What makes cloud-native CAD truly powerful? At PTC on the Onshape team, we’ve found that it’s not just about the technology – it’s about the engineers and designers who use it to solve real-world challenges.
This insight led us to create the Onshape Advocacy Program, where experienced users share their expertise to help drive the future of engineering design.
A Community That Shapes the Future
We have found over half of our users are willing to sit in a room with a prospect to act as a reference and recommend Onshape. Three-quarters of our advocates are eager to influence the product and are actively looking to participate in research that will influence our internal stakeholders.
As the Onshape team has discovered, our community doesn’t just use our platform – they champion it. Our users, ranging from aerospace engineers to product designers, consistently demonstrate how a cloud-native CAD and PDM system transforms their workflow.
Success Stories from the Field
A smattering of CAD models from advocates showcasing the incredible potential of Onshape.
Mechanical Engineer Jonathan Bruns demonstrates practical innovation through his custom aluminum truck camper project. Each case shows how Onshape adapts to different engineering challenges.
In the maker space world, Instructor of Advanced Technology Erik Johnson is implementing online CAD to enhance engineering programs, showing how cloud-based tools can transform technical education. Meanwhile, Dan Tisza and Matt Birkel’s BattleBot highlights Onshape's capabilities in complex mechanical design and collaboration.
WATCH: Behind the Scenes of Propeller Engineering with Autin Holbrook
Real Benefits in Daily Work
The impact of Onshape on daily engineering work comes through clearly in user feedback. Senior Design Engineer Micah Reyes points to tangible time savings:
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“Saving the hours of work lost due to unsaved program crashes and seamlessly rolling back to historical old designs whenever I want has saved days of time and energy. This alone has probably paid for one year of Onshape subscription.” – Micah Reyes, Senior Design Engineer at Bedjet |
For field work, the advantages are equally clear.
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“It's been great for being on-site at customers/clients’ facilities. All I need is Wi-Fi, and I can have my Onshape design pulled up in seconds.” – Nick Elrod, Designer at Harcourt Industrial, Inc. |
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Already, Caden Armstrong, an active champion, is adding valuable insights to the Onshape LinkedIn User Group and has previously contributed to the Innovation Blog about using FeatureScript, Onshape’s programming language.
Professional Growth Through the Onshape Advocacy Program
The program offers several paths for professional development:
1. Speaking Opportunities
Advocates gain visibility by presenting at industry events, boosting personal branding and credibility as thought leaders.
2. Content Creation
Blogs, case studies, and social posts provide advocates and their companies with exposure and recognition while continuing the important conversation driving innovation.
3. Product Development Input
Advocates play a role in shaping product direction, giving feedback that helps Onshape's capabilities better meet their needs. Participate in user research and customer feedback surveys targeted toward Onshape product marketing and R&D teams.
4. Professional Networking
The program connects advocates with a diverse professional network, opening doors for partnerships, mentorships, and future opportunities. Build your local community by starting a regional user group of Onshape users.
Where Innovation Meets Community
The magic happens in unexpected ways. Brian Chan discovered that Onshape’s approach to assemblies isn’t just different – it's liberating, making complex designs feel intuitive.
“Assemblies in Onshape follow the logic of Part Studios, making them easy to learn intuitively. They run very fast even for quite complex assemblies, so I am not afraid to create a CAD model that is more accurate and complete.”
– Brian Chan, Designer at Brian Chan Designs
The Engineering Revolution Needs You
This isn’t your typical call for community participation. We’re looking for the engineers, designers, and innovators who see Onshape not just as a tool, but as a gateway to possibilities. Whether you’re designing the next breakthrough in aerospace or revolutionizing consumer products, your experience could be the spark that ignites another engineer’s breakthrough.
Ready to join the revolution? Share your story through our advocacy survey. Bring your professional profile, your Onshape wins, your standout designs, and, most importantly, your vision for what engineering can become.
Then, get involved immediately by joining our LinkedIn User Group and referring a friend to the Referral Program to spread the word about Onshape’s unmatched potential in product development.
Because in the Onshape Advocacy Program, you’re not just sharing success stories – you're writing the next chapter in engineering innovation.
Friends Don’t Let Friends Use Old CAD!
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