Drawing with a Purpose

Sketching can be for fun or to just pass the time during a boring lecture, but sketching can also be purposeful. Regardless of its trivial nature and perceived monotony a proper doodle or sketch can be a powerful foundation for any design.

Why should we sketch when beginning a project?

A friend once told me that to build a house a strong foundation is needed followed by a frame, or scaffolding, so that the structure does not come crashing down. Artist and designers are not much different when it comes to creativity. The majority of artist, illustrators and designers I know always begin with many different thumbnails to flesh out their ideas on paper whenever they start a project. Creating dozens of small quick drawings can help ideas to flow. It can generate new ideas and lead the creator in new directions. Thoughts are quickly scribbled down and whatever does not work is scrapped and the successful ideas continue to develop. Remember your first idea is seldom your best. It is much more effective to spend time on quick simple drawings to establish your ideas, than spending hours on the computer working on one idea that was a failure.

Not all preliminary sketches will be come successful. If you have a sketchbook full of doodles you will discover that you have pages full of failures and rejects, but we learn from those mistakes and become better designers because of them. Some ideas become good ideas, good ideas then become great ideas and great ideas could become timeless like a successful logo.


99designs has an excellent blog entry by Rebecca Greger with examples of logos that began as simple sketch concepts.

https://99designs.ca/blog/creative-inspiration/famous-logo-process-sketches/

No matter what level of expertise whether you are a young designer, or and established illustrators, your beginning doodles and sketches will make you a better professional.

A few months ago we had a project to create Canadian Stamps. I started with several ideas that I drew out. After some critiques I decided to go with my gut feeling and created a wildlife stamp. Here are the thumbnails.

And here is the finished stamp.


As simple as doodling and sketching are, you can make it as purposeful as you want. Keep it loose though, remember you are not drawing a finished concept, rather many possible concepts that could one day become million dollar ideas.

The power of the doodle.

Doodling, sketching, thumbnails or drawing, whatever you call it we can all do it. Or so it would seem. Drawing is the art of portraying subject matter onto a surface. Be it paper, canvas, the sand etc, any surface works. Whatever the medium and whatever the surface, as children, we were all guilty of absentmindedly doodling away. Yet for some unknown reason some of us continue developing this skill and others don't.

From the ages of two to six we all draw. After this stage the majority stop, or at least the desire decreases over time until we stop entirely. For all it's worth, the skill of doodling or sketching is extremely essential. Look around you; Almost anything and everything that you come in contact with was designed by someone. That "something" had to start somewhere, usually in the form of a simple doodle or sketch in someones sketchbook, notebook or even a napkin. From the shoes and clothes you wear, the car you drive, the cell phone you use and the TV you watch, you guessed it, they all began as a thought that evolved into a doodle. Even some of your favorite movies began as a simple drawing somewhere.

For example on 29 Apr, 2014 The following article was printed on Business Insider.

http://www.businessinsider.com/pixar-movies-thanks-to-napkin-sketches-at-lunch-meeting-2014-4

I have been drawing almost all my life. During that time whenever I have my sketchbook out I'm approached by two types of people. Those who can draw and those who say they can't. The ones who assume they can't usually say something like, "I can only draw stick people." Armature would be the correct artistic term, but if that's all you can do it's a start! Personally I do not think it is a matter of not being able to draw, rather a lack of time to develop drawing abilities.

Anyone can draw. Some better than others, but the ability is inside everyone. If you are having trouble developing this skill may I suggest a few simple pointers;

#1. Get a pencil.
#2. Get a paper.
#3. Get comfortable.
#4. Lift the pencil and place it on the paper.
#5. Draw to your hearts content.

It does not matter if at first you feel like your drawings are no good. You will not get better without getting the worst out of the way. Start with simple doodles and sketches, be consistent and don't give up. Everyday that you practice I promise that you will get better and better. Don't believe me. Have a look at these drawings;
Doodles and sketches are the most basic building blocks of any project. It is a shame that they are so often taken for granted. Whatever you do and whatever expertise of artistic skill you have, do not ever underestimate the importance of the powerful doodle.