I don't have any sketches online, but i just want to say:

inspiring

Thanks.

Armin, I'll take the bait.

Partial exploration warm up exercise for

DC Air Identity with final thumbnail sketch

and Design.

Approximately two hundred thumbnails were produced

before I arrived at final decision.

Playing around with a stylized "D" and "C"

ooo! how fun. I love seeing designer sketches.

here one for me, sketch & completed art - poster design - local woman's shelter brunch & theatrical thing.

That "Veer’s deliverance" handwriting looks a lot like mine’s.

This is a great post!!

I've always liked to snoop into other designer's sketchbook. It amazes me how somebody's sketches are so good that they almost look final.

Anyway here's my sketches for the makeover of a journal on Family Therapy:

Amanda, that is a real nice sketch. It's, like, almost finished and stuff. (Dig the final piece too of course).

. . .

OK, so was the ode just too weird and over the top?

Armin I think we're maybe either busy or lazy. This one takes a bit of work ... hunting down old sketches and pairing them to a finished project would be ideal ... but ...

I may try to indulge you later today, though, oddly, i don't keep a sketchbook. (A crime, i know.) I tend to do my sketches on scraps of paper. Often just on the backs of stuff from the recycling bin. This is a shocking confession.

I may try to indulge you later today, though, oddly, i don't keep a sketchbook. (A crime, i know.) I tend to do my sketches on scraps of paper. Often just on the backs of stuff from the recycling bin. This is a shocking confession.

Ha and here I was thinking I was the only one. Whew! Thanks Marian. We should though.

OK, so was the ode just too weird and over the top?

Nope, very entertaining though. I didn't know you were the poetry type Armin I mean considering the stuffed animals and all. I bet it's because Rudy said you write well...

I'd like to put in a vote for too busy.

I'm with Marian and Kiran on the no sketchbook comment. Most of my sketches are on Post-it notes. I carry them around for days making updates and revisions. I've got a box of weathered scraps of paper with ideas I want to keep. If I'm at the computer I just make multiple files as an idea evolves. I hope to post later when things calm down a bit. Great topic.

> I didn't know you were the poetry type Armin.

Just trying to mix it up a bit.

I usually sketch on anything that becomes available. I do try to keep everything somewhat organized in one book. I french fold old pages from the office and bind them to create a recycle paper sketchbook that goes with me to every meeting and concepting session. This way, I keep everything in one place, from scheduled items with a client, to random thought post-its and stapled in add on pages.

thanks armin.

i find with illo work having a super strong sketch to scan into my machine & build over just makes life easy as pie.

This way, I keep everything in one place, from scheduled items with a client, to random thought post-its and stapled in add on pages.

Great idea!

My sketchbook is a home for ideas. When I put an idea on paper, it becomes tangible. It's closer to being made than when it was simply an idea.

Writing, drawing, outlines, thoughts, rants... they all belong there. It's a critical part of my design process. Rarely do I share its contents with others, but during the few interviews when people have asked about it, it paid off.

Lately I've begun carrying a mini-sketchbook with me. I call it the iSketch. Small and portable, the iSketch allows me to take notes anywhere and everywhere. It fits right into my back pocket. I've begun backing up my iSketch to my iSteno, then it goes into my G5 for elaboration.

As someone who's design career started out in the writing field, I too don't have what I can call a true sketch book. And since I have little faith in my own drawing abilities, what sketching I do is either on a scrap of paper, or I just work it out in my head.

And while the concept of a sketchbook entices me, I think I'd be embarrassed by the crudity of my own sketches despite my confidence in my ability to create successful design work.

My own confession in front of the Gods of design that grace this fine electronic space.

I call my phone and leave myself messages.

HA! So Bryony isn't the only weirdo that does that… Sometimes when I get home before her, there will be these creepy, short messages on the answering machine: Make it green with red, other times it would be lists: CDs, ruler, paper. Initially they freaked me the hell out because they were so short and devoid of emotion (since they were reminders) that I thought I had done something wrong or was supposed to start making dinner.

Now, this is a sketchbook. Surrounded by a lovely interface. Not design-related but fancy enough to command linkage. (Link snatched via Coudal).

Fascinating topic, I am a sketch book fanatic! I always have multiple books going. The books become vaults for interesting stickers, name tags, post it notes, etc.

For me sketchbooks are about quantity over quality, speed over detail and stream of consciousness over logic. Quality, detail and logic come when I move on to the Mac.

Sketchbooks are also where design breakes happen and mental blocks are destroyed. Simple experiments get archived for yet undetermined uses.

Recently my computer bag was stolen from my car. The police recovered the bag and a hard time understanding why i was so happy to get the bag back sans ibook. The thief had left the sketchbooks behind! Whew.

How about your favorite pen that matches your favorite sketchbook?

My personal favorite: uni-ball vision micro. Good ink flow, cheap and I can buy in mass quantities at office supply stores. The downside is that they are not always available at your nearest grocery store when you need it the most. I always feel lost when at least one isn't within reach.

i have a ton of sketchbooks ranging in size and style. some have more stickers and junk, found objects, some are for design notes and quick doodles, two or three for different types of writing, some i like to paint in.. and you have to have one with grid paper, some with heavy paper you can paint and marker on, some little portable ones... and then the barrage of pens. :-)

I like pink pens the best because they seem to bring out the best ideas since their goofy color encourages free scribbling and writing... and i ride the bus to work, so there's no shortage of time to doodle.

neat postings guys! i will try to post some sketches from mine later.

Personally, I love the Rhodia books. The 6"x8.25" ones are the perfect size, and I like writing and sketching on grid paper. I keep one for each project I am working on. That way, I have all sketches and notes in one place. For some annual report clients that recur, I am known to go through last year's ideas (and the clients' comments) to see what I was thinking - helps get back up to speed quickly. If the project is a short one, and there are pages left, I'll do a divider and start a new project in the book.

My current drawer:

And a couple pages: