Sketching


 * Sketching**

Sketching is arguably the most versatile of all the communication techniques used in product design. It can be used quickly to get ideas out of your head and out onto paper. This could be to communicate them with others or just so that you have a record of them. Alternatively your sketches could be painstakingly produced to achieve a visual that is realistic or emotive.

The tutorials on this page are designed to build upon what you have done in class, relying on you having an understanding of basic principles of isometric sketching. If you can get to grips with the techniques shown here you will feel enormous benefit when communicating your concepts in your design assignment and if you progress to work in any kind of design in the future.

This link gives you an idea of where different types of sketching can be used to good effect (http://www.idsketching.com/toolbox/toolbox-levels-of-sketching/), but remember that sketching is just one of the tools we can use to communicate our designs.

This tutorial looks at the application of marker to suggest depth in a sketch of a cube. media type="custom" key="5379693"

This tutorial builds upon the skills developed in the last, now asking that you develop skills in communicating transparency. media type="custom" key="5379709"

This tutorial looks at the rendering of cylinders and spheres. Once you have mastered each of them in isolation you can bring the two together to communicate more complex shapes. You could also combine this with techniques used to communicate cuboidial shapes. media type="custom" key="5379715"

If you've mastered the principles of sketching and rendering cylinders together then you could have a bash at this next tutorial. It demonstrates how these skills could be applied when communicating a real item. This tutorial is really an extension to the last and so you should only tackle it if you feel you need a further challenge. media type="custom" key="5379741"

As shown on the sketchers toolbox page (follow link at top of page) 2D sketching can be really effective in helping designers lay out their thoughts. Make an attempt at this tutorial to develop your 2D sketching and rendering. Consider who the likely audience is for this type of sketching and what stage of the design process is most likely to be applied. It may be useful to look back to the sketchers toolbox to help you consider this. media type="custom" key="5379751"

This tutorial takes the application of marker further, using them to suggest surface finish as well as depth. media type="custom" key="5379855"

If you practice the sketching skills demonstrated in the tutorials above, you should be in good shape to tackle most situations presented by the design assignment. I can't overstate the importance of practice. Have a sketchbook with you all the time. Sketch things you see or record your thoughts through sketching. The internet is packed full of great tutorials on sketching. If there is a specific type of graphic that you want to achieve (such as a cut away or an exploded view) then [] is a good place to start looking (sometimes their videos don't play on their website and you need to go to their channel on Vimeo - [] ). If you do find any other useful tutorials or resources let me know and I can try to make them accessible to others in the class.