Design Sketching

Design sketching is an art form that tries to convey the form, function, and aesthetic for an object utilizing a specific process of refinement. The sketching aspect of the design process serves to provide a visual form to an idea that may be a few words on a napkin, or a quickly drawn line sketch. The designer takes this very rough inspiration and breathes life into it.

1. Perspective

The first stage of the design sketch process is creating a rough perspective drawing that conveys the simplest version of the idea. This rough sketch builds out the features that will be elaborated on as the sketch develops but makes sure they are all in the right place.

2. style

The second stage is fleshing out the details of specific areas of interest. A grip feature, or form embellishment can be incorporated into the design to provide an aesthetic that defines the design with a specific style

3. details

The third stage is bringing all the details together into one sketch and giving them visual weight. This is achieved by varying the line weight on the drawing so that it appears more dynamic and pops off the page. It provides your eyes a roadmap to define the form in a 3D visual space.

4. shading

The fourth stage is adding color, shading, texture and lighting to bring the design off the page in a real way. The closest stage to fine art gives the object a real look that allows the viewer to see a real object and not just a sketch.

Inspiring new realities

This artistic process is as wide and varying as the designers that use it. It can be done many different ways and look completely different from one designer to the next but its final goal is the same. What begins as a mere thought can come to life and inspire a new reality through a well-done sketch. This is the magic of design sketching.