The Benefits of Hand-Drawing
HAND-DRAWING AS PART OF THE DESIGN PROCESS
As designers, our role is to solve problems and shape outdoor spaces that are both functional and creative. Drawing...whether quick pencil sketches or refined digital graphics...is essential to this process. It’s how we explore ideas, clarify concepts, and eventually communicate our thinking visually.
Our tools can be as simple as a pencil or as sophisticated as a drafting program. The choice is entirely yours. For me, it varies depending on where I am in the design process. Early conceptual work always begins with hand-drawing, while final drawings are often created digitally. Still, I want to stress that final drawings can be hand-drawn. If you want your work to carry the personal touch of pencil on paper, that’s wonderful...embrace it.
Some of the benefits for me when I hand-draw include:
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EXPLORATION
Nothing beats a direct connection from the ideas in my head to the pencil on paper. I sketch and explore without judgement. Nothing needs to be perfect, which leads to a beautiful selection of ideas. Tracing paper over a plan or photo allows me to explore many concepts very quickly. I love going through a pile of sketches one after the other in a matter of minutes to try a variety of compositions. Sketching on site, such as in the analysis phase, can also provide a deeper intimacy with your site.
COMMUNICATION
When we share initial sketches with a client, they start to form a story of the space and our view as a designer, plus our unique style communicates a sense of originality. With a selection of line weights and overall simplicity, these initial drawings can engage a client into your proposed spaces and start a love affair with the possibilities.
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COLLABORATION
Hand-drawings not only engage and sell, they also communicate flexibility and possibility in the sense that a client can still give feedback. This is not the final step, but the first step to diligent conversation and on-the-spot collaboration.
Overall, I encourage you to at least explore initial concepts with pencil in hand so your ideas can be messy and flow effortlessly without judgement. Save the perfection of the computer for final drawings, rather than conceptual ones.
SOME THINGS TO CHECK OUT
My thoughts above were initially written for APLD's The Designer Magazine in PRESERVING THE ART OF HAND-DRAWING (pages 26-27). This article also includes some hand-drawing tips you might enjoy.
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Here is an article I wrote on DEVELOPING YOUR GRAPHIC STYLE if you'd like embrace your beautiful imperfections.
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Once a year I teach GARDEN GRAPHICS TOOL KIT where we focus on building your drawing skills and confidence in order to communicate your designs graphically. ♥︎ Enrollment will open up once again in January. You can learn more, plus join the waiting list here.
