Why I Always Sketch as a Graphic Designer

As a designer, it’s easy to want to skip the planning process and jump directly into your design program of choice. It feels like less work, like you’re cutting out an extra step and are closer to your final file. I implore you to take that extra time and make sketching part of your design process. 

Sketching is the process of putting your ideas onto paper by drawing them out. Don’t feel the need to be perfect, “they simply need to capture the essence of the idea,” says Keboto.org. Your sketches are actually supposed to be messy and quick. This part of the process is less about the actual design, it’s about the ideation.

I always sketch before I jump into anyAdobe softwareor similar program. Why? It allows me to think and flesh out my ideas beforehand. It helps me remember what I was thinking when I revisit a project. It helps me work through potential issues. In the long run, sketching saves time.

Getting Ideas Onto Paper

Have you ever had a really great idea and instead of writing it down, just told yourself you’d remember it? I’ve been guilty of this many times. When I work on the project later, my genius idea is gone. 

Just getting your ideas out of your head and onto paper helps you hold onto ideas. When you have time to revisit your project later, you can look back at your sketchbook and pick up right where you left off instead of racking your brain trying to remember.  

You never know when an idea will strike. That’s why I always try to keep my sketchbook on hand. This way, it’s easy to quickly sketch an idea before it leaves my head for good. If you don’t have a sketchbook with you, don’t worry, a good alternative is taking out your phone and using any app you can to draw and save your idea. When this is my only option, I’ll sketch on Snapchat or in my notes app.

A quick sketch made in Snapchat for a sports poster idea.

Ideation

Sketching allows for rapid idea generation. It allows you to quickly sketch multiple ideas without limitations. You can work through a variety of solutions to your design problem. 

“Finding the optimal design solutions,” says Craig Stoffel, director of design at Todd+Associates, "requires the ability to set aside preconceived notions and allow for the unexpected.” It’s best practice not to stop at your first idea. Instead, go well past it by sketching out 10, 20, or 30 ideas. This helps you dig deep and discover new ideas you wouldn’t have otherwise thought of. Once you’re well past your first idea, that’s when you’ll find the real, innovative solution to your problem. 

Limitless Creation

Sketching on paper is ideation at its simplest. Nothing is there to get in your way. 

“I’m not limited by any fonts or effects,” says designer and YouTuber, Brent Galloway, “I can explore the different pieces and how they fit together.” Designing on paper allows you to create without getting stuck, whether it be by choosing the right typeface or not knowing exactly how to go about digitizing your idea. Without complex applications and their tools in your way, you are freer to create anything you think of.

Problem Solving

This step can help bring to light potential future issues you may run into when designing down the line. 

“A simple sketch might reveal an unusual layout or a unique design element that would have been difficult to conceptualize digitally,” says Keboto.org. With this information, you can work through issues before you’ve done a majority of the work. You’ve either already started to deal with the problem, so it doesn’t take you by surprise later, or you've worked through the problem already, so you don’t have to backtrack later down the line. 

Identifying these potential issues early helps you plan and saves time in the long run. 

So, grab a pencil and a piece of paper and get sketching!

Hi, I’m Sophia. I’m a graphic designer who’s passionate about creating intentional, strategic, and eye-catching designs. From brand identities to motion graphics and from stationary to large displays, I’m here to help translate your what’s in your mind to an effective and eye-catching final product.

Let’s make something great!