Mar
3rd

Sketching: Ideas On Paper

Sketch - Layout

Developing concepts and ideas for a website design, icon or logo, or any type of graphic development can seem like an overwhelming task at times. No matter how many websites you have created or logos you’ve developed, the creative process is always something that can take a lot out of you. True, there are days when this process seems to come as easily and naturally as walking or breathing, but those days come about less often then I would care to admit. This is where sketching, for me, enters the picture (no pun intended). Sketching out ideas and concepts helps me quickly sift throughout the ideas trapped inside my head. I must admit, I do spend a bit too much time in this phase of the project because of my love for it.

Zoowee Bubble Layout

Layout sketches for Zoowee Music. Developed layout for container that would hold Artist profile, album list, songs, etc.

Thanks to an extremely talented artistic mother, I have been sketching obsessively since I was young. Thankfully web and graphic design gives me an outlet to put this obsession to use. Sketching out layouts for websites is essential to my process, but I really enjoy icon and graphic development. This is where the pen and pencil really helps me plan out how an objects or graphics will end up being rendered on the computer.

Zoowee Icon Development

Zoowee Icon Development

Zoowee Dashboard Sketch

Sketch for Zoowee Dashboard Graphics. Depicting the monitoring and managment of your Zoowee Bubbles.

Icon Development for Zoowee

Launch Icon Development

Rocky Horton helped me discover the graph paper moleskin (I know, I know its typical designer to carry this around but it fits so well into my bag and they are so easy to keep organized) which has really helped with sketches for websites and logos. Its a wonder I didn’t make this connection sooner (living in a pixel based world).

Addicted to the Outdoors Sketch

Layout sketch for Addicted to the Outdoors

I’ll post a follow-up to this with more of my sketches once I get my sketch books together. This just happens to be the sketchbook sitting in front of me at the time, but I will sift through the boxes I have at home and post some more detailed images and more on my process in my next post.

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2 Responses to “Sketching: Ideas On Paper”

  1. paulie says:

    Beautiful!

    I know not the point of the article but the metal finish on the rocket is amazing! Love to know how you achieved it.

    Looking forward to the follow-up!

  2. Thanks for the feedback!

    The metal on the rocket was created using a flat metal image then transformed to match the contour of the rocket. After I have the texture set I go in and apply light and shadows with the layer blending mode set to overlay for the light sources and multiply for the shadows. After the texture and the lighting is set, go in with a grunge brush and add a small amount of dirt and grime to give it a bit more of a tangible look.

    The final result of this can be seen at: http://www.zoowee.com/campaigns.php

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