Why the Name Matters
You're disrupting a stodgy, conservative industry. The name needs to signal that you're different—modern, fast, AI-native—while still being taken seriously by contractors, architects, and building departments.
Naming Criteria
- Memorable: Easy to remember, easy to spell, easy to say
- Modern: Signals tech/AI, not old-school CAD
- Professional: Won't turn off conservative construction industry
- Available: Domain name available, not trademarked to death
- Verbable: Can become a verb ("Let's [name] this project")
- Short: Ideally 1-2 syllables, max 8 letters
- Evocative: Hints at what you do without being literal
Plai
"Plan" + "AI" = Design Made Simple
Short. Clever. Friendly. Sounds like "play"—which is exactly the vibe you want. Design should be playful exploration, not tedious CAD grinding. The modern spelling signals tech/AI without being too on-the-nose.
"Let's plai this data center." Works as a verb. Works as a brand.
The Contenders
Top Tier: Clean, Modern, Memorable
Plai
Plan + AI = Plai
Clever wordplay. Sounds like "play" (design should be fun, not tedious). Modern spelling. Short, memorable, professional enough.
✓ Pros
- Perfect length (4 letters)
- Clear AI connection
- Friendly, approachable tone
- Works as a verb: "Let's plai this"
- Likely available domain
✗ Cons
- Might seem too casual at first
- Non-standard spelling (but that's also a pro)
Likely: plai.com or plai.ai
SketchAI
From sketch to structure
Evokes the early design phase. "Sketch" is familiar to architects but also means "rough idea"—perfect for natural language input. AI is explicit.
✓ Pros
- Clear what you do
- Professional sounding
- Architects understand "sketch"
✗ Cons
- Bit literal/boring
- Many "___AI" companies already
- Might be taken
Check: sketchai.com
Formwork
The foundation before the foundation
"Formwork" is construction term for temporary structure that holds concrete. Metaphor: you're the structure that makes the final structure possible. Also: "form" + "work".
✓ Pros
- Industry-relevant term
- Professional, mature
- Clever metaphor
✗ Cons
- Might sound too traditional
- Doesn't signal AI/tech
- Longer (2 syllables)
Check: formwork.ai
Blueprint
What if blueprints made themselves?
Classic architecture term, but reimagined. The problem: probably taken a hundred times over. Could work as "Blueprnt" or "Bluprnt" (modern spelling).
✓ Pros
- Instantly understood
- Professional, trusted
- Great metaphor
✗ Cons
- Definitely taken
- Sounds old-school
- Modern spellings seem forced
Forget blueprint.com — maybe bluprnt.ai?
Creative: More Abstract, Higher Risk
Archform
Architecture meets form
Blend of "architecture" and "form". Professional, modern. Suggests both the discipline (architecture) and the output (form).
✓ Pros
- Professional sound
- Clear industry connection
- Unique
✗ Cons
- Doesn't signal AI
- Could sound like consulting firm
Rendyr
Render your vision
"Render" with modern spelling. Architects understand rendering. Implies taking an idea and making it real/visible.
✓ Pros
- Industry term (rendering)
- Modern spelling
- Sounds tech-forward
✗ Cons
- "Rendering" is only one part of what you do
- Modern spelling might annoy some
Spacemaker
AI that makes spaces
Clear, literal, but in a good way. You make spaces. Architects and builders understand this immediately. Friendly, approachable.
✓ Pros
- Crystal clear what you do
- Professional yet friendly
- Easy to remember
✗ Cons
- Might be taken (check!)
- Bit long (10 letters)
- Sounds like a tool, not a platform
BuildMind
The mind that builds
AI mind applied to building. "Build" is clear and active. "Mind" suggests intelligence. Professional but modern.
✓ Pros
- Signals AI/intelligence
- Clear industry (building)
- Strong, confident
✗ Cons
- Bit generic
- Doesn't stand out
Playful: High Risk, High Reward
UnCAD
Uncomplicate design
Cheeky. You're the anti-CAD. "Un-" prefix suggests liberation. Memorable. Might be TOO cheeky for conservative industry.
✓ Pros
- Memorable
- Clear positioning (anti-CAD)
- Conversation starter
✗ Cons
- Might alienate CAD users
- Bit too clever/snarky
- Limited if you expand beyond CAD
PostCAD
The post-CAD era
Like "post-modern" or "post-internet". Signals a fundamental shift. You're what comes after CAD. Bold positioning.
✓ Pros
- Strong positioning statement
- Clear vision
- Industry will get it
✗ Cons
- Paul says "CAD is dead" - so why reference it?
- Limits to post-CAD narrative
TellBuild
Tell us what you want. We'll build the plans.
Literal but catchy. "Tell" = natural language. "Build" = construction. Simple, clear value prop in the name.
✓ Pros
- Clear value prop
- Easy to understand
- Works as a command
✗ Cons
- Bit literal/uninspired
- Doesn't stand out
The Recommendation
Go with Plai.
Here's why: You're disrupting a stuffy industry. You need a name that signals "we're different" without being so weird that building departments and contractors won't take you seriously. Plai threads that needle perfectly.
It's short, memorable, clever (plan + AI), friendly (sounds like "play"), and modern. It works as a verb. It's not intimidating. And most importantly: it signals that design SHOULD be playful exploration, not tedious BIM grinding.
Compare: "I spent all day in Revit" (painful) vs. "Let's plai this design" (fun). That's the vibe you want.
Fallback Options
If plai.com or plai.ai isn't available or is crazy expensive:
- Formwork - Professional, mature, clever metaphor. Might not signal tech/AI enough, but solid backup.
- SketchAI - Clear, professional, everyone gets it. A bit boring, but safe.
- Archform - Modern, professional, unique. Doesn't scream AI, but works.
Test It
Show Paul these options. Show potential customers (contractors, small architecture firms). See what resonates. But my money is on Plai.
Plai
Design. Simplified.
From idea to plans. No Revit required.