Finding Time to Sketch
…isn’t easy. But sketching, is one of the best tools a designer has to solve problems, present found solutions, and just plain all around communicate. Developing your sketching skill is not easy either, sure some are born with a natural ability, but that doesn’t mean you can’t reach the same or higher skill level.
I just started reading a great book, called Outliers. One of it’s grabbing quotes:
“In fact, researchers have settled on what they believe is the magic number for true expertise: ten thousand hours.”
— Malcolm Gladwell (Outliers)
If you take this to heart, it means you’ll become an expert of anything after spending 10,000 hours doing it. If you want to become an expert sketcher/designer, all you have to do is get busy.
Just for fun:
I need to spend about 10,000 more hours sketching, but time is limited, so I’m always looking for new ways to fit an extra sketch in. Lately, I’ve been putting the iPhone 4 to the test. Finger paintings are kind off fun.
Drawn and recorded using iPhone 4 and the Brushes app.
Find Your Zag
“Zag: The #1 Strategy of High-Performance Brands”
I just finished reading the book, “Zag” by Marty Neumeier! I feel like my eyes have been opened, again. Marty gives great insights on defining a brand. Though the book wasn’t written directly to the ID-er, every aspect (and every page) can be applied to our field.
We live in a world of clutter, and it’s only getting worse. With millions of products out there, how are you going to create the next standout? In a nutshell, Marty’s book is about finding your “Zag”. He explains that the clutter comes from everyone following each other, which inturn creates a lot of “Zigging”. So, instead of putting all your effort into “Zigging” better, faster, and stronger than everyone else, why not “Zag”? It makes sense, right? This is where the challenge begins and where true product innovation comes into play. It’s not easy, but Marty’s book offers many great tips to help get the ball rolling. I highley recommend this book to the beginning and seasoned ID-er, alike.
Why do we sketch?
Here’s a great video showing what industrial designers use sketching and rendering for. Also, this is a great video reminding current design professionals the role of sketching.
Off The Bookshelf
Title: The Back of the Napkin
Author: Dan Roam
I just started reading this great book and I’m already to page 123 – I can’t put it down. It has awesome insights on solving any problem by using hand drawn pictures. On of my favorite concepts so far is the 6 w’s, or “clumps.”
1. Who and what problems
2. How much problems
3. When problems
4. Where problems
5. How problems
6. Why problems
For further explanation into these areas I guess you’ll have to read the book 
!
Ever since I can remember, I’ve been drawing cars. I grew up loving to draw, paint, take pictures, take things apart, and put things back together. I suppose, becoming an Industrial Designer was one of the simplest decisions I’ve ever made. 
