The Importance of Sketching During Meetings
A few lines drawn quickly on paper with a pen can transform an idea-s-into a shared vision-s-. Today, when so much interior design work is done with high-tech computer programs, there is still immense value in the ability to communicate with hand-drawn sketches — especially during meetings with clients and contractors.
Computer design programs have many benefits.”Building” the space in a 3D model often clarifies and avoids constructability issues and protects against any mis-understanding amount the team members. But having the ability to pick up a pen during a meeting revise a space plan, sketch a quick construction detail or millwork concept can bring efficiency to the interior design process.
These sketches are not masterpieces, nor should they be. Quick and dirty sketches ensure everyone is visualizing the space the same way. This is especially helpful when changes to a design or clarifications are requested. Before their eyes, a client’s input is quickly incorporated into the design with a few strokes of the pen. The few minutes it takes to draw a sketch during the discussion can save potentially hours of wasted time later, as design details and ideas are rapidly generated for immediate consensus building.
For those who like the benefits of using technology to design, a variety of programs are available for tablets. Using a stylus, the designer can sketch a design that is automatically saved as a digital file. With the ability to add standard features and fill in with color, tablet sketching offers a great bridge between hand drawing and technology.
As more and more design work moves online and the emphasis on sketching wanes, hand-drafting as a skillset is becoming a lost art. But hand-drawn sketches are a valuable tool in the interior designer toolbox, along with the paper and pens for creating these helpful visual aids in any situation.
At FS Design Group, we welcome the interplay of advanced technology with traditional methods in the interior design process. Melding the two helps us bring workplace design to life
