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I believe that every design process, no matter what that is – logo design, web design, printing works or just ideas must be written or sketched on paper at first and only after that really start designing. It really helps to put fast your ideas on paper for later use – improving the same ideas. And there is one more good thing about sketching – I suggest You create one notebook just where You can put your ideas, fast sketches and later when You will need just to fast find some inspiration – just open your notebook and You should find at least one good idea to Your next project!
Why sketching?
Sketching isn’t time consuming and is really good way how to put Your ideas from Your head right on the paper. After that it’s always easier to actually design it on computer. Sketching helps to evolve Your imagination – once You understand it, You always will start from just white paper. To show my point I looked over great amount of logo sketches and picked best of those, so You can see, how many ideas arise on that simple white paper. And at the end You can look at David Airey’s logo developing work – he is really one of my favorite artists.
And Yes, David Airey provides us with whole process of making new logotypes – from huge amount of ideas sketching all of them on the paper until really going on designing program and making it vectors. I hope You got some inspiration out of this collection, If You do – I had a point to write this article :)
And David really shows all process again while designing his own logotype. I personally learnt much from him, hopefully You do it too. Great looking how professionals work -
Hey! And how do you think? Where really starts Your design process?
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Dainis Graveris is 23 years old blogger and designer, founder of 1stWebDesigner, now more silently managing everything behind the scenes. He usually hangs out in Twitter tweeting design related links and chatting with people. If you have any questions or feedback that's the best place to start! Cheers!
Wednesday, March 2nd, 2011 20:55
Wow! Your sketching is nice! I found this to be most interesting, timely & informative. Thanks.
Wednesday, October 13th, 2010 00:15
I definetly need to sketch some logos for me. I had an old one, but get bored of it, now I don’t use anything on new my website’s design, just a text with my name. Need some inspiration…
Saturday, October 10th, 2009 09:12
I agree. I was gonna try to practice sketching up first, but i find it more uncomfortable. I realized, not all people have the same practices and techniques. And i find more flexible if i’m working direct to my computer.As long as you have the skills and talent then there is no problem with that.
Wednesday, September 2nd, 2009 18:29
I enjoyed your creative process. At least now I know that all idea dont just come easy for everyone and that it does take a few pages and tries and some dumb ideas to get that one idea. It helped me to know that a dumb idea or some unmeaningful designs turn into better ideas and a end result of a great design.
Saturday, February 7th, 2009 04:57
wow that’s really nice..
Saturday, January 24th, 2009 09:41
Great post! It’s always nice to see the brainstorming process.
Monday, September 22nd, 2008 18:43
Love it, Dainis! Seeing others’ sketches is a favourite part of the design insight, without doubt.
Very glad you found value in my own postings too.
David Aireys last blog post : Focus on reader comments #3
Saturday, September 20th, 2008 15:40
@Michael Wow, can’t agree more! I just have no experience working daily with tablet yet, so I really don’t know how it feels. But really I think You got a point! Thanks for Your time!
Friday, September 19th, 2008 22:35
Oh I never said there was a right way. I can only speak from personal experience.
What I did say was that a computer can often be a constricting way of working because there are just certain freedoms you don’t have with it. There are just things you can’t do on a computer in terms of efficiently developing a concept that will never be there. I own a wacom tablet, and for me it is only good for photo retouching and corel painter. You certainly don’t have the freedom you have with a pencil and a huge sheet of paper.
Like I said, working from a computer exclusively is a bad habit to get into. There will never be a time where a computer is more efficient than a quick doodle if you are developing a concept properly.
Michael Labordes last blog post : I wish I had Thought of This
Friday, September 19th, 2008 06:24
Great post. I think that sketching on a computer is often the easier way out and can become a habit, but sketching a concept is a much more free and easy way of getting artistic aggression out there.
Keep up the good work.
Michael Labordes last blog post : I wish I had Thought of This
Friday, September 19th, 2008 07:35
@Michael actually there is no one right way, just use the way, You are the most comfortable and outcome will be better. I like sketching concept, but I am planning to buy a tablet, so I don’t know how it will be then. And thanks, Michael for objective comment.
