Graphic Designer: Know the Benefits of Sketching

When was the last time you held a pencil and paper? Can you still recall? Well, technology has certainly ruled the world even in designing. People use computers and other gadgets to come up with designs for various projects. We cannot blame them because there are really certain advantages that they get in using it like having outputs faster and easier. But does this mean that we can merely forget the existence of our old pals in designing – the pencil, pen and paper?

Not really because even with the advancement of technology, these old pals are still there for us. They are even vital parts of a design process. Designing starts with sketching. It is a good way to come up with better outputs. Some may immediately open their laptops and tablets and work on it right away from scratch. Why don’t you try sketching first? If you do, you will get the following benefits. Read on and discover the benefits of sketching.

1. It allows you to express your ideas.

There could be so many ideas that you can think of for a design but how does it look like? You might even be unsure of what to work on. You can put these ideas on paper through sketching. Sketch as many as you can. Do not worry about using lots of paper. That is even good since you will be able to compare the designs you have sketched. You can never have a view of your idea if you will not sketch it on paper. Don’t let your ideas be merely ideas for long. Get your paper and pen and scribble to those brilliant designs.

2. It allows you to compare and choose better designs.

Unlike directly working on the computer, you would be able to look into which design looks better. You can still create those designs on your computer but at least you saw how each of them would already look like. With the designs on paper, you can easily compare it and choose which ones are better. Just imagine comparing designs that are all the mind. It would be hard to merely define what you think of. Seeing it on ink would make it a lot easier to understand.

3. It develops a stronger understanding on your design.

As you put your ideas on paper, you are not just expressing what you are thinking but you are also starting to have a better understanding on the design. Doing this can help you see what really needs to be given focus in the design and what certain details needs to be added. The entire look of the design will be given form in your sketch. This way, you are beginning to put realization to what was once merely a thought.

4. It can make you more creative.

There is much freedom in sketching. You can create doodles in as much as you want without anyone telling you that it is wrong. There are many ways to develop creativity. We even have tips for you on how to remain creative. But with sketching, you are going to the next level. You are actually in the stage of expressing creativity. As you keep on sketching, you are becoming more creative.

5. It can develop your drawing skills.

Aside from developing your creativity, you can also develop your drawing skills. This would be of great advantage for you because you can confidently do some sketching even in front of a client in order to present a design. As you get better in sketching, you are developing another skill that is vital as a graphic designer.

6. It can develop personal style.

There could be many designers around the globe and each of them posses their own styles. Sketching is the best way to create your own personal style. You will discover that as you keep on doing various sketches. You can notice in each line that you create that yours is actually different from the strokes of others. Creating your own style is a good way to establish your own brand. Graphic designers need to create personal brands.

7. It helps in the mind-mapping exercise.

Like what we have cited in the previous items, sketching is putting ideas on paper. It can greatly help in your mind-mapping exercise where you are brainstorming as to what is better for the project you are working at. It gives you solutions to some queries and confusions you have at the moment. You can clearly see everything in your sketches.

8. It can let you correct mistakes.

Not all ideas are good. Some are even wrong. You won’t be able to see those mistakes if you will not draw your ideas. At least you will be able to recognize the fact that not everything you thought that would look good can actually look good. Recognizing and accepting mistakes is a good way to improve one’s self especially in terms of designing.

9. It can let you discover new ideas.

Sketching is also a good way to discover new ideas. As you create doodles of the things that were formed in your mind, you can also get to see new ones. This can be a source of another idea or design which can even be better than what you have first thought of. You can also combine some elements from one idea to another. Doing this is like straining the not-so-good-ideas to the better ones.

10. It can be done anywhere.

Well, one can also do design anywhere but sketching is a different thing. There are tablets these days that can be used for designing which can be carried anywhere. But sketching is still different. You can go to a certain place where you can be inspired and then do some drawings of whatever you can think of. You can see that these ideas that suddenly came to your mind will be very useful for your designs. Unlike a tablet, a paper can merely be folded and placed in the pocket with your matching pen or pencil. It would be very much handy.

It’s Your Turn Now

Some may say that sketching is only for amateur and for those who are not so good in the craft of graphic design. But they are wrong. The benefits above can be a good proof on how sketching can actually bring your design to the next level. Many famous designers are still doing this up to now. How about you? Is sketching part of your design process? How do you benefit from it?