The value of sketching
December 04, 2008 at 8:13 pm
I've noticed a real surge in people advocating the use of simple sketching recently; putting more value on design in the early stages of a project. This is great news for us designers. But I was wondering how this significant change has come about.
Traditionally, design has had a raw deal in the product lifecycle. Design teams have typically been handed a product to make look good and usable, often near the end of development. This is clearly very primitive, as well as giving the designers next to no bandwidth in which to craft a visual and interaction framework. However, this does seem to be becoming a thing of the past.
I believe the change in the perception of design has been brought about by several factors. Firstly, digital media is maturing at a pretty rapid rate. There are far more choices for digital implementation than there were, say, 5-8 years ago; not only in terms of technology but also the devices that deliver the technology. The saturation point of digital products is now huge. Anybody who's in business is doing their business over the web; for many it's now their primary sales channel. This has resulted in loyalty and retention becoming imperative within organisations web strategies. Brand perception and revenues are being determined largely by the design decisions being made in those organisations. Suddenly, design has got itself a very lofty position at the executive table.
Sketching is clearly an important part of the design process; it's probably the most natural part of it, lending itself well to early collaboration and participation by many. I’ve observed the following philosophies in regards to the sketching process within projects:
- Use quick sketches at the earliest stages of a project
- Create many sketches to explore many ideas
- Discuss and iterate sketches collaboratively, in the project group
- Build consensus and buy-in through the iterative sketching process
- Paper prototype; it’s quick, easy and inexpensive at the conceptual level
- Sketches facilitate critiques; they are inexpensive and easily reproduced
- Sketches explore rather than confirm
Collaborative ideation helps facilitate the joining and bonding of separate project groups; traditionally a tricky interface. Communicating lots of ideas quickly, in an easily adaptable form is a great way of getting different ideas on the table; this ultimately has to be a good thing for any project.
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March 05, 2009 at 1:34 pm
Could it be that Bill Buxtons book Sketching User Experiences: Getting the Design Right and the Right Design has catalysed this revival? It’s a great read.
June 13, 2009 at 1:43 am
I believe in sketching down to my bones. For me, they are the foundation of everything in my art. I am similiarly pleased that they are coming back into style, but they never went out of fashion for me. Their value is undeniable both as a stepping stone to more polished things and also as an aesthetic in its own right.
June 13, 2009 at 6:50 am
We get a a lot of thing off the internet daily. Information, ideas, and resources e.t.c. Anyways good idea keep it up! 642-533 exam
Christopher Meeks wrote:
January 28, 2009 at 9:14 pm
I’m also very excited that sketching is coming back in style. It seems to be part of that rubber band effect.
Obviously ALL design started (and often ended) with drawn out solutions not that many years ago. As it has become easier and easier to create a flurry of ideas quickly on the computer, people have abandoned sketching at a sad rate.
But as you pointed out, there are many values in sketching ideas out that have nothing to do with the speed at which they are created.
1. People aren’t as stuck to their ideas, because they haven’t refined them.
2. Color isn’t an issue clouding the real discussion around functionality and structure (web sites).
3. You can create them while everyone is sitting down. No need to have people huddle over your shoulder exploring your Photoshop secrets of design!
I, too, am glad they are coming back. Lets hope they stick around for a while.