Technology and education are increasingly intertwined, creating enhanced learning experiences for students and teachers alike. Take the International School of Architecture at Anáhuac University in Cancún, for example – the students there use apps, iPad, Apple Pencil and augmented reality (AR) as part of their coursework.

Besides unlocking creative potential, the integration of these tools has made a degree in architecture more accessible – difficulty trying to master straight strokes, for example, is no longer a showstopper for success; and by reducing the amount of paper used for the course, it’s also helping to keep things green in the classroom.

To learn more about how these architecture students are combining hardware, software and creativity to tackle challenges and develop skills, tap the link below.

We asked some of these students to tell us about their go-to apps for expanding their professional skills and participating in university and community initiatives.

“SketchBook helps you visualise projects, from their conception to every detail expressed through a sketch. It speeds up drawing processes and has simple-yet-predictive tools that make the app easy to use. Freehand drawings help to communicate an idea or a design concept, and it’s helped me make functional diagrams or quick conceptualisations and play with the shapes to decide my final design.”
– Diana Benítez Borja

“Morpholio Trace is one of the apps I’ve used the most because of its ability to support graphic representation and the creative process of a project. I’ve created diagrams, conceptual schemes, volumetric exercises and perspectives. Thanks to its capabilities – such as determining scales and rules, or its different pencils and templates – and compatibility with multiple programs and formats, it comes in very handy.”
– André Calderón

“The DWG FastView app is the best CAD viewer. I can see my files instantly on my iPad, and it’s compatible with DWG and DXF file formats, whether in 2D or 3D. It doesn’t need an internet connection, and as its name says, it really is fast to view. Carrying physical site plans is a bit complicated, but this app lets us keep tabs of everything, save time and space, and take basic measurements such as areas and linear dimensions.”
– Ruth Ancona

“This app has been really useful in generating 3D models of projects in their conceptual phases; you can determine volumes and develop a spatial understanding, which is indispensable when it comes to architecture. FormIt enables you to move around the entire model and in addition to the different creation tools, it gives you different options to present a model, including video.”
– Adhair Carvajal

“This is a great app to unleash creativity, and from an architectural perspective, the final result can be as personalised as possible. Procreate is the tool I use to transform architectural site plans and views and give them a more artistic and aesthetic style. Throughout my career I have developed my own style of representation, and the app’s settings make it so much easier.”
– Cristina Palacios

“With Voxel Max I’ve managed to improve the way I explain an architectural project. With all the available tools, measuring volumes is so simple that it takes very little time. The volume presentation improves even more with the shadow, tracking and photography options that take the project to the next level, and you can capture amazing perspectives to represent your proposal with greater ease and quality.”
– Jean David Carter

Discover the full collection of apps used at the International School of Architecture at Anáhuac University.