Call me old school, but in my experience, sketching still yields the best results for laying down quick concepts and initial thumbnails in your design work.
I know, I know. Younger creatives might argue that this step is no longer necessary given the digital assets at our fingertips.
I disagree and here’s why.
Sketching allows you to quickly generate a much higher percentage of basic concepts from which to build. It’s not uncommon for me to generate a hundred or more concepts (or variations of concepts) in one session.
Conceptual exploration is more comprehensive. You can go deeper than you will ever have time to cover digitally.
You will be more inclined to think conceptually rather than technically. The minute you start building digitally, your brain has to work twice as hard to think about the tech issues.
You can quickly size up which thumbs have potential and which ones should never be seen by another human being.
Your design process will flow more organically.
Your design process will be more interesting and enjoyable.
You will have a record of the final concept during its inception. That’s not only cool, but it can be pulled out and described at your 10 year anniversary and become part of your story.
It’s much more fun than always being a slave to the computer.
So, break out a pencil and pad and burn it up. Don’t even think you can’t do this! The sketch quality of your thumbs is not what matters. The goal is to spin off a ton of ideas. You’ll be amazed at the end result.
What are some of your habits that make you be a better designer?
8 Responses
January 13th, 2010 at 4:36 pm
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January 13th, 2010 at 7:25 pm
If sketching is no longer needed than someone should be able to prove why that is. The problem with our industry on a whole is we have too many “Toolers” those who know the pull-down menus, how to run a filter but lack that tactile skill and craft to think through an idea before they sit in front of a computer and noodle around looking for an idea. Their whole process is flawed.
I touched on this in my blog post called “Don’t be a Tooler.”
http://snipurl.com/toolers
You don’t construct until you have a blueprint, you don’t drive unless you know the directions, but we have a generation of designers who think they don’t need to define what they are going to create before they create it. That at best is problematic.
Show me someone that doesn’t sketch and I’ll show you shallow concepts, weak execution, and a final product that could have ultimately been better. Too many celebrate and settle for mediocre.
We may work digitally, but ideas are still best developed in analog form.
Von
January 13th, 2010 at 7:29 pm
Great comments Von. Thanks for your contribution to the conversation!
Kerry
January 13th, 2010 at 7:30 pm
Couldn’t agree more. My fav design tool is graph paper and pencil and whiteboards are a close second. To your point- so much more fluid for getting ideas out rapidly and iteratively.
Question, though- You hear some younger folks saying they prefer digital tools. Do you think next generations are really going to move away from sketching? Or maybe they’ll recognize the value?
January 13th, 2010 at 7:31 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Kerry Bural, Kerry Bural, Kerry Bural, Josh Hunt, Joseph Parente and others. Joseph Parente said: RT @KerryBural: For all my designer friends—am I out of touch? http://bit.ly/4A7HA9 #branding #ministry #church // I always sketch first. [...]
January 13th, 2010 at 8:07 pm
Chris,
I’ve had several young designers be very dismissive of the discipline of sketching. While I’m hopeful that they will see the value, I fear that the competitive margins in the industry will convince them to clip off this critical step. Some of this goes back to what they are not learning in school which is scary.
I just hope clients can understand and appreciate the value. I’ve been thinking about post concept sketches on this blog along with final art. Just not sure I’m prepared for the “you call that sketching?” comments. ;)
I appreciate your feedback. What do you think can be done to help?
January 14th, 2010 at 11:18 am
Ah, I’m sure posting sketches would be great. I personally love seeing loose, raw, “gestural” ideas.
I think the arguing for its value is fairly well-documented… i just did research for a client and found that there is a lot data on the value of prototyping (sketching) and early, iterative releasing of concepts. Generally, products that are released earlier and worked through revisions more quickly are better. Will have to find those links.
Oh, you know, a good book by Tim Brown of IDEO called “Change by Design” has some good, practical take-a-ways for the value in sketching. Another is Bill Buxton’s “Sketching the User Experience.”
HTH
-
C
January 14th, 2010 at 12:53 pm
Very good, Chris. Thanks for the recommendations. For me, the process is rich when I sketch and flat when I don’t. What about you? Aside from the end result side benefits, why do you like it personally?
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