Sketching is a critical part of the web design and development process. It’s similar to building a rough draft or outline for an article or blog post. Taking time to sketch out your ideas is a great way to identify potential issues and solutions. This can save a lot of time and headache going forward, plus it can help you visualize new and emerging ideas.
In an industry that craves efficiency, it’s common for designers to jump into the design process without having a rough sketch. Unfortunately, this approach can lead to less than desirable results. Make time for sketching. It’s an important part of creating a great user experience.
What are the Benefits to Sketching it Out?
It’s easy for web developers to feel rushed. Clients want their websites yesterday, so it puts pressure on the designers to get things done. Ignoring the initial sketching process can end up costing you time, money, and client satisfaction. Build this process into your timeline for the best results. Your clients will thank you, and your team will be happy.
Here are a few sketching advantages:
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Save time in the workflow process
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Brainstorm and collaborate with team members
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Streamline the wireframe process
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Evaluate features and navigation
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Identify appropriate solutions
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Eliminate functionality issues
Want More Scribbling? Follow Our Tips.
If you want more freestyling before the team starts working on the design, you must encourage it! Below are the steps to follow.
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Step 1. Research. Understand the problem you are solving or the end goal you hope to reach. This helps you identify a rough framework for how things should look. You can test out different ideas before working on the graphics editor.
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Step 2. Sketch. Sketching is something that can anyone can do – not just designers. All it requires is a writing instrument and paper. Don’t worry about making things look perfect. Get your unedited ideas out there. In fact, the best sketches are rough and fast.
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Step 3. Collaborate. If several team members are working on sketches, you will need to review them together. Narrow down the best ideas and see how they fit into the overall design. Then, have everyone vote on what they like best. Additional votes can be done as you move further into the project.
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Step 4. Wireframe. People sometimes confuse wireframes and sketches, but they are different. Wireframes are more “cleaned up” versions of sketches. They should have the finer details included and come after the sketching and collaborating.
Some of the best designs are created with a simple sketch. All that is needed is a blank canvas and something to write with. Sketching can make all the difference in taking your project from good to great!
