The importance of sketching in design

When it comes to starting a project, big or small, my first step is to grab a pen and a sketchbook. Scamps, mockups, roughs, sketches, whatever you call them. I think they’re one of the most important steps in any creative process and here’s why.

It’s stupidly quick to start.

You don’t have to pick colours or fonts, load up your favourite design program or mess around with canvas sizes. You can start immediately. As soon as a concept pops into your head, a few seconds later you can get an idea whether it could work. Is it a bad idea? Well, good news…

Get bad ideas out of your head.

Instead of dismissing an idea, make it. At least then it’s not taking up space in your head. More space means more ideas. More bad ideas just mean you’re closer to finding the good one. It’s only in your sketchbook and that’s a sacred place where no judgement is passed and you can laugh at your old ideas that helped…

Inspire new ideas.

Finding out what's wrong and right with a concept is incredibly valuable information. It’s hard for those little discoveries not to turn into more discoveries. It’s almost like showing your working out in maths, it's pretty easy to pinpoint what works and what doesn't when you see all of it laid out in front of you and not just a mess of information in your head. Those new ideas mean you can…

Show the design program who’s boss.

Maybe I don’t want to round the corners Adobe Illustrator! Did you ever think about that?!
Sorry.
The point stands though. Starting directly in your chosen design program means you’re somewhat handcuffed to the tools you know how to use or are most comfortable using. The design often takes a backseat because you’re too busy labelling layers and navigating these complex programs.
Sketching isn’t “Will I be able to make this” It’s working out “Should this be made”. The design program is then purely your method of making it. With a scamp to work from you’re more likely to use new techniques of creating rather than falling back on the tools you’re comfortable using. Essentially let the idea define the design rather than the program define your design.

In summary

Your brain is a constant flow of ideas and information, it’s messy and unorganised. Design programs are pristine and orderly. If they were in a bar they’d be wearing a tux ordering a Vodka Martini and giving you dirty looks. Sketching is the approachable bartender who listens to your problems and gets you feeling confident enough with your idea that you’re ready to go talk to scary tux-wearing martini man.

What was my point again?

Sketching solves all your problems.