The expression refers to readily available digital files containing representations of human figures, designed for use within Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software. These files, often in formats like DWG or DXF, offer pre-drawn human forms that can be inserted into architectural or engineering plans. As an example, an architect might incorporate these representations into a building design to illustrate scale and spatial relationships.
Utilizing these digital assets streamlines the design process by eliminating the need to manually create human figures repeatedly. This efficiency contributes to significant time savings and improved productivity for designers and engineers. The availability of these resources fosters a better understanding of how humans interact with and occupy designed spaces. Historically, designers relied on hand-drawn figures or creating them from scratch in CAD, a time-intensive procedure circumvented by these pre-made components.