The lost art of the design sketch...



From schematiclife.blogspot.com
Image by Michelle Morlan


I started designing as soon as I could hold a pencil. Co-incidence? Not neccessarily. I've always found that the two go hand in hand, and have never quite understood how one can bring their ideas to life without having some ability to draw them, even if only for themselves.
In surfing around for some new material for my new (very, very new, with much, much, MUCH room for improvement) I came accross this very interesting blog by a very talented Interior Designer, who happens to share my love of sketching. Her name is Michelle Morelan and her blog is called "A Schematic Life". She says


"I had a discussion with a design professional the other day. He was saying that he overheard a seminar of designers talking about the act of drawing and how it’s attached to the design process. One designer in the crowd said that they don’t draw, and never have, and didn’t see the importance of it. The rest of the room disagreed, and lumped the skill of drawing directly to the process of design.

I personally, don’t know many designers that can sell a concept to a client without some type of drawing as part of the presentation. It’s a designer’s chance to look at the details, work out standard dims to address budget issues, and check proportion. I depend on my hand, experience and intuition, which comes from putting pen to paper.

When you hire a designer, please appreciate all of the hours that go into lining things up perfectly, into appropriate specifications of FF&E (furniture, fixtures and equipment), and perspective drawings that show you how the surfaces will work together.

So, I would say WHAT? Design without drawing? How did you arrive at the design plan? How do you get your client to sign off…and where is the joy in the process? I have just seen too many filler panels between bathroom vanities and bathtubs to be convinced otherwise. Work it out on paper first."


It is the designer or decorator's ability which will help to eliminate needless mistakes in any project, and will help to create spaces that the client has envisioned, but has never been clearly able to communicate.  When the chemistry is right between the designer/decorator and the client, and the d/d is listening, and is able to communicate back to the client through sketch, even if very rough, beautiful things can happen. Something as simple as sketching out an alternate floorplan, or showing the proportions of a piece of art in relation to a fireplace, can be those details that lead a home to design greatness.  Or at least to look like someone was paying attention!
So get sharpen those pencils and get to sketching everyone!!!