A method of altering a computer generated mesh model of a design feature by a computer user to improve a feature design process is provided including providing a mesh model; forming a plane; defining an alteration area of the plane; forming a 2D mesh on the plane including a plurality of mesh nodes independent of the mesh model nodes within the alteration area; defining a partial differential equation to be numerically solved using the 2D mesh; numerically solving the partial differential equation using said 2D mesh to obtain solved 2D mesh node values; using the solved 2D mesh node values to obtain new values for each mesh model node including the portion of the mesh model to be altered; and, graphically regenerating the design feature using the mesh model nodes including the new values to form an altered portion of the mesh model.