Democratising Computational Design via Cloud Based Applications
Shapediver
In this interview, the team at ShapeDiver explains how their platform allows Rhino Grasshopper models to be deployed to the web as interactive, cloud-based applications. This enables stakeholders across design, manufacturing, and sales to access and interact with parametric models without writing code or managing backend infrastructure.
We discuss the practical advantages of building web apps entirely within the Grasshopper environment, challenges around UI, performance, and security, and how ShapeDiver is used in workflows ranging from surgical planning to orthotics to custom footwear.
If you’re working on configurable products, digital fabrication workflows, or collaborative planning tools—meet the ShapeDiver team in person at CDFAM Amsterdam to explore how their platform might support your application.
Can you give us an overview of ShapeDiver and its role in web-based computational design?
ShapeDiver is a platform that brings computational design workflows right to the web! It empowers designers, architects, and engineers to easily upload their parametric models to the cloud, where they can interact with them through customizable web applications, no need to worry about writing complex backend infrastructure.
At its heart, ShapeDiver makes the power of computational design accessible to everyone involved, whether they’re in sales, manufacturing, marketing, or even clients.
The platform plays a crucial role in connecting computational design algorithms with web interfaces, offering scalable and engaging tools that can be embedded just about anywhere, from internal platforms to public configurators. With ShapeDiver, you can seamlessly transform a Grasshopper model into a fully functional web service that fits perfectly into a larger product or workflow!
Your presentation explores building web applications using only Grasshopper. What are the key advantages of this approach?
Grasshopper is a software that is already integrated within the workflow of thousands of professionals. Therefore, focusing on this software to democratize computational design gives us the following advantages:
- Lower Barrier to Entry:
Designers, Architects, and Engineers can comfortably stay within the Grasshopper ecosystem they know without having to learn full-stack development. This minimizes the learning curve and accelerates development, empowering computational designers to become application creators.
- Rapid Iteration and Deployment
Updating the algorithm and UI logic doesn’t require rewriting code. You can change geometry, constraints, or logic in Grasshopper and push those changes live with minimal friction.
- Rhino Geometry Kernel
While emerging browser-native tools exist, they often lack the precision and robustness of the Rhino geometry engine. They’re great for simple forms or low-poly workflows, but struggle with complex algorithms. Additionally, the Grasshopper ecosystem offers an incredible range of third-party plugins, from structural analysis to environmental simulation to manufacturing exports. These plugins are also constantly expanding as they are heavily supported by a loyal, growing community.
What are some challenges in transitioning Grasshopper models to fully functional web applications, and how does ShapeDiver address them?
Running Grasshopper on the cloud is not a straightforward task. From server management and security to creating a user-friendly interface, many challenges need to be overcome:
- UI, UX, and Interactivity
In Grasshopper, the focus is on the algorithm without consideration for user interaction. A complex algorithm can lead to an overwhelming number of inputs and outputs. When transitioning Grasshopper models to the web, a user interface is needed that recognizes context and audience, presenting results intuitively.
ShapeDiver addresses this by offering components in Grasshopper where designers can organize the user interface, control what users see at each step, and display graphs and tables. Designers can also enable interactions with 3D geometry in the web viewer, enhancing the intuitive experience.
- Performance & Computation Time
Complex algorithms often run slowly, which web users typically find unacceptable; they prefer instant responses. ShapeDiver addresses this issue by providing performance diagnostics for models, caching mechanisms, and resource allocation options to enhance scalability.
- Security & IP Protection
Exposing proprietary algorithms on the web poses risks. ShapeDiver offers server-side sandboxing, obfuscation, and access controls to mitigate this. Additionally, our platform has built-in features that give full control over who can access the models and at what level.
- Integration with Other Systems
Web apps need to talk to CRMs, ERP systems, and frontend frameworks. ShapeDiver provides APIs and export mechanisms that make integration feasible without heavy development.
Can you share an example where ShapeDiver has been used to streamline design or manufacturing workflows?
During CDFAM, two of our clients will be showcasing how they use ShapeDiver to streamline design and manufacturing workflows:
- CustoMED:
CustoMED uses Grasshopper to calculate the complex, personalized geometries for the patient specific instruments (PSI) based on the patient’s anatomy and the surgical plan determined through an interactive platform. ShapeDiver powers the online interface, displaying the interactive anatomy model, accepting inputs from the surgeon during the planning phase, and sending these parameters to the Grasshopper definition running on ShapeDiver’s cloud to generate the final 3D printable PSI geometry data as an output, thereby connecting the front-end planning interface to the back-end geometric calculation and ultimately, manufacturing preparation.
- Orthobroker:
Orthobroker uses ShapeDiver to power its online platform, OrthoSolid. This platform facilitates the creation of personalized orthoses and prosthetics, which are then manufactured using advanced 3D printing technology. It simplifies the process by starting with the upload of a patient scan. The software assists users in marking anatomical reference points, optimizing the fit, incorporating accessories, and customizing the design. Ultimately, the platform manages the order and initiates the 3D printing production process. This results in a workflow that allows for easy measurements through scanning and rapid production using 3D technology, resulting in entirely custom-made products.
Additionally, here is another excellent example in the footwear industry:
- Vivobarefoot:
ShapeDiver is used by Vivobarefoot to streamline their “scan to print workflow”, ensuring an unfragmented process from capturing foot scan data to manufacturing a custom product. The platform allows Vivobarefoot to easily publish Grasshopper models that can process this scanned data and handle the complex double-curved geometry of footwear. By integrating scanner feeds and printing processes via its API capabilities, ShapeDiver helps eliminate bottlenecks and facilitates the creation of fully custom items directly from individual foot scans.
How do you see the role of web-based computational design evolving in AEC, product design, and beyond?
Web-based computational design is becoming a connective layer that enables collaboration across tools, platforms, and users.
The future isn’t about replacing desktop software; it’s about making data fluid, allowing it to move between web tools, desktop environments, and AI agents so each stakeholder can work in the system they know best.
At ShapeDiver, we embrace this vision through integrations like Speckle, which allow our models to exchange data with the broader AEC and product design ecosystem. We’ve also introduced an AI agent that interacts with configurators directly, removing the need for complex UIs and making parametric design more intuitive and conversational.
What do you hope attendees take away from your presentation at CDFAM?
I hope attendees leave with the realization that computational design doesn’t have to be limited to experts or specialized tools.
By leveraging cloud-based platforms like ShapeDiver, we can turn parametric models into accessible, interactive applications; tools that anyone can use, whether it’s a client customizing a product, a sales team generating quotes, or a machine preparing for fabrication.
More importantly, I want to highlight that democratizing computational design doesn’t mean dumbing it down; it means building bridges between complexity and usability. Web-based computational design is about expanding the reach of our algorithms, embedding them into collaborative, automated, and scalable workflows, making design accessible to everyone!
Register to attend CDFAM Amsterdam, July 9–10, 2025, to connect with the ShapeDiver team and others working at the intersection of computational design, engineering, and advanced manufacturing.
Whether you’re building web-based tools, exploring design automation, or scaling production workflows, CDFAM is an opportunity to see how these technologies are being applied across industries—and to find collaborators who can help move your work forward.
