple dot) and click. Then find the center point of the top line of top. (blue point) and type in your measurement of how far down you want to place your knob. I’ve placed mine 2” down.

Pulling the knobs Now let’s start pulling out the knobs for the 3D effect! 24. You will have to use the rectangular tool to redraw the knobs to be able to use the push/pull tool on it. Once you’ve done that you’re all set to go. Type in the dimensions you want! I’ve decided to use ½” for mine.

Making shelves Remember the very first thing you made? The bent left leg? Well, now we’re going to make shelves on the leg. 25. Select the front face of the left leg and delete it. 26. With the pencil tool, stretch the line for the start of the second drawer to the left leg, and draw it all the way across the left leg. Continue to add the amount of shelves you want until you’re satisfied.

Adding colour Now that your desk is done, let’s add some colour to it! 27. To add colour to your desk, select the paint bucket tool. You’ll see a window with a bunch of folders that contain different colours, so choose and see what you like and apply it to your desk! This is what my finished and coloured desk looks like. 