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Pros
Full color catalogs allow for realistic presentation to clients. Ability to customize colors and textures makes it fun and clients appreciate the extra effort.
I like the pricing aspect the most. It is also important to have cabinets and aspects that can be modified to show client nice, realistic renderings.
Like the ease of creating a design, customers love to see a visual rendering of what they are buying before committing.
It's easy to use and the end reports look great. I love the cloud imports for adding character and the ability to import our own textures, countertop, flooring and artwork.
Cons
3D rendering for clients to show their kitchen and being able to price it, otherwise I hate being forced to use it. We hate the cloud browser.
Still struggling with color pictures for presentations.
2020Live was in part designed to enforce payment or they cut you off.
The most frustrating software I use for work. I unfortunately have to use this almost daily for designing cabinetry, and ordering.
Showing Most Helpful
Showing 25 of 331 reviews
"Good improvement"
Overall: Easy as always and keeps improving eacjmh time.
Pros: Same format as old design software. No keys make it easier.
Cons: Prefer old colors actually... didnt hate physical keys.
"Artisan Renovations review of 2020 Spaces"
Overall: Been using 2020 Spaces for a month now and although still in a learning curve, very satisfied with the program.
Pros: It is much easier to use than other such programs we have used or tested. It easily allows input of various cabinetry and appliances, and access to manufacturer catalogs for accurate designs. We have found it is the same software used by our cabinet vendors which allows for easy interfacing with their ordering systems. As a contractor it also allows for full home design and room layouts too. We highly recommend 2020 Spaces for all your renovation needs.
Cons: Still learning the system, but making adjustments to designs can be a little frustrating, and time consuming. We have found it easier to delete areas of the design and re-input.
"2020 Design Live survey"
Overall: The program is excellent! I become more and more efficient with it again as I use it.
Pros: I was familiar with 2020 from use in the past. 2020 Design Live is even easier to use than I remember.
Cons: Setting up cost and sell pricing is a little tricky. Or, it's possible I haven't seen the best tutorial on it yet.
"Disappointed with price."
Overall: Service was fast, but overall the were not able to resolve my issue without me paying more.
Pros: I used to like the availability of manufacturer catalogs at a reasonable price.
Cons: To access catalogs from cabinet manufacturers, you now have to upgrade. The use of manufacturer catalogs was the main reason I use 2020. Now it is price prohibitive.
"Good new features added."
Overall: I have used the 2020 software for many years and with the addition of the cloud catalogs and sketchup object import we are able to expand what we can do.
Pros: The software is supported by a wide selection of manufacturer supported catalogs which makes ensuring the proper fit, finish, and textures for the renderings.
Cons: It has significant resource and hardware requirements, so you have to pay attention to get the proper computers.
"Still a work in progress..."
Overall: None of our designers have upgraded to the latest version V14.2 because of reports of the instability/ crashing or lack of control over cloud based items. We are all running either V13.6 or V13.8. I would love to take advantage of the newer features, but not at the expense of losing other features. I definitely do not feel they have improved by 25-30% to be worth the accumulative price increase. I have been using this sinve V4.X or earlier.
Pros: The ability to design and price projects with the actual manufacturer catalogs. The ability to create accurate visuals for both the designer and client to enhance the process and understanding of what they are receiving.
Cons: Problems with the cloud and cloud base products. The inability to edit size and color and textures of cloud base decorative items. For many of our designers, the system will crash and/or revert setting preferences requiring having to recreate multiple times. Many of the designers have not had optimal quality with the EZ render engine, or it crashes.
"Pleased with the program"
Overall: I am very new to Design Flex. I love tat they provide free online training as well as in person training.
Pros: being able to covert my design straight to order
Cons: How complex the program is and I feel like they should provide free in person training.
"Realistic 3D Designs"
Overall: I like that the interface is similar to other design software (CAD, ChiefArchitect) so it was easier to learn how to use.
Pros: I have been using 2020 since 2019 and I really like how the renderings are looking more realistic.
Cons: I do not like how the new cloud library works. I think the previous version was a lot easier to navigate, especially when looking for specific products.
"Want to purchase 2020 design live"
Overall: Working with 2020 more than 12 years It's goods for the bigger
Pros: Easy to design Very good rendering Easy to explain the design
Cons: Good Easy Attractive Very simple Rendering is good
"2020 Design Live Review"
Pros: I really like the ease of use and rendering qualities.
Cons: We really haven't experienced anything negative at this point.
"nice program"
Overall: I was working the last 3 years in this program and is easy to get the basic but if you want something more standup you have to see a lot of tutorial or pay for training and is no the money is the time
Pros: I like that is easy to use on the basic design, you don't need to know much about program or kitchen to do a design in half an hour, for a basic presentation an estimate if you have the catalogs already installed. take time to do something more detailing but also easy to work just more time. love the countertop option, and most of the time use the SAMPLE-F base catalogs because I can change sizzes easily if I need it and color, and finished.
