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In the last decade, the value of freehand drawing as a design tool in both education and practice is open to debate as a result of the accessibility of digitised drawing tools such as CAD systems and the relative ease with which a design can be presented and realised using computerised techniques such as parametric modelling and rapid prototyping. The conceptual design stage is the most critical in the design process. Despite the fact that most of the widespread computer aided design systems (such as AutoCAD and 3DSMax) are primarily directed towards the more detailed stage of design process. Even so, there are architects today who have abandoned the use of a pencil and paper, turning to the computer during the creation of their design concepts. The paper investigates the limitations of Computer Aided Drawing (CAD) systems which make them unable to satisfy what freehand drawings are doing for the initial design phase. To achieve this aim, the first section of this paper puts forward a framework for the main roles of freehand drawings through the conceptual design process. The second section investigates the capabilities of computer aided drawing tools to achieve these roles by depending on the theory and practice of the use of CAD tools at the initial design stage. The third section concludes the weakness and strength of computer aided drawing systems in the conceptual design phase. The paper ends with recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]