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Kevin Murphy
24,380 PointsIs it necessary to be able to draw/sketch well to be a front end web designer?
I can be creative but I can't draw to save my life. Is skill with drawing a prerequisite to be a capable and skilled web designer? Any experience/ feedback on how sketching vs use of digital tools factors in actual projects?
7 Answers
Andrew Shook
31,709 PointsKevin Murphy, I would say it depends on what exact design skills your job requires. I work as a Web Designer/Developer and I would say that sketching in not really that important for me. Mostly, when I sketch it is for ux/ui and to give everyone a sense of what the over all layout of the web site will look like. This is all done during the brain storming phase. Now if you are doing logo or icon work then yes, sketching is important. Also, in my experience, most sketches done for a website don't need to be really high quality. They more or less look like a hand drawn wireframe.
Zak Erving
22,832 PointsI'm not explicitly disagreeing with either of you, but I think that drawing is an incredible fount of inspiration and visual processing that you simply cannot get anywhere else.
The legendary Saul Bass sums it up nicely: "Learn to draw. If you don't, you'll spend your whole [design career] trying to get around that fact."
Full video here: http://youtu.be/S7l0mIlzx_I
Andrew Shook
31,709 PointsZak, I agree with you that sketching is an important skill to have, but Kevin's question was "Is it important to draw/sketch well". I don't believe that as a web designer its important for your sketches to be high quality since you'll mostly likely be using Illustrator or Photoshop to do a mockup before the client ever see's it.
Kevin Murphy
24,380 PointsZak and Andrew, thanks for your extra comments and thoughts. Zak, if you have any resources -- (very foundational) from which to (possibly) acquire some rudimentary sketching skills that would be great. Any personal endorsements of a site, book, other that's out there?
Zak Erving
22,832 PointsHey Kevin—
The best drawing/sketching experiences I've had have always been in the presence of other doodlers and sketchers. You can learn lots from books and websites (anything from Andrew Loomis, the authority on figure drawing, to all of the awesome stuff on behance.net), but nothing beats a classroom experience (auditing something at your local CC is a great bet). It might be intimidating (and certainly a time commitment), but your classmates and your professors will be your best assets.
Also, don't feel pressured to draw what you don't want to draw. I couldn't be bothered with landscapes, but I'll draw the human figure or portraits any day. Some people prefer geometry; others still life. Stay happy, and your work will show for it—both on the page and in the browser :)
Kevin Murphy
24,380 PointsHey Zak, unfortunately a classroom experience not feasible - will add to the someday/maybe list though. Will check out Andrew Loomis stuff for sure. I may be best off starting with a book of sketching for kids and work my way up from there :) For me to stay happy probably best I not draw ha. That is a great point though, and I do think for me very basic could be fun. Thanks for your thoughts.
Zak Erving
22,832 PointsSure thing :) Have fun!
Kevin Murphy
24,380 PointsHi Andrew,
That's what I was thinking but wasn't sure. Definitely encouraging to hear that as I have no plans to do logo/icon work (although would be cool if I could). Was concerned wouldn't be able to do ux/ui without being able to sketch fluently. The core design skills I can acquire over time and through experimentation. I appreciate that the info you shared was drawn from your firsthand experience. Thanks!
Zak Erving
22,832 PointsAndrew, you're right about that—however, I was getting more at the point of "do whatever one can do to have a competitive edge." I'm not saying that one couldn't be a great web designer without knowing how to sketch, but it absolutely and most definitely helps. Being multidisciplinary in your approach to problem solving will only enhance your product and offering.