Throughout the years, computer technology (not to mention the emergence of AI) has gradually invaded the world of design. This shift is much like the impact of modern machinery in various industries and crafts, where machine production has replaced handmade methods. Freehand sketches used to be the star of the show for centuries, a fundamental knowledge in architectural design education, even from the generation where I came from (1980’s), yet the tradition has been facing significant challenges due to the appeal of the digital revolution. It has influenced all fields, prompting educational institutions to include relevant study materials in their curriculum. As a result, architectural students are encouraged to adopt these digital tools, making it increasingly challenging to maintain proficiency in traditional sketching techniques amid the rapid and extensive development of design applications.
The question is whether freehand sketches still retain their important position in light of the development of computer applications. Furthermore, can an architect design without the aid of freehand drawing these days? I’ll leave the challenge to you.
OBJECTIVE
As part of my advocacy for the conservation of cultural heritage, I wrote this blog post. Despite the advancements in technology, I believe that the old-fashioned technique of freehand sketching and rendering should be maintained. However, I believe this fight should begin with us, pioneer architects and educators. We should not let the advancement swallow the tradition and let it totally diminish from the industry. In the fight for cultural preservation, our ancestors won. They took care of it for centuries, and they earned the victory because the evidence is still intact to this date.
DEFINING ASSOCIATED KEYWORDS
The first thing to do is to identify the subject matter, starting with its keywords and their definitions. I referred to some useful vocabulary references to find the easiest non-technical definitions.
FIRSTLY, what is design? Wikipedia says, "A design is the concept of or proposal for an object, process, or system. The word design refers to something that is or has been intentionally created by a thinking agent, and is sometimes used to refer to the inherent nature of something – its design." Sounds like a great definition, but way too technical for my readers. So anyway, since I love my readers, I decided to take a look at how educators define it. I went to research work done by a university faculty member of Mattaria-Helwan University in the mid-east region, Ehab Nasr (see citations). According to Nasr, "Design is a creative process which brings an idea to reality." Wow! That was so simple and direct to the point. So, I think let’s just stick to the professor's definitions.
Our next keyword is "freehand sketching." Freehand sketches are a translation or expression of one's thought within an understandable and intelligible frame."
Lastly is "digital architecture." The digital architecture is a new type of architectural engineering produced by digital technologies and accompanied by an emerging new approach in the forms and functions. The digital architecture uses the computer models, simulation, programming and images for creating the material architectural model.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF FREEHAND DRAWING
According to a research work entitled Asia and Middle East Freehand Drawing and Architectural Expression by Hanif Budiman, Ibrahim Numan, Noor Cholis Idham (see citation):
“Drawing is a fundamental form of human expression. Prehistoric drawings depicting aspects of early societies, such as hunting scenes, have been found in caves in southern Europe (Moran, 2013). Humans used drawing as a way of expressing their existence. The other earliest type of drawing was also found on the walls of caves in India, China, Australia, South America, even in Celebes in Indonesia. The drawing produced by Neolithic times were eventually stylized and simplified into symbol systems (proto-writing) and eventually into early writing systems. The development of the drawing is founded in early civilizations such as in the Indus valley and Egypt. This idea is a picture symbol or pictogram, a symbol pattern that has been arranged as a communication language with a certain pattern that implies a certain purpose.”
In other words, drawing originated from the prehistoric writings of our ancestors. Therefore, drawing started as a means of communication and endures up to this time when we perform drawing, regardless of whether it is freehand or digital, in communicating with our clients as part of the planning and design process.
THE ROLE OF FREEHAND SKETCHING IN THE DESIGN PROCESS
It would be very straightforward to say that freehand sketching is still essential in the process of architectural planning and design. We cannot deny that not even the design trend, or technological advancement to the extent of the introduction of AI, could eliminate the use of the freehand sketch method. Before we can finalize the design using the digital method, it should always begin with the conceptualization and analysis stage which is best and quickly done by applying freehand sketching. For a detailed example of the process, I refer to a figure below taken from Mattaria–Helwan University research work by Ehab Nasr (see citation):
THE IMPORTANCE OF FREEHAND SKETCHES
Not only in architecture, but even in other fields of art such as traditional painting, artists always ought to begin by sketching the draft before the paintbrush touches the canvas. That’s where we can see the importance. In a discussion of this topic, a like-minded friend encouraged that if we push to keep the artistic side alive rather than letting the focus be purely on efficiency, maybe we can shift the trend. I kind of agree with this; just like the seafarers, I guess we really should shift the stirring wheel to reach our target destination.
