“Pictures are a way of representing the world - and also of understanding and examining it. That is, they are a form of knowledge and a means of communication.” - David Hockney, A History of Pictures
Do these two quick sketches:
Step 1, pick a personal object you have at home. Step 2, you are going to draw its plan and step 3, one of its elevations1. I am sketching my phone.
Don’t worry about getting the proportions right in the sketch (drawing with precision is not relevant in this exercise). What matters to us here is to pay attention to the details. For example, in step 4, you could write some notes describing the qualities of this object or you could also colour code its basic materials. Sketch what makes this item special (to you).
We are learning to get fluent here with two fundamental processes of sketching ideas:
1 - Observation. Knowing the object we are sketching.
2 - Communication. What is the essence of the thing we are illustrating?
Notice the difference between the steps above: observation has a more or less objective background. When different people draw the same item, we are all capable of identifying the same object in each drawing (this is a phone, this is a house, that is a book, etc.). However, communication transforms the process into an entirely subjective one. Each of us will tell you a different story and will draw your attention to different aspects of this object based on our personal view of it - and that influences back the observation process.
Take advantage of this when you are sketching your designs. For example, I draw differently if I am using my sketch to communicate an idea to a client than when I am coordinating the design with engineers because the purpose of the drawing (the why) and what I am trying to communicate differs. Sometimes you want to bring attention to the overall concept, sometimes to the function, sometimes to colour, or to other specific details.
Different audiences require different ways to communicate in your drawings. When you communicate an idea with a sketch you have the opportunity (and the power) to design the way you’d like the observer to look at what you are drawing - and, therefore, influence their observation process.
Cheers and happy sketching! 💫✏️
Ana
PS. I invite you all to share your drawings to learn from each other’s processes!
Also, try to do this exercise together with your partner, family, or friends, to compare how the outcome of sketching the same object differs based on personal observation and communication processes.
(For the non-designers) The view of the object seen from one of its sides as a flat drawing.