The art of the sketch

One of the pieces of the field of architecture that is wasting away is the "sketch".  I have observed, from my experience with students (interns from Cincinnati who came to work with us in New York), that architectural education lacks exposure to the fun and necessity of hand-drawing.  The result is that students don't even know that they need to draw and so they don't seek after it - they don't practice.

I can attest to this personally!  Even though I got into the field because I love to draw, I stopped drawing in college for a long time because I thought the computer could do it for me.  Finally, I had a faculty member FORCE me to draw free-hand for a crit.  I thought he was crazy.  It turns out that was exactly what my project needed - the freedom from a straight-edge to get the creative juices flowing.

I have people ask me all the time if I draw - REALLY draw.  I have taken to carrying my sketchbook everywhere.  It allows me the freedom to jot and doodle when I go, but it also gives me the opportunity to show people what I am working on.  I have my brother and sister-in-law to thank for this because two years ago they bought me a Moleskine sketchbook for Christmas. 

I use my Moleskine for more than just sketching, I keep notes and business cards; I record thoughts and ideas for future use.  But I also record the design ideas and intentions for a variety of projects that I am working on - and some that I wish I was working on. :)  Some of the sketches result in actually work product - some will hopefully get built.  Some was just fun - but even the fun stuff results in learning of some kind.

I strongly believe in the power of technology and the future of my professional using the benefits of technology, but we need to encourage the hand of the designer with pencil/pen/watercolor/charcoal/etc. and paper, too.  Ask me about the projects that I'm working on...you might get to see some of the current sketches I'm carrying around with me.