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New to Cognitive Design? Follow this guide to install and activate the software, learn the basics, and explore complete workflows.

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Use the steps in order. You’ll need administrator privileges for the installation and first launch.

1. Install and activate Cognitive Design

1. Check the What are the System Requirements?.
2. Download the installer using the private link provided in your onboarding email. If you haven’t received it, contact your Cognitive Design representative.
3. Follow the How to Install & Activate the License? guide.
4. Explore the User Manual - Cognitive Design 2.2+.

If you don’t have your product key or license file, contact your Cognitive Design representative.

2. Complete the integrated Getting Started tutorials

Open Cognitive Design and go to the Getting Started section or Help → Tutorials. Start with Your First Workflow before exploring the other tutorials.

This beginner tutorial helps you understand the software basics: importing geometry, connecting components, computing and viewing a 3D model, modifying it, and exporting the result.

After Your First Workflow, follow the two Knowledge Base tutorials below, in order. They help you build your own workflows.

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Recommended Knowledge Base tutorials

• Tutorial 1: Node-Based Editor & How to Build Workflows
• Tutorial 2: Introduction to Implicit Modeling & Field-Driven Design (Open Lattice on a GE-Bracket) </aside>

Then explore more Getting Started tutorials in the app, including Design Exploration and Simulation and Topology Optimisation.

For more examples, we strongly recommend the short videos in the Cognitive Design YouTube tutorial playlist.

Finally, explore the freely accessible demo files and Knowledge Base documentation listed in sections 3 and 4.

3. Explore the templates and demo files

First, explore the workflow templates available directly in Cognitive Design through the Templates menu (Top menu bar). They provide ready-to-use starting points for manufacturing analysis, lightweighting, and topology optimization.

Then download the Cognitive Design demo files. Each project opens with a complete, reusable workflow that you can inspect, run, and adapt.