Techniques incorporated into design software for generating sustainability insights

1 . A computer-implemented method, comprising:

determining a value of a sustainability metric associated with a design of an object, wherein the design of the object comprises a three-dimensional (3D) model of the object generated using a computer-aided design application during a design phase;

determining a target value for the sustainability metric;

determining an amount of progress made towards achieving the target value for the sustainability metric based on the value of the sustainability metric and the target value for the sustainability metric; and

displaying, via a graphical user interface (GUI), a visual indication of the amount of progress made towards achieving the target value for the sustainability metric, wherein the visual indication is included in a widget that is displayed, via the GUI, within a periphery of a computer aided design workspace, wherein displaying the visual indication includes:

in response to determining that the value of the sustainability metric is improving relative to the target value, increasing a visual size of the visual indication in a first direction comprising increasing a shaded portion within a circular graph bar in the first direction; and

in response to determining that the value of the sustainability metric is worsening relative to the target value, increasing the visual size of the visual indication in a second direction comprising increasing the shaded portion within the circular graph bar in the second direction, wherein the second direction is different than the first direction; and

in response to determining that the amount of progress satisfies a predetermined target progress amount, displaying a visual indicator within the circular graph bar.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

in response to determining that the value of the sustainability metric is improving relative to the target value, displaying, via the GUI, the visual indication of the amount of progress made towards achieving the target value for the sustainability metric with a first type of visual effect; and

in response to determining that the value of the sustainability metric is worsening relative to the target value, displaying, via the GUI, the visual indication of the amount of progress made towards achieving the target value for the sustainability metric with a second type of visual effect, wherein the second type of visual effect is different than the first type of visual effect.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the target value for the sustainability metric is a percentage change in the sustainability metric relative to a benchmark value.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining an amount by which a component included in the design of the object contributes to the amount of progress made towards achieving the target value for the sustainability metric; and

displaying, via the GUI, a visual indication of the amount by which the component included in the design of the object contributes to the amount of progress made towards achieving the target value for the sustainability metric.

5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising, in response to detecting a user interaction with the visual indication of the amount of progress made towards achieving the target value for the sustainability metric, displaying, via the GUI, a pop-up that includes information associated with the sustainability metric.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the information associated with the sustainability metric includes at least one of a timeline of changes in the value of the sustainability metric over a period of time, an absolute value for the value of the sustainability metric, or an indication of an amount by which a component included in the design of the object contributes to the value of the sustainability metric.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein displaying the visual indication of the amount of progress made towards achieving the target value for the sustainability metric further comprises applying a visual effect to indicate a degree of uncertainty associated with the value of the sustainability metric.

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining a value of a second sustainability metric associated with the design of the object, wherein the second sustainability metric is different than the sustainability metric;

determining a second target value for the second sustainability metric;

determining an amount of progress made towards achieving the second target value for the second sustainability metric based on the value of the second sustainability metric and the second target value for the sustainability metric; and

displaying, via the GUI, a visual indication of the amount of progress made towards achieving the second target value for the second sustainability metric.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the visual indication of the amount of progress made towards achieving the second target value for the second sustainability metric is included in the widget.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the visual indicator comprises a dot icon displayed within the circular graph bar.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the visual indicator is displayed at one end of the circular graph bar.

12 . One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media including instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the steps of:

determining a value of a sustainability metric associated with a design of an object, wherein the design of the object comprises a three-dimensional (3D) model of the object generated using a computer-aided design application during a design phase;

determining a target value for the sustainability metric;

determining an amount of progress made towards achieving the target value for the sustainability metric based on the value of the sustainability metric and the target value for the sustainability metric; and

displaying, via a graphical user interface (GUI), a visual indication of the amount of progress made towards achieving the target value for the sustainability metric, wherein the visual indication is included in a widget that is displayed, via the GUI, within a periphery of a computer aided design workspace, wherein displaying the visual indication includes:

in response to determining that the value of the sustainability metric is improving relative to the target value, increasing a visual size of the visual indication in a first direction comprising increasing a shaded portion within a circular graph bar in the first direction; and

in response to determining that the value of the sustainability metric is worsening relative to the target value, increasing the visual size of the visual indication in a second direction comprising increasing the shaded portion within the circular graph bar in the second direction, wherein the second direction is different than the first direction; and

in response to determining that the amount of progress satisfies a predetermined target progress amount, displaying a visual indicator within the circular graph bar.

13 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 12 , wherein the instructions further cause the one or more processors to perform the steps of:

in response to determining that the value of the sustainability metric is improving relative to the target value, displaying, via the GUI, the visual indication of the amount of progress made towards achieving the target value for the sustainability metric with a first type of visual effect; and

in response to determining that the value of the sustainability metric is worsening relative to the target value, displaying, via the GUI, the visual indication of the amount of progress made towards achieving the target value for the sustainability metric with a second type of visual effect, wherein the second type of visual effect is different than the first type of visual effect.

14 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 12 , wherein the target value for the sustainability metric is a percentage change in the sustainability metric relative to a benchmark value.

15 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 12 , wherein the instructions further cause the one or more processors to perform the steps of:

determining an amount by which a component included in the design of the object contributes to the amount of progress made towards achieving the target value for the sustainability metric; and

displaying, via the GUI, a visual indication of the amount by which the component included in the design of the object contributes to the amount of progress made towards achieving the target value for the sustainability metric.

16 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 12 , wherein the instructions further cause the one or more processors to perform the step of, in response to detecting a user interaction with the visual indication of the amount of progress made towards achieving the target value for the sustainability metric, displaying, via the GUI, a pop-up that includes information associated with the sustainability metric.

17 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 16 , wherein the information associated with the sustainability metric includes at least one of a timeline of changes in the value of the sustainability metric over a period of time, an absolute value for the value of the sustainability metric, or an indication of an amount by which a component included in the design of the object contributes to the value of the sustainability metric.

18 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 12 , wherein displaying the visual indication of the amount of progress made towards achieving the target value for the sustainability metric further comprises applying a visual effect to indicate a degree of uncertainty associated with the value of the sustainability metric.

19 . A system comprising:

a memory storing a sustainability insights service; and

a processor coupled to the memory, wherein when executed by the processor, the sustainability insights service causes the processor to:

determine a value of a sustainability metric associated with a design of an object, wherein the design of the object comprises a three-dimensional (3D) model of the object generated using a computer-aided design application during a design phase;

determine a target value for the sustainability metric;

determine an amount of progress made towards achieving the target value for the sustainability metric based on the value of the sustainability metric and the target value for the sustainability metric; and

display, via a graphical user interface (GUI), a visual indication of the amount of progress made towards achieving the target value for the sustainability metric, wherein the visual indication is included in a widget that is displayed, via the GUI, within a periphery of a computer aided design workspace, wherein displaying the visual indication includes:

in response to determining that the value of the sustainability metric is improving relative to the target value, increasing a visual size of the visual indication in a first direction comprising increasing a shaded portion within a circular graph bar in the first direction; and

in response to determining that the value of the sustainability metric is worsening relative to the target value, increasing the visual size of the visual indication in a second direction comprising increasing the shaded portion within the circular graph bar in the second direction, wherein the second direction is different than the first direction; and

in response to determining that the amount of progress satisfies a predetermined target progress amount, display a visual indicator within the circular graph bar.