For digital artists, it's a relief to know about the invention of drawing tablets where they could apply freehand sketching through a digital pen using the application software. This is a good example of a mixed design method. Architects performing conceptual planning could make use of this combined method that maintains the application of artistic skills and digital technology simultaneously. Therefore, finished products are both aesthetically and efficiently designed.
USES OF FREEHAND SKETCHES IN DESIGN
Based on the outline in Nasr’s research, the following are the uses of freehand sketches:
A. Thinking tool: It is a means for generating, conceiving, putting forth and testing the ideas (visual - inspiration process development - design ideas crystallization - imagining - noticing).
B. Communication tool: Freehand sketches are means of communication between the architect and himself, the architect, work team, the professor and architectural student. It is a means of dialogue between the architect and the project owner as an abstract language on understanding and communication between the parties of the design process.
C. Interpretation, analysis and comparison tool: It helps in making the vision and interpretation of the design problems and its solutions and comparing between alternatives for choosing the best.
D. Expression of innovation: The individual expression of the initial idea and it is also means of the innovating process; expression of an idea whether Interpreting, explaining, visual, recording the mental impressions.
E. Exploration and development tool: Whereas it is used as means of exploring the design problems and finding out many solutions to it. It also helps the architect to explore and understand the design form and helps in developing the ideas for reaching the final thought.
F. Documentation tool: It is used in coordination between the eye and hand to be a mean through which the images can be imported, documented and helps also in the historical documentation.
DIGITAL APPLICATION USES IN DESIGN PROCESS
The uses of digital application in the design process include:
- Data Collection& Analysis.
- Conceptual Design Preparation.
- Idea Development.
- Computer Aided Design& Presentation (2D& 3D).
- Simulation.
- Digital and Physical Building Model (Generation of architectural forms)
- Remote Collaboration.
- Virtual Reality.
Putting together all the information derived from Nasr's work represents the importance of freehand sketching in the design process to the extent that it can encourage architects to prevent the gradual diminution of sketching in the workplace. Instead, it should be integrated with digital methods and treated as design components working together in a system that is aimed to create aesthetic, yet efficient work of art.
CONCLUSION
I would not elaborate this topic much in this blog since I want to turn this into an interesting mini-series I have in mind. I figured out that this subject could not be discussed in one sitting only and I believe the information I have shared so far would be good enough so you may understand the overview of my objective. It is the cultural identity and the sense of originality of the architect or an artist that I want to emphasize and preserve in this endeavor. The bottom line is that we should stop arguing about which one is best. Let's discuss this with a sense of balance.
In the next episodes, we can expect AI to enter the arena. Oh well, let's just welcome it, but I believe we should not let it dominate the show. Instead, let us use our own creativity and use AI as a modern tool only that we have full control of. Use it to enhance our own ingenuity, nothing more, nothing less. So what do you think? Come, join me in this journey...
JOEY CASTANEDA, Architect
CITATIONS:
Excerpts and photos of research documents submitted by the following authors to https://www.academia.edu/
- Ehab Nasr Elden Ahamed Mohamed, THE IMPACT OF DIGITAL ARCHITECTURE ON FREEHAND SKETCHES THROUGH DESIGN PROCESS, Department of Architectural – Faculty of Engineering Mattaria – Helwan University – Cairo – Egypt. Emirates Journal for Engineering Research, 19 (1), 49-60 (2014)
- Hanif Budiman, Ibrahim Numan, Noor, Cholis Idham, Freehand Drawing and Architectural Expression; 1 Architecture Department, Faculty of Architecture And Design, Fatih Sultan Mehmet Vakif University, Istanbul 2 Architecture Department, Faculty of Architecture And Design, Fatih Sultan Mehmet Vakif University, Istanbul, 3 Architecture Department, Faculty of Civil Engineering And Planning, Universitas Islam Indonesia, Yogyakarta JOURNAL OF ARCHITECTURAL RESEARCH AND DESIGN STUDIES
- Other photos taken from Pixabay and Pexel websites
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