Some time ago submitted these 11 X 17 boards to a sketch competition for d3. 2013 submission call. These boards, along with a1,500 others were hung the Fordham University in NYC.
Since then I have used these boards over and over when the subject of sketching in architecture comes up.
This is a pretty good summary of my work when it comes to design thinking and how it relates to drawing.
I hope you enjoy these.
This first board is about digital sketching. For me it isn't either or. It is just a different medium. You approach a charcoal drawing differently than an ink wash. It is the same with digital versus traditional media. Craft is craft.
I do A LOT of travel sketching. As an architect to me it is similar to a musician practicing their favorite artist melody lines. To learn to see (or hear), try to figure out what they were saying and why it worked (or didn't), and especially to remember.
At this point I can walk while drawing and painting. I can also draw upside down almost as well as right side up. Somehow my handwriting is so much better than the normal way but it is much slower.
Often times I am in conversations about how to put complex assemblies together. I have found these types of drawings to really help that conversation along and get past the basics and on to the good ideas from the folks in the field.
As architects, we do a ton of 3d modeling. I set up the basic bones of a building faster in 3d which gives me something accurate to sketch options over. Pick and option, model that, print and sketch over to the next level of detail and options, model and test that, sketch over it....you get the picture but I almost have construction documents when I am done.
This is also a good way to have conversations with multiple trades. The construction folk look at it toward constructability, sequencing, and cost. The owner or developer wants to see the image and the feel along with cost. There are lots of players with different centers of their universe and this lets me communicate in a way to talks to all of them.
Plus.... I just love drawing and use any excuse I can.
Hope you enjoyed this.
Samples of my other work can be found by searching James Nutt and Behance.