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)
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.
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.