Essay

The Preciousness of Drawing

When analyzing the finished results between a hand-drawing versus a digital-drawing, the stylistic differences are easy to see. Both types of drawings can be very beautiful, if thoughtfully composed. Yet, a designer will think about what they are drawing very differently depending on which drawing process they use. With hand-drawing, the designer often strives to “capture” insight with each line drawn. With digital-drawing, the designer often strives to “test” insight with each line drawn. The differences may seem slight, but they reside within the issue of preciousness.

As one draws by hand, much thought must go into the placement, color, direction, and even length of a line that, once placed, becomes a permanent part of the drawing. While when drawing with a computer, a line can be placed, tested, and removed within a few clicks. As the preciousness of drawing a line differs between what is drawn by hand versus the computer, the designer’s thinking process differs as well. With digital-drawing the designer is more inclined to think strategically through on-screen iteration (as the placement of each line is tested), while with hand-drawing the designer is more inclined to think strategically through mental iteration (as the placement of each line is final). After all, within a hand-drawing a new line can make or break the design; thus, careful attention must be placed on where, how, and why it is being realized.

The Evolution of Seeing

Both hand-drawing and digital-drawing will help you to see your architectural designs more deeply. However, questions arise when you consider how often you create hand-drawings to design, as compared to digital-drawings. Again, each drawing type will help you to see your design in different ways – not just because of the drawings’ different finished results, but also because of the different thinking processes needed for each type of drawing. Thus, both digital and hand-drawing will help you to evolve different ways of seeing, and this is why it is important for you to practice both.

If you are an architect that works primarily with computers to design, it is important to create hand-drawn explorations. Conversely, if you are an architect that primarily works by creating hand-drawings, it will greatly benefit you to explore using digital tools. In both cases, you will evolve how you think and see design. As you gain mastery with both drawing practices, you will find particular uses to leverage each within your architectural design practice. For example, hand-drawing versus digital-drawing may help you to see your design project more deeply at different stages in the design process. The key is to know when to use each drawing type to see insights at important stages, and to also use the drawing types to allow for discovery during those same drawing stages.

Ask yourself: How can I see my project more deeply by drawing it differently? Then proceed to explore through a new drawing type. You will be pleasantly surprised by what you find.

Image Credit: © Ractapopulous | Pixabay