Whenever we get a new project, our first inclination is to run straight to the computer. This is the nature of our program, our line of work, and the time we live in, and I am as guilty as the next person. While the computer is almost always necessary to complete an assignment, sometimes stepping away from it for a moment can be just as helpful.
One of the most helpful tips I've learned since starting the program is to sketch out my ideas on paper before even approaching a computer. When I need to create multiple designs for one layout, I can sketch them all out in a matter of minutes, and then it's just a matter of executing it on the computer. If I try to do this on the computer first, I can spend a lifetime moving text and image boxes around on my screen trying to get them just right.
The article Why Graphic Designers Should Learn to Draw, by Douglas Bonneville, says "...but drawing by hand is nonetheless critical at some level, especially during the initial stages of a design. Brainstorming with a pencil is simply impossible to improve on." The author makes sure to say that you don't have to draw to be a good designer, but that it seems to help. The full article can be found here.
What are your thoughts on this topic? Do any of you find it helpful to think on paper before creating a design on the computer?
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