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SPRINT BRIEF
In this sprint, we will learn how product designers use sketching as a technical thinking tool. We will treat sketching as a way to explore ideas, understand objects, and communicate how products work not as a way to make polished drawings.
We will use fast, clear sketches to think through form, scale, and construction. By the end of the sprint, we will be more confident using sketching to explain real, buildable product ideas.
Add Pinups
Tools for sketching
shading
scale: in the same drawing, draw something mouse sized, moose sized, and house sized
WHAT ARE WE DOING
WHY ARE WE DOING IT
We are learning to sketch like product designers.
So we can quickly think through, test, and communicate how real, buildable objects work.
FINAL PROJECT EXPECTATIONS
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You will produce a set of technical sketches for a handheld product design.
You will use multiple sketch types (perspective, orthographic, exploded, interaction).
Your sketches will clearly communicate scale, parts, and function through drawing and annotation.
Studio Skills
Sketching
Concept Development
Visual thinking
Iteration
Creative Thinking
Engagement and Persistence
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You will need:
Bristol Papers (180g)
Wax/Butter/Tracing Paper
Metal Ruler
Pens
Pencils
Markers
SPRINT MATERIALS
You will need:
WHAT KIND OF SKETCHING?
The point of sketching in our case is not beautiful artistic rendering but rather learning to communicate visually.
Every sketch should help answer:
How big is it?
What is it made of?
How does it work?
How do parts connect?
DESIGN PROCESS SKETCHING
Ideation Sketches
Used to generate and develop ideas quickly.
Explorative Sketches
Used to explore and refine concepts in more detail.
Explanatory Sketches
Used to explain and communicate ideas clearly to others.
FIRST: WARM-UP
Let's draw vertical lines on an A4 paper and horizontal lines on another A4 paper without using a ruler.
Why?
Drawing is a physical skill that improves with repetition, not precision.
Tips!
Use your elbow
Move your whole arm, not just your wrist or fingers.
Draw fast
Going faster helps your lines look smoother and more confident.
Use smooth strokes
Try one long line. no short lines!
Turn your paper
rotate the paper when it feels natural.
Aim!
Put a dot where you want to start and end your line.
Line Weights
Thinner lines are typically construction lines, and the thicker the line is it is understood as an visible out. The solid lines are used mainly to define the shape and size of a structure or object.
The type of line indicates different things in an orthographic drawing.
Line Types
Remember the previous tips
and
Draw as many as you can!
FIRST: WARM-UP
Now let's use the same rules to draw basic shapes.
FIRST: WARM-UP
Now let’s use these drawing rules to draw basic shapes.
Draw:
Boxes
Cylinders
Cones
Pyramids
Don’t worry about perfection.
Draw as many shapes as you can.
Drawing shadows is an important part of a 3-D drawing.
Drop shadow is a shape that is created by an object on a surface (or multiple surfaces) by blocking the light. To see a drop shadow you need a light source.
FOR A FULL UNDERSTANDING OF HOW TO MAKE A SHADOW CLICK HERE
SHADOWS
Shadows
Have you noticed that things look bigger if they are close to you and smaller if they are further away?
This is perspective. It is perspective that helps make things look three dimensional and creates a sense of space receding into the distance.
PERSPECTIVE
Horizon Line: This is the imaginary line where the sky meets the ground.
Vanishing Point: Imagine looking down a straight road. everything seems to get smaller and closer together as it goes further away. The point where everything seems to meet or disappear is called the vanishing point.
PERSPECTIVE
PERSPECTIVE
Before we draw real objects, we’ll practice drawing cubes.
Cubes help us: Understand how objects sit in space.
Practice drawing depth Keep our drawings consistent
Almost every product can be built from cube-like forms.
Draw a horizontal line on your paper; let’s call this the horizon line.
Place two points on the horizon line and label them A and B.
Draw angled lines from points A and B, let's call the cross point C, these lines will form the corners of the base.
First Cube
From the points where the lines from A and B intersect, draw two vertical lines going upward.
From points D and E, draw two lines towards the vanishing points; these lines will form the top surface.
Highlight the visible edges to complete the drawing.
First Cube
In 1-point perspective:
One face of the cube faces you
All depth lines go to one vanishing point
The front face stays flat and square
This is useful when:
An object is facing you straight on
You want a clear, simple view.
1 Point Perspective
Activity: Draw as many cubes as you can using one vanishing point.
In 2-point perspective:
You see two sides of the cube
Each side points to a different vanishing point
Vertical lines stay vertical
This is useful when an object is turned or angled You want a more realistic sense of space
2 Point Perspective
Activity: Rotate your cube and draw it again using two vanishing points.
SCALE
Showing scale helps people quickly understand how big an object is, how it might be used, and whether its size feels practical, comfortable, or surprising.
Activity: Try to draw a simple object in all 3 scales. Make something tiny or huge!
Orthographic Drawing is a collection of 2 Dimensional drawings that give an accurate overall presentation of an object.
A:
What is Orthographic Drawing?
The glass box technique is a drawing method that imagines an object inside a transparent box so you can project its edges and key points onto different sides to create accurate orthographic views.
First we imagine a box surrounding our object
Then we project our object onto one side of the box
GLASS BOX TECHNIQUE
We can do this for every side of the object
GLASS BOX TECHNIQUE
Choose Your Object. It will be your turn now!
First we take a picture of our object
Then we draw a box around the object
GLASS BOX TECHNIQUE
Choose Your Object. It will be your turn now!
Project lines following the side of our box
now we can use that to draw our front view
GLASS BOX TECHNIQUE
Most of the time, the products we use are not simple enough to be defined by just one basic shape. Often, the basic building block has cutouts and protrusions. A simple way to create cutouts is through projection.
DRAWING ON OUR OWN
Rules:
No butter paper
No tracing
Start with a box then refine
Required:
1 perspective sketch
Activity:
Try to draw the object in 3D now.
DRAWING ON OUR OWN
Rules:
Begin with a basic shape-based structure
Modify proportions
Add only necessary features
Include one orthographic view
then try:
Changing height
Tilting planes
Combining volumes
Activity:
Design a small handheld object that solves a simple problem.
DRAWING ON OUR OWN
Pair up and let a friend describe to you their favorite toy.
Try to draw the toy from the description.
Compare the original toy to your final result!
POLICE SKETCH CHALLENGE