Sketch 3: Shampoo Bottles

Pencil on Canson

Yes, my scanner is broken so I had to take a picture...

Sketch - A - Day #2: Figures

Black Pencil on Bristol drawing paper

I find that when drawing people the strokes I use are much more free.  I always put much more movement into the strokes.  Products always have direction to their forms.  Like the human figure, well aesthetically designed products seem to have movement or points of interest from a various points of view.  Even the strokes of the line can add insight as to where forces are being generated and held.

Sketch - A - Day #1: Backpacks

Felt Pen and Copic Marker

Introduction to Sketch A Day

My name is Lance and I'm in my final year of getting my masters in industrial design at NCSU having completed my undergrad in aerospace engineering.  I'm currently working on my thesis and want to balance my research by practicing ideation sketching.  I was inspired by the quote "if you don't do it every day, don't do it at all" which meant to me, don't start something if you don't intend to master it.

What do I want to get out of it?  I view sketching not only as a tool for visualizing three dimensional ideas but also as a way to design systems and visually think.  I want to practice different styles of drawing and thinking so that I have a natural intuition about which types of strokes and methods are best for the desired illustration.

Criteria for a successful sketch layout:

Perspective - honestly constructing the design by drawing through the form.
Proportion - involves the rational scaling of elements so the overall form and details feel right.  Intentionally control proportion.
Volume - having consistent output for my ability and being okay with thinking on the page without editing my ideas.
Line Quality - controlling the thickness of the line and controlling your drawing tools.
Contrast - very bright to super dark so that it reads
Content - one concise theme, not several design on one sketch.  One core idea with supportive ideas.  Design goes past something subjective to an objective solution.
Variety - no two designs are the same.  Investigate all the options, go down every road, turn over every stone.  Show that you have breadth to your abilities.
Harmony - design is cohesive and the page layout has balance
Clarity - design direction is obvious, clearly visually communicated.  Can the sketch speak for itself?
Flair - control and liberties taken to create interest for the viewer "can I see the again?", wow factor, and pop.  Does it jump off the page?  Would you steal it if it were a poster?

So here it goes, one sketch, everyday!