The Importance of Sketching

All those years ago, when I started learning how to use Photoshop, Illustrator and all the fun software that designers use, I found myself in a whole new world as I am sure all of us did. Creating cool images, making my cousin into The Hulk and making technicoloured flowers on the moon. But after a short time I realized there was no strong depth, meaning or ideas behind my work, and it was not living up to what I had in my head,  let alone being developed into groundbreaking concepts that would take the design world by storm.

I asked myself how i could create things that would blow minds.
This, i could not figure out, but with time it became clear to me.

“Here is your sketchbook, this is your most valuable resource.” These words were among the first I heard from my design tutor, and these words led, and are still leading me through the fantastic world of design. Sketching is how you set your ideas apart from other designers, collect relevant ideas and try organize them before you start, and filtering the crap from the great stuff, because your first idea, is never the best.

Sketching, is a wonderful form of planning and I will go through a few reasons why sketching will make you a better Designer or any kind of job that requires ideas.

1 – Save Time

When you have a short period of time to design something in, it might seem logical to fast-track the project by jumping straight into your editing software, but with a solid plan and some creative doodles you can cut hours off a project just by drawing up what you are going to do, and how to do it best.

2 – Save More Time

I’ve lost count of the times now that I have scanned through my old sketchbooks and thought  “Wow, I can use that in this project I am doing now”, you might think that picture of the mouse running around the house is just a waste of time at the time, but down the track, it could make a great mascot for a product.
Just be sure to keep your sketchbooks out of wet places.

3 – Enhance your skills

By constantly drawing, you are increasing your line drawing skills which adds value to your concept sketches allowing you to more accurately depict what you are trying to show a client when in front of them, drawing a picture.

4 – Time away from the computer

If you are anything like me, then you will know that being on a computer 12 hours a day is not uncommon, and any time away from the computer is welcomed, sketching provides that valuable non computer time whilst still being able to work (yay).

5 – Be Unique

By sketching, like it or not, you are putting your own personality into the mix, having your handwriting on the page can even shape how your ideas form, how you structure what you are drawing on the page and what pens you have around.

In Conclusion

Sketching saves time, and makes you a better designer. So why not do it more!