Mastering sketching is key to excelling in product development. Here are 10 essential techniques to take your sketches to the next level!
How to Use Sketching to Enhance Product Design and Development
1. Construction Lines. The Foundation of Product Design
The sketch begins with light construction lines that help structure proportions and basic shapes. These lines allow you to adjust and experiment with the design without committing to the final result. In product design, this technique is essential for exploring different shapes before delving into the details.
2. Perspective
Perspective adds depth and realism to sketches. Master one-point perspective for simpler designs and two-point perspective for more complex products. This technique is essential in product design to show how an object will appear in three-dimensional space.
3. Shading to Add Volume
Shading transforms a flat drawing into a three-dimensional design. It identifies the light source and uses gradations to create shadows and reflections. In product development, this technique is key to visualising how the product will interact with light in different environments.
4. Use of Textures
Representing textures such as metal, wood, plastic or fabric in a sketch improves understanding of the materials to be used in the design. Use simple patterns such as lines, dots or shading to distinguish between surfaces, which is essential in the product design process.
5. Markers and Colours
Markers are powerful tools for highlighting details and bringing your sketches to life. Use shades of grey for shadows and bold colours to highlight key features. Incorporating colour early in product design helps teams visualise the final product.
6. Silhouette Sketches (Initial Silhouettes)
Starting with silhouettes allows you to establish the overall shape and proportion of the product before worrying about the details. This is especially useful in the early stages of product development, where quick iterations are key to defining the concept.
7. Outline and Defined Strokes
A good outline gives your sketches a clean, professional appearance. Use clear, continuous lines to outline the shape of the product, ensuring that the most important aspects of a product design are easy to identify.
8. Quick Sketches (Thumbnail Sketches)
Quick sketches are ideal for exploring multiple ideas in a short time. These small, simplified versions of a sketch are perfect for brainstorming during the conceptual phase of product design.
9. Annotations and Explanatory Notes
Complement your sketches with annotations to detail dimensions, materials or functionalities. This technique is essential for product development, as it improves communication with technical and production teams.
10. Constant Practice and Experimentation
Sketching is a skill that improves with daily practice. Experiment with different techniques, tools and styles to expand your repertoire. This will allow you to approach any product design challenge with confidence.
i-mas: Experts in product design and development
Sketching is a creative tool and a strategic technique in product development. It allows ideas to be visualised, potential problems to be detected and concepts to be communicated clearly. Although technology has brought advanced digital tools, sketching remains an irreplaceable stage in the design process.
At i-mas, we are specialists in product design and development, with more than 20 years of experience in the sector. We have a team of more than 80 qualified professionals who use advanced sketching and design techniques to turn concepts into real and functional products.