Sunday, September 7th, 2008 20:34
Brandon yeah, i totally agree, I am hearing that people use it, just when I tried i got little confused although I know that many things in photoshop or AI are much faster to do with tablet. Which kind of Wacom tablets do You have?
For me sketching on paper seems more natural and inspirational way, I just think different when I am not working on my computer. Thanks, Brandon – nice to hear some arguments for discussion!
Sunday, September 7th, 2008 15:51
I sketch within Photoshop with my wacom tablet it is just a quicker way of working. The only times i don’t do this is when I am out at a coffee shop away from my tablet sketching in photoshop always seems to save me a step. plus I don’t have that good of a scanner and i like to reference my drawings behind the comps in Ps and Ai.
Saturday, September 6th, 2008 18:10
great article, must sketch more :)
adelles last blog post..Winners of $25 Credit to ThemeForest Announced!
Saturday, September 6th, 2008 19:51
@Nick I have really the same process as you normally, if I am playing with photoshop at the end after coding page looks much different, funny. You have nice, clean design – i like it, just pointless is little too wide for me. Thanks for joining in conversation
@adele thanks :) nice to see You coming by! :)
Yeah, from sketching starts all creative process, that’s why I am still learning it :)
Saturday, September 6th, 2008 17:27
I normally sketch >> code the basic layout >> create any required elements in photoshop >> style, finish code.
However, with more “artistic” sites like my personal blog pointlessramblings.com, and with my latest WP theme (on my blog), I started in photoshop, because they started as just me playing around rather than as a planned website, they then just developed into website designs!
Saturday, September 6th, 2008 15:59
@ Nick totally agreed with You and for serious designer it’s always better and faster way. You don’t use photoshop at all creating web-sites? All styling just with CSS?
Saturday, September 6th, 2008 15:08
Even though I’m terrible at logo design, I always make sure I sketch out any websites before I begin to code them. It also allows me to skip the photoshop stage and go right into code.
Saturday, September 6th, 2008 13:56
Cheers! But that’s really true – I sketched all my homepage to see how really design must look like – it really helped. Now I just need to fulfil those all :)
Saturday, September 6th, 2008 13:13
I agree, its better to start with sketch first. im started to be a fan of David Airey too:)great post Dainis.keep it up.
Ronald
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NaldzGraphics
Saturday, September 6th, 2008 13:13
I agree, its better to start with sketch first. im started to be a fan of David Airey too:)great post Dainis.keep it up.
Ronald
Brandon Hunt
Sunday, September 7th, 2008 15:51
I sketch within Photoshop with my wacom tablet it is just a quicker way of working. The only times i don’t do this is when I am out at a coffee shop away from my tablet sketching in photoshop always seems to save me a step. plus I don’t have that good of a scanner and i like to reference my drawings behind the comps in Ps and Ai.
Dainis Graveris
Sunday, September 7th, 2008 20:34
Brandon yeah, i totally agree, I am hearing that people use it, just when I tried i got little confused although I know that many things in photoshop or AI are much faster to do with tablet. Which kind of Wacom tablets do You have?
For me sketching on paper seems more natural and inspirational way, I just think different when I am not working on my computer. Thanks, Brandon – nice to hear some arguments for discussion!
Dainis Graveris
Friday, September 19th, 2008 07:35
@Michael actually there is no one right way, just use the way, You are the most comfortable and outcome will be better. I like sketching concept, but I am planning to buy a tablet, so I don’t know how it will be then. And thanks, Michael for objective comment.
adelle
Saturday, September 6th, 2008 18:10
great article, must sketch more :)
adelles last blog post..Winners of $25 Credit to ThemeForest Announced!
