Visualization

The ideas that are noted down, are then made into something more concrete by sketching them and adding details to build them up. These ideas are visualized and drawn accordingly, taking in mind the sort of materials that will be used in constructing them.

The visual representation of a product and the role of visualization have recently become a central issue in design research because much of design is concerned with concrete qualities of the design elements to be designed, and effective ways to achieve plausible solutions. Nonetheless, drawing is most importantly to seen to represent mental activity, and the main issue is the complementary relationship between two forms of representation, i.e., verbal-conceptual and visual-graphic. Models are made after drawings have been produced. The drawings serve as blueprints in construction of prototypes

The Role of Sketching in the Design Process

1. Rapid Concept Development

Sketching is an excellent way to quickly explore concepts. You can sketch for one or two hours and work out multiple possible solutions to the design problem at hand. This is an essential step in the design process. It will save you time to work through concepts on paper before going to the computer. While it is possible to build sketches on the computer, it's not as fast as sketching multiple concepts on paper.

Product designers spend a lot of time sketching. If you're going to design the next sport shoe, piece of furniture, or bike, the idea doesn't start in a computer, it starts on paper.

2. Basic Composition or Layout

Sketches are a quick way to create the basic composition of your illustration. They are also used in Web site design and graphic design to quickly evaluate layout choices. You can make a series of thumbnail sketches, or they can be larger. As long as your sketches are good enough that they capture the necessary elements, drawing skill is unnecessary.

3. Client Communication and Approval

Showing sketched thumbnails or compositions to clients, will potentially save you an enormous amount of time. The more detailed the project will be the earlier you want client approval. If you're going to spend hours on an illustration, you want to make sure the client is in agreement with your choice of design before moving forward. Getting thumbnail approvals from clients is a common part of the illustration process. It is also common on large logo design projects and other projects as well.

At this studio, the sketcher works out concepts and client corrections with the art director and designer. The client approves artwork before it goes to the next stage of inking and coloring. This saves time by solidifying an idea before going on to more advanced stages in the process.

4. Visual Exploration

Sketching can be used as a journaling activity to record and explore your interests. It can also be used to explore multiple options you could take in a particular design.

5. Refining Visual Solutions

The process of creating a design or illustration at later stages involves refinement. The overall concept and direction of the piece may be working great, but one element isn't. Often, this can be tightened up and corrected in further rounds of sketching. Of course, at some point a digital artist moves to the computer. The process of sketching then moves into digital drafts.

© 2015 Envato Pty Ltd, The Role of Sketching in the Design Process, by Sean Hodge​ [online].

Available at: http://design.tutsplus.com/tutorials/the-role-of-sketching-in-the-design-process--psd-153

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