
The DWG file became the empty canvas from which world-changing ideas have sprung. As computers began transforming the design industry, Autodesk licensed the DWG file type for its first iteration of AutoCAD in 1982.Īs hardware became more powerful, so did designers’ and architects’ imagination. dwg filename extension was created in the late 1970s as the native file format for the Interact CAD package. The files are readable on many programs - including those in Adobe Creative Cloud, like Illustrator. The level of detail achievable is important for helping architects and engineers visualise their designs. This “open but proprietary” format serves as the building block for new projects across different industries - mainly digital engineering.

There are several other file types associated with DWG, including: Typically, drafters, architects and engineers use DWG files to develop design sketches.

Originally named as an abbreviation for the word drawing, it’s a file that contains two and three-dimensional vector graphics. DWG files are closely associated with CAD (computer-aided design) programmes.