Dainis Graveris
Saturday, September 6th, 2008 19:51
@Nick I have really the same process as you normally, if I am playing with photoshop at the end after coding page looks much different, funny. You have nice, clean design – i like it, just pointless is little too wide for me. Thanks for joining in conversation
@adele thanks :) nice to see You coming by! :)
Yeah, from sketching starts all creative process, that’s why I am still learning it :)
Dainis Graveris
Saturday, September 6th, 2008 13:56
Cheers! But that’s really true – I sketched all my homepage to see how really design must look like – it really helped. Now I just need to fulfil those all :)
Nick | Resource Pile
Saturday, September 6th, 2008 15:08
Even though I’m terrible at logo design, I always make sure I sketch out any websites before I begin to code them. It also allows me to skip the photoshop stage and go right into code.
Dainis Graveris
Saturday, September 6th, 2008 15:59
@ Nick totally agreed with You and for serious designer it’s always better and faster way. You don’t use photoshop at all creating web-sites? All styling just with CSS?
Nick | Resource Pile
Saturday, September 6th, 2008 17:27
I normally sketch >> code the basic layout >> create any required elements in photoshop >> style, finish code.
However, with more “artistic” sites like my personal blog pointlessramblings.com, and with my latest WP theme (on my blog), I started in photoshop, because they started as just me playing around rather than as a planned website, they then just developed into website designs!
Michael Laborde
Friday, September 19th, 2008 06:24
Great post. I think that sketching on a computer is often the easier way out and can become a habit, but sketching a concept is a much more free and easy way of getting artistic aggression out there.
Keep up the good work.
Michael Labordes last blog post : I wish I had Thought of This
Michael Laborde
Friday, September 19th, 2008 22:35
Oh I never said there was a right way. I can only speak from personal experience.
What I did say was that a computer can often be a constricting way of working because there are just certain freedoms you don’t have with it. There are just things you can’t do on a computer in terms of efficiently developing a concept that will never be there. I own a wacom tablet, and for me it is only good for photo retouching and corel painter. You certainly don’t have the freedom you have with a pencil and a huge sheet of paper.
Like I said, working from a computer exclusively is a bad habit to get into. There will never be a time where a computer is more efficient than a quick doodle if you are developing a concept properly.
Michael Labordes last blog post : I wish I had Thought of This
Ollie
Saturday, October 10th, 2009 09:12
I agree. I was gonna try to practice sketching up first, but i find it more uncomfortable. I realized, not all people have the same practices and techniques. And i find more flexible if i’m working direct to my computer.As long as you have the skills and talent then there is no problem with that.
M ithul
Tuesday, February 16th, 2010 21:30
great creative post thanks…….a lot………..
Fábián Gábor
Wednesday, October 13th, 2010 00:15
I definetly need to sketch some logos for me. I had an old one, but get bored of it, now I don’t use anything on new my website’s design, just a text with my name. Need some inspiration…
Rex
Wednesday, March 2nd, 2011 20:55
Wow! Your sketching is nice! I found this to be most interesting, timely & informative. Thanks.
John Parks
Wednesday, September 2nd, 2009 18:29
I enjoyed your creative process. At least now I know that all idea dont just come easy for everyone and that it does take a few pages and tries and some dumb ideas to get that one idea. It helped me to know that a dumb idea or some unmeaningful designs turn into better ideas and a end result of a great design.
ozmatix
Thursday, February 26th, 2009 12:32
i love sketching, you can’t go wrong when sketching.
Dainis Graveris
Saturday, September 20th, 2008 15:40
@Michael Wow, can’t agree more! I just have no experience working daily with tablet yet, so I really don’t know how it feels. But really I think You got a point! Thanks for Your time!
David Airey
Monday, September 22nd, 2008 18:43
Love it, Dainis! Seeing others’ sketches is a favourite part of the design insight, without doubt.
Very glad you found value in my own postings too.
David Aireys last blog post : Focus on reader comments #3
Fabian
Saturday, January 24th, 2009 09:41
Great post! It’s always nice to see the brainstorming process.
iDevelopThings
Saturday, February 7th, 2009 04:57
wow that’s really nice..