Four Sketching Methods

 

Three Sketching Methods

Designers use different sketching techniques depending on the situation. In situations that call for broad ideation, a designer might use a broad pen or charcoal. That same designer may use a fine point fountain pen when detailing a wall section or mapping out a site.  And since situations fluctuate often minute-to-minute, so do the sketching methods: a designer might use two or more different sketch types in one setting.

Here are three sketch types from rapid and broad to slow and fine.

 

Gestural Sketch

This sketch, as its name implies, is about gestures: the designer uses this method to explore larger concepts and broad moves or to find and explore "big ideas" out of which might develop more nuanced design solutions. Comprised of rapid and bold strokes, these sketches come from the whole arm or body. Likewise, media for these are broad: wide, soft pencils, pastels, color sticks, bold Sharpies or large markers.

 

Figural Sketch

Designers use these brisk yet more deliberate sketches to diagram, to study general layouts or forms and sometimes to explain a design process. The lines describe, most often, contour and silhouette. The media must be free-flowing yet provide some accuracy: medium to fine fountain pens or markers (such as a Pentel Sign-Pen) that come from hand and lower-arm movement.

 

Analytical Sketch

Designers use this slow and deliberate sketching method to study things; to study elements, to develop schematic designs and to study details. While "slow" it is deliberate and confident. The media tends to be fine and extra fine nib fountain pens or markers and only the hand or the fingers; the arm is usually "at rest" to let the fingers do the drawing.