It makes more sense if you’ve ever drawn in CAD. Top view, x and y. Now side view, y and z or y and x. You look down on x and y, and if you are extruding you now create the z axis dimensions. For the people who draft on the side axis: you are true psychos (ok, unless you’re using a lathe I suppose, or if the silhouette is more defined from the side… ok maybe not psycho, just odd)
I do use CAD software but always have my items resting on an x/y plane with z being height. I do some 3d printing and basic cad designs, so z being elevation still makes sense there.
It makes more sense if you’ve ever drawn in CAD. Top view, x and y. Now side view, y and z or y and x. You look down on x and y, and if you are extruding you now create the z axis dimensions. For the people who draft on the side axis: you are true psychos (ok, unless you’re using a lathe I suppose, or if the silhouette is more defined from the side… ok maybe not psycho, just odd)
I do use CAD software but always have my items resting on an x/y plane with z being height. I do some 3d printing and basic cad designs, so z being elevation still makes sense there.
User look sideways at item on shelf. Designers look down on paper. Both viewpoints are needed for it to be a good object.
Architects do both because they have all that math and something serious to prove.