Call for Papers: CAGD Special Issue on Applications of NURBS in Architectural Geometry

 

The journal Computer Aided Geometric Design (CAGD) has announced a special issue on Applications of NURBS in Architectural Geometry, marking the 50th anniversary of Non-Uniform Rational B-Splines (NURBS). This special issue celebrates the enduring impact of NURBS on architectural geometry and invites contributions that explore both their achievements and limitations. 

The editors welcome submissions that highlight successful applications, discuss current challenges, and explore emerging approaches that may strengthen spline-based design and analysis in the future.

For five decades, NURBS have played a central role in geometric modeling, enabling designers, engineers, and architects to create and fabricate increasingly complex forms with precision and flexibility. From early freeform design exploration to today's integrated design-to-fabrication workflows, NURBS continue to underpin many digital tools used across the architecture, engineering, and construction industries.

Topics of interest

• Surface modeling and rationalization
• Precision fabrication and construction
• Performance-driven and multi-objective design
• Interoperability and digital workflows
• Education and pedagogy
• State-of-the-art reviews
• Methodological advances
• Built project case studies

Guest editors

• Konstantinos Gavriil (Executive Guest Editor), SINTEF, Oslo, Norway
• Caitlin Mueller, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA
• Iman Fayyad, Harvard University, USA
• Jonathan Rabagliati, Foster + Partners, UK

Submission deadline: September 30, 2026

Submission guidelines and further details...

EUE - End User Event- Utrecht, Netherlands (June 4-5, 2026)

EUE - End User Event 

Utrecht, Netherlands 

June 4-5, 2026 

EUE (End User Event) is the non-profit event from the CG community – to the CG community. 

EUE's goal is to bring together software & hardware vendors, production houses, R&D facilities and other companies active in all aspects of CG, in a relaxed, safe environment, to better understand the needs, possibilities and limitations of our industry. And to foster and facilitate a better understanding and cooperation between the whole ecosystem of Computer Graphics. 

Among the great lineup of speakers, Eva Tucek, Designer and Jeweller, will talk about her work and why she uses the Rhino modelling software: 

"You all know how to use software. That's not the problem anymore. The problem is – what kind of thinking your tools are quietly forcing on you. Because let's face it, every tool comes with a philosophy. Some are honest about it; others are all-in-one shampoo. 

Rhino is a fine luthier's instrument – a violin, perhaps, or a classical guitar. Mathematical in its construction, not trying to do everything, but in the right hands capable of extraordinary expression. And crucially: it rewards mastery over time. 

"Rhino won't make you creative. But it will expose whether you are." – ChatGPT 

Rhino is one of the few tools where your idea can go from sketch… to object… to something you can physically hold and say: 'Yes, I made this – and yes, it fought me the entire way.' And above all, McNeel & Associates have stayed modest when most other 3D software producers have become very expensive, focusing on costly subscription-based loyalty programmes and offering few real upgrades to their platforms. Let's discuss settings, gemstone light behaviour, NURBS surfaces, render composition, and brand perception in the same afternoon. Rhino will be my weapon of choice."

Complete details and registration...

Parametric Footwear Texture by Cademy xyz

Parametric Footwear Texture

by Cademy xyz

Cademy xyz's Parametric Footwear Texture online course offers a comprehensive guide to mastering Rhino and Grasshopper to create advanced parametric textures in footwear sole design.

The course includes 14 pre-recorded lessons covering 3D scan import, NURBS modeling, and attractor textures using LunchBox.

You'll also learn to prepare designs for 3D printing and digital fabrication, enhancing your portfolio with three unique texture variations. Additional resources include Rhino, Grasshopper, KeyShot files, and 3D printable .stl files.

"In this workflow, we will create advanced parametric textures for footwear soles using Rhino 3D, apply complex attractor patterns (3 variations) with Grasshopper (LunchBox). Learn to export for 3D printing and rendering in KeyShot. This is a fantastic opportunity to deepen your knowledge of essential 3D modeling tools for footwear design and enhance your portfolio. Please register to access our recorded workflow course and download Rhino/GH exercise files."

Explore Cademy's new Parametric Footwear Texture tutorial.

Enroll today for €75 and gain access to on-demand videos, enabling you to learn at your own pace.

Details and registration...

SAVANNA3D R7 with new SubD blocks

 

The SAVANNA3D for Rhino 7 library contains over 1,600 detailed 3D architectural models in the 3DM file format, plus a few parametric Grasshopper definitions to create parametric models.

All these blocks are 100% NURBS, SubDs, or Grasshopper parametric definitions made in Rhino 7. Plus, discover the new blocks created for you; all are SubD models included in Chapter 7, which provides for cocktail glassware and lounge chairs.

Explore what's included in the SAVANNA3D R7 library by scrolling down to the curriculum section and preview how to use the blocks + get around 40 free blocks from the library by downloading Chapter 2.1 for free!

View the catalog here!

Subscribe to the SAVANNA3D R7 library to download the entire library; it's yours to keep for as long as you like. Please refer to the License Agreement. The subscription includes all 1,600+ blocks plus any new blocks added sporadically during the twelve-month subscription. 

Enjoy 20% off with coupon code: RHINO3DEDUCATION20 at checkout for a limited time!

Our newest Authorized Rhino Trainers!

Cluster Ring by Laurie Robinson

Congratulations to our newest Authorized Rhino Trainers!

Check out the final projects below with the various topics. 

• James Chadud: Modeling a Spiral Stair
• Mike Annear: Modeling from Point Clouds
• Lissa Saruhashi: Contour in Rhino and Grasshopper
• Steve Workman: History and Halos
• Jim Callans: Modeling a Skatepark Bowl
• Laurie Robinson: Cluster Ring
• John Morris, SCAD: Modeling a Computer Monitor
• Gautier Mallet: Mesh to Nurbs
• Winston Pynn: Modeling a Hull & Lines
• Ian Gordon: Worksession Project

See additional ART projects.

The ART Trainers are excited to share their Rhino expertise and help you with training or tutoring. You can see their classes and contact details.

If you want to become an ART, here are the requirements. Sign up for the next Required ART training for the North and South American regions.

Learn more about testing for Professional Rhino Certifications... 

xNURBS Rhino Plugin V6.1 Released

xNURBS announces the availability of Version 6.1. And V4/V5/V6 customers can get a free upgrade to V6.1. V6.1 includes a number of enhancements, e.g., improving surfacing quality and reducing the number of control points needed to satisfy the required precision, etc.

xNURBS also produces a tutorial video, which explains the xNURBS settings in detail and helps users to understand how to use xNURBS efficiently and correctly.

The following is a short answer to "why xNURBS".

Key Features of xNURBS:

• Unlimited capacities for solving NURBS: Its optimization algorithm can solve virtually any NURBS surface in milliseconds (regardless of the constraints' complexity).
• High-quality surfaces: For a given set of constraints, xNURBS’ optimization algorithm uses an energy-minimization method to generate the smoothest NURBS surface among all possible solutions. The generated surface quality is outstanding.
• xNURBS is one super powerful NURBS tool that fixes virtually all surfacing issues for existing CAD software.
• Easy to use: It uses one simple UI for all kinds of NURBS modeling.
• Super robust: xNURBS is rock solid and works flawlessly.
• Native CAD surfaces: xNURBS is based on NURBS, i.e., the native CAD surfaces, which can be directly used for any CAD modeling operations without geometry translation.

Download and details...

Understanding the Science of Product Design

Jr Neville Songwe, Industrial Designer Professor at SCAD, has published a book with Carmen Andrisani, titled An Industrial Design Guide Vol. 01: Understanding the Science of Product Design.

This book targets industrial design students, design professors, design practitioners, and others interested in industrial design (product design). It offers a guide or roadmap by providing: Design Templates, 7 Historic timelines, 50 Schemas, 100 Drawings, and Illustrations. Rhino (NURBS and SubD) was used to develop and illustrate all the 3D CAD concepts in the book, featured on pages 2, 7, 11, 57, 87, 101, 180, 206, and 207.

The book is available for purchase from the following links:

Amazon
Barnes and Noble

Walmart

Price: $56.99 

Questions? Contact Jr Neville Songwe at indusdesignbook@gmail.com.

Rhino3D.Education offers online courses in Rhino, Grasshopper, Computational Design, GhPython, PanelingTools, RhinoCAM, V-Ray, and more. Check it out!

New Rhino book: "Modelação Clássica e por Subdivisão em Rhinoceros 7"

João Monteiro has published a new book (in Portuguese): Modelação Clássica e por Subdivisão em Rhinoceros 7.

809 pages with the basics, classic NURBS modeling, and a second part dedicated to the new SubD tools.

While the book focuses on 3D modeling of objects, it also includes an introduction on obtaining photorealistic images from them using the available tools in Rhinoceros, as well as importing and modifying models created in other CAD programs. Most of the proposed exercises are based on reference images, on which the models are built, being available to download through a link presented in the text. The book was written based on the Windows version of Rhinoceros, but Mac users can also use it.

Buy now the online version on Amazon...

xNURBS Rhino plugin API Package (C, RhinoCommon, Rhinoscript and Grasshopper)

xNURBS announces the availability of API Package. Users can now run xNURBS inside the code they develop or run xNURBS without showing the xNURBS UI. The API package includes the C/C++ APIs and the .NET APIs (i.e., RhinoCommon, Rhino.Python, Rhinoscript, and Grasshopper). The APIs are a subset of the fully-fledged APIs from XN Kernel.

The API package is freely available to customers with a xNURBS Rhino plugin license key.

Key features of xNURBS:

• Unlimited capacities for solving NURBS: Its optimization algorithm can solve virtually any NURBS surface in a matter of milliseconds (regardless of how complex the constraints are).
• High-quality surfaces: For a given set of constraints, xNURBS’ optimization algorithm uses an energy-minimization method to generate the smoothest NURBS surface among all possible solutions. The generated surface quality is outstanding.
• xNURBS is one super powerful NURBS tool that fixes virtually all surfacing issues for existing CAD software.
• Easy-to-use: It uses one straightforward UI for all kinds of NURBS modeling.
• Super robust: xNURBS is rock solid and works flawlessly.
• Native CAD surfaces: xNURBS is based on NURBS, i.e., the native CAD surfaces, which can be directly used for any CAD modeling operations without any geometry translation.

Details and download...