Cons: I hate that I cannot have the catalogs that I have it before, as the furniture, appliances, the cabinets companies, before was easy to get but now some doesn't works and I need it, but your team doesn't care much, the help is not much when you have question and I don't have time to see videos to research how to do something that I already have it on my setup.
"Exceptional"
Overall: This is a tried and true software that is necessary in this line of work. I learned the software fairly quickly and have been self taught since I began 15 years ago and very rarely need to call on assistance as it is that easy to use
Pros: It gives me everything I need to give my clients a true view of their prospective project
Cons: It is quite expensive as compared to other brands
"I love 2020 Design Live"
Overall: I really like the software and enjoy the creativity level the software gives us in a way which can be displayed to our customers.
Pros: I like how intuitive the software is and the ability to freely design and layout things in a manner that my customer can understand what I'm designing.
Cons: The price would be my biggest complaint, but apart from that, I hate that if I have a large project I either have to create new drawings for other rooms on the same project. I would love to have room tabs at the bottom of the software that would allow us to design in a new space but in the same file. I also am irritated how a construction line is so easily selected. If I have a construction line near what I'm trying to grab, it always picks the line even when your mouse is hubberd over something else our trying to pick if the line if close.
"it is not bad"
Overall: this is not bad but it is easy to improve it.
Pros: it is easy to set up and use. uploading catalog.
Cons: there is not enough training video. it is expensive.
"Satisfied with room for improvement "
Overall: Overall I happy with it but would like to see small improvements.
Pros: The graphics quality is improving which is my number 1 Pro.
Cons: The search feature for the cloud items is so much harder than previous versions, not very user friendly. You have to scroll through hundreds of items to find what you are looking for now. The search bar keeps erasing what you type which is hard to navigate.
"2020 almost perfect"
Overall: Very Good - but for the price, it should be flawless.
Pros: Fairly easy to use and 3 D views are very good [except for the whites which almost seem like a soft gray]. Most features are very usefulIntegration of the cloud is good but not perfect...and almost all products are available there.
Cons: Lighting features can get cumbersome.Cannot do rounded walls.Whites appear light gray in viewsCannot change attributes for many items in the cloud, and some items disappear from the cloud like not being able to find pot fillers any more. Cannot change any attributes for enkeboll products [like finishes]...
"My favorite design tool"
Overall: 2020 Design Live allows me to get the creative juices flowing. I love being able to upload my own materials and really make it come to life!
Pros: I love the ease of use of 2020 Design Live. It is user friendly and I have been able to pick up when I didn't use 2020 for a couple of years as tho I used it yesterday!
Cons: I haven't found anything I dislike about the program!
"Essential for cabinet sales projects!"
Overall: As a cabinet designer since 2005 this is the only software i have used that allows me to do it all from design and project presentation to detailed quote generation for estimates I can easily pass right along to clients . I literally use the software 5-6 hours a day.
Pros: Full integration with cabinet suppliers. Full color catalogs allow for realistic presentation to clients. Ability to customize colors and textures makes it fun and clients appreciate the extra effort. Lighting features are amazing and life like. Tutorials make learning new tricks a breeze. I also love being able to log into the live account from anywhere.
Cons: Nothing. I do wish there was a quick version of the software i could install on my travel laptop that holds less memory so i could access in more places.
"Not perfect but definitely a necessity when selling cabinets."
Overall: Overall, working in 2020 Design Live is great once you have a decent understanding of the limitations within the program.
Pros: I like the pricing aspect the most. It is also important to have cabinets and aspects that can be modified to show client nice, realistic renderings.
Cons: I do like when cabinets, countertops, or lighting are not able to be modified to make the design more realistic.
"Overall experience "
Pros: Easy to use of the program and gives good results.
Cons: Rendering could look better then right now. If you can improve that, it’ll be very good.
"Great Product"
Overall: Very good, easy to use & clients love the 3d designs.
Pros: Love the ease of installing cabinet catalogs, the ease of use and the service it provides.
Cons: Haven't found anything yet that I do not like.
"2020 Desgin"
Overall: It's fine for now until I learn more and watch more videos
Pros: Nice reports, easy Cabinet design, easy cabinet selection.
Cons: I need to find out how to use it more and have learned there are videos to watch which will help.
Vendor Response
"2020 Subscription Price DOUBLES IN ONE YEAR"
Overall: I would not trust this company. They promised my paid license would migrate to design live with the same cost as support, paid for support for over 20 years, 3 short years later my per license fee went from $640 to $740 to $739 to $1895 per user. I would not trust them. they have a lock on the industry but are a very non- reputable firm. I would not be surprised if there are many users who were cheated by 2020.
Pros: Easy to move over as we have over 20 years with them.
Cons: Glitchy, expensive, fairly long wait for support
"2020 review"
Overall: love it. easy to use for the most part
Pros: designing layouts easy drag and drop
Cons: the complication of finding products that will works and the catalogue updates
"Easy to use"
Overall: I enjoy the whole designing process and simplicity of the program.
Pros: I like the renderings process and the ease of customizing the tool bar
Cons: Sometimes it over powers the computer but that is an issue on my end not 2020s