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  • How do you begin?

    #1
    Creative Process...
    I was taught to start working on something (namely a logo) with good old pen and paper. Ideas flow faster and you think about concepts and composition rather than fonts etc.

    I now totally skip the drawing stage and start logo designs in Illustrator.

    It's a bit sad really, I do miss pen and paper, but I feel like I can get something done faster straight to computer. I do realise though, I miss out on the variation of concepts I used to get.

    Maybe this post will make me get back to good old pen and paper.

    So where do you start? And what programme?
    Anyone do a combination of pen and paper / computer by scribbling in Photoshop?
    It is more fun to talk with someone who doesn't use long, difficult words but rather short, easy words like "What about lunch?" – Winnie the Pooh
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  • #2


    The only time I don't sketch is quick in-house publication ads.

    I don't see why you would even consider developing a logo without starting on paper.
    Last edited by Ned; 09-18-2006, 05:12 AM.

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    • #3
      This is something I definately want to hear from everyone else too.

      I usually do quick sketches on paper, then go into Illustrator. I get really good conceptual ideas fast. But my layouts for those concepts take time to develop.

      Im not the best hand artist, I have a shakey hand and I've tried a lot to improve, but I just cant do fast accurate drawings. If I take a lot of time to fix my marks and smooth it all out, I can turn out stuff worthy of any design firm, but theres no point for me to do that when it takes so long. I also sorta developed my "shakey improvising, leave all the mistakes in" into my artistic style (on my website). For art, its great, but for design, it doesnt always work too well.

      I'd really like to hear from more experienced people on what their process is for coming up with layout and thumbnailing practices.

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      • #4
        My process is very mixed, somtimes I will sit down with a beer and a big pad of paper and do big brain storms, then do some really dodgy sketches then refine on paper before taking into illustrator. Other times I will just be sitting on illustrator then somthing will hit me. Some people have a really rigid process: conceptualise, sketch, refine, then produce finished artwork. I'd like to say i do this all the time, but the fact is that a lot of the time i dont.

        The only essential thing to remember is ... beer!

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        • #5
          Originally posted by CamarotaDesign
          Im not the best hand artist, I have a shakey hand and I've tried a lot to improve, but I just cant do fast accurate drawings. If I take a lot of time to fix my marks and smooth it all out, I can turn out stuff worthy of any design firm, but theres no point for me to do that when it takes so long. I also sorta developed my "shakey improvising, leave all the mistakes in" into my artistic style (on my website). For art, its great, but for design, it doesnt always work