Before diving right into a project I like to come up with a general vision of the end product and an idea of what I'm going to need to do in order to reach that vision. It's easier to recognize problems before they even creep up if you know how each stage of a project is supposed to turn out. For most projects it's possible to keep that vision in my head while I work, for some I have to draw it out on paper. Some projects however, require a bit more work before I can visualize the end result.

For example, I'm working on a lamp that could take on a variety of shapes and configurations. I know that it will use glass insulators and antique light bulbs, perhaps suspended by wire, perhaps supported by brass stems. Since I'm limited to the materials at hand I need to decide on a final configuration for the lamp before I start working.

Luckily computers provide the perfect virtual workshop free from the fear of making mistakes and wasting materials. Using tools like Google's SketchUp and Autodesk's Maya, I can quickly create virtual models of my projects. I can examine size, material choices, lighting, and even how a user will interact with the project before a single hole is drilled.