In Articles Apr 16, 20108

Sketching or Straight To the Computer for Design Concepts? What’s Your Choice?

There are several methods for wire-framing,prototyping or sketching a web design project. Some may use a web based wire framing app or download one of the many powerful desktop applications available, and others, will simply use the ageless and always reliable pencil and paper. So, we now pass this question to you.

As we like to do every week, we highlight a question that had been previously asked on Answers, and offer our readers the chance to comment and share their thoughts.
So, here is this weeks question: Sketching or Straight To the Computer for Design Concepts? What’s Your Choice?.
You can leave a comment below or you can leave an answer on the original question on Answers.

Sketching or Straight To the Computer for Design Concepts? What’s Your Choice?

This question was originally asked on Answers by Autobots.

Answer from Unregistered User:

Always sketch first. I find the computer can get in the way, and I can get stuck in a design rut if I move to the mac to early. Sketching helps keep the creativity flowing, and allows me to think up some organic ideas. I can decide what characteristics a typeface should have in a design without worrying about if I have it on the computer for example. Anything’s possible on paper.

Answer from Unregistered User:

Sketching every time! Its easier for me to get my ideas together with a pencil and pad, then translate them onscreen.

Answer from Handrus Nogueira:

It really depends on client needs. Every time a work need a bit more creativity sketching become necessary. In the rare cases where client know what he want’s or already have a good idea of how the page elements should look like I run directly into html, css (without PSD), the use of css frameworks like blueprint and bluetrip made it a lot easier and overall faster than create the design in photoshop first.

What do you think?

Unanswered Questions on Answers

Below you will find this weeks selection of unanswered questions, can you help?

  1. How Can I Make an Interactive Map of the World?
  2. Is It Possible to Place PHP Projects Into The Google App Engine So They Can Be Executable?
  3. What’s the Most Effective Way to Make Sure That My HTML/CSS Works On All Browsers?
  4. How Do I Fix Unwanted Caching in Firefox?

Thanks again, firstly to everyone who asked a question, but most importantly thanks to everyone that took the time to offer always helpful and useful answers.

8 Comments

  • Matt
    Apr 16, 2010
    It really depends. Normally I’ll sketch, as nothing is faster for getting a general idea of layout etc. Sometimes I’ll be messing around on the computer and end up coming up with something that works, though, and go from there. And finally, sometimes I do both (i.e. start on computer, then take to the sketchbook, then back, repeat).
  • Morgan Finley
    Apr 16, 2010
    Definitely start with sketching. The computer just does not have the freedom to explore your ideas without getting too invested. You can always erase, or better yet, start another drawing. When I sketch, I’m able to focus on the design, rather than how I’m going to use the software and tools.

    I started my blog, freehandfuturist.com, because of this very issue. Great article.

  • Pedro's Flowpod
    Apr 16, 2010
    Since i’m an interface & usability designer, everything i do must start with sketching. Sketching and paper prototyping are two big friends.

    But i have to say that i wasn’t ever like this. I used to just jump to photoshop or something and start experimenting.

    But while you sketch you don’t think on resolutions or computer limitations … you just think ” Man, this would be really cool if it worked like this this and that”.

    So this is the main idea on sketching. Give you freedom to think out of the box and to identify the problems in an early stage …

    I’ve detected problems even before we touched a computer. And other people that we ask to analyze and “test” our idea, point out cool ideas or problems that we did not realize.

    So yes, sketch before you do a proof of concept.

  • Dave Seipp
    Apr 16, 2010
    I always start sketching stuff out on paper and working out what elements are needed. I find it good to scribble out ideas really quickly. Once I’m happy with an idea I’ll put the design together in Photoshop, slice it in Fireworks (piece by piece) and code it using Dreamweaver. I quite often look on Kuler and Colourlovers.com for colour inspiration. I always carry a sketchbook and pencils with me, but any scrap of paper is good.
  • Sketching or Straight To the Computer for Design Concepts? What’s Your Choice? | Lively Design Tuts
    Apr 16, 2010
    [...] Direct Link [...]
  • Alec
    Apr 17, 2010
    When coming up with a new web design 90% of the time I start on paper the other 10% I have a really good picture in my head so the design flows straight into Fireworks.

    When I start a new web design on paper I use a Biro, I can’t stand using pencils for design for some reason. Maybe it just feels more real in Biro?

  • Deb
    Apr 19, 2010
    I always start with sketching. I enjoy putting a very different ideas on paper. This really helps me see how the design flows.
  • cheap printing
    Aug 30, 2010
    Yes i think sketching is the best way to go with the flow

Leave a Comment

Ask a Question on Design Reviver Answers