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You can design, but can you draw? (I can't...) 5959 Responses

Last post: 1 year ago | Thread started: Aug 28, 09, 2:54 a.m.

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  • jagara

    I have a degree in graphic design. I know typography, color theory, shape&form etc.

    I think of myself as having a developed sense of aesthetics and an always updated knowledge of current design trends. And i get by just fine. But i can't draw. Sure, i make weak little sketches when designing something. But it's not like my boss who's in his fifties, and was used to make rough layouts by hand.

    Drawing used to be an integral part of designing. Now, for the most part, it's more like assembling. To me it seems like designers who can draw have a heightened sense of design.

    How many of you designers can draw these days? Just wondering? Do you give a f***k?

    Thanks,
    Jan

    Aug 28, 09, 2:54 a.m. – Permalink
  • Carl_Weathers

    Drawing comes first.
    Start again.

    • wrong– flashbender1/8
      right.– Carl_Weathers2/8
      wrong– Kiggen3/8
      Drawing came first for me, then art college, which led to Vis Comm which led to employment.– Carl_Weathers4/8
      that's not the only way though - design is about decision not drafting skill– lukus_W5/8
      dont they teach you drawing before design at school though if you went to college
      – plusminusbox6/8
      couldn't be more wrong.– set7/8
      Yo go Carl, you go!– biusness8/8
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    Dog-earAug 28, 09, 2:56 a.m. – Permalink
  • neverblink

    http://www.qbn.com/topics/546741…

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    Dog-earAug 28, 09, 2:57 a.m. – Permalink
  • jimbojones

    yes. what did I win?

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    Dog-earAug 28, 09, 2:59 a.m. – Permalink
  • jimzyk

    yeah i think its true i know some designers that cant draw and get by just fine too.

    personally i love drawing sketching and doodling and think its an integral part of design, especially identity design... i dont think you can get the same results from a computer.

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    Dog-earAug 28, 09, 2:59 a.m. – Permalink
  • Mau

    waste of time

    • or what Horp said– Mau
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    Dog-earAug 28, 09, 2:59 a.m. – Permalink
  • Horp

    I can't draw and I'm an illustrator. Its all subjective. I suffer with an essential tremor and also I never learned to write so I have no fluidity to my hand style at all. So I have had to find ways around that. I have a deliberate, inelegant hand style and I try to exploit that and make it part of my drawing style.

    There is no real reason why designers need to be able to draw. In the good old days you needed to be able to do competant doodles to denote what a picture would show in a hand drawn mock-up. But who there days ever renders a hand drawn mock up to show a client? Its all just assembled on computers so drawing for design is almost redundant unless you wish to design with a drawn aesthetic for stylistic reasons.

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    Dog-earAug 28, 09, 3:01 a.m. – Permalink
  • BusterBoy

    pffft

    • Whatever works for you. There's no right or wrong– BusterBoy1/2
      agree
      – n8w2/2
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    Dog-earAug 28, 09, 3:03 a.m. – Permalink
  • jimzyk

    it really is about colour / type / layout / composition / balance and all that jazz with 99% of design jobs i guess, with regard to layout...

    but i still think for identity design you cant do it all on the computer.
    maybe you can... but you're a cunt™

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    Dog-earAug 28, 09, 3:06 a.m. – Permalink
  • skt

    I used to be able to draw alright. haven't done it in so long that i'm shite now. don't think it stops me from being able to design though.

    but, it is handy. we have a really talented jnr now to sketch our pitch ideas. which is brilliant because no matter how big your FPO is over early photoshop comps the client always comes back with 'can we shift gerard butler a little to the left'.

    • Whats FPO?– Horp1/3
      for placement only.– skt2/3
      Ta.– Horp3/3
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    Dog-earAug 28, 09, 3:07 a.m. – Permalink
  • neue75_bold

    I can't do either without making sure I have a solid reference to go off of...

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    Dog-earAug 28, 09, 3:08 a.m. – Permalink
  • JerseyRaindog

    I can draw - bit according to an old teacher of mine I draw like a designer? Never understood that.
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/jer…

    • Love "St Aubins harbour, Jersey"– Nightshade1/3
      Well, they have that "sketch-feel" to them. Color these with Pantone markers, and they would look like old-school advertisment mockups (which is great, and a style of it's own).– jagara2/3
      advertisment mockups (which is great, and a style of it's own)– jagara3/3
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    Dog-earAug 28, 09, 3:09 a.m. – Permalink
  • __TM

    whatever works for you. I ended up in design because I spend most of my childhood drawing.

    • +1 but i don't feel like i do it enough anymore, for me it helps engage the creative process.– rusty_ace
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    Dog-earAug 28, 09, 3:12 a.m. – Permalink
  • Horp

    Bouncing off of what Skt said I do find that for what I do showing a digital first stage visual is a nightmare. On big jobs I generally start comping on computer, then when I think I've got it right I do a print out, trace it off and turn it into a pencil sketch to show the client.

    The great thing about that is that as long as they are happy with the pencil sketch I am already two steps ahead by the time they approve it. Clients often marvel at how faithfully I have translated the original pencil into a digital artwork. I snigger.

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    Dog-earAug 28, 09, 3:15 a.m. – Permalink
  • utopian

    http://www.jameskelly.ie/temp/shagga.png

    • yes, yes i can.– utopian1/2
      brings back good memories
      – jimzyk2/2
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    Dog-earAug 28, 09, 3:35 a.m. – Permalink
  • Projectile

    i can draw... but only cartoons. useful when trying to convey an emotion in 2 seconds flat, but bad when trying to actually draw something that takes more than 2 minutes to draw. Did get me a noice illustration gig a few month ago, though... but just the one so far, as it's very nice. One trick pony and all that lark..

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    Dog-earAug 28, 09, 3:42 a.m. – Permalink
  • TomBac

    I personally didn't draw for 15 years. Except for grabbing idea form my mind for Identity pice. But as jungster i was drawing a lot.
    And now I feel I'm missing that part as person who is in the business.
    So I'm starting again with exercising of hand. Since i learned that drawing is like, playing piano or playing tennis, everything in practice.

    But good thing for designer is that he can share his visions more rapidly and coordinate ideas with his client or who ever.

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    Dog-earAug 28, 09, 3:45 a.m. – Permalink
  • jamble

    I used to be able to draw a stegosaurus when I was 9.

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    Dog-earAug 28, 09, 3:55 a.m. – Permalink
  • monkeyshine

    If you are a graphic designer, web designer, etc...a good habit to get into is to carry a sketch book around with you. It doesn't matter if you "can" draw...I am no illustrator but I can render things. I have taken drawing classes and I force myself to do quick sketches of my environment. It's amazing how that visual knowledge sticks with you over time. I think it's invaluable.

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    Dog-earAug 28, 09, 4:29 a.m. – Permalink
  • JerseyRaindog

    Also, present an idea as a sketch to a client and they can usually see 'the idea' straight away.
    Present an idea as a visual created in indesign/illustrator/photoshop and the client may not even see the idea at all. They'll be looking at the fonts, the typography, your choice of colours etc and treating your visual as the finished thing.

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    Dog-earAug 28, 09, 4:33 a.m. – Permalink
  • invo

    I can't even design...

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    Dog-earAug 28, 09, 5:03 a.m. – Permalink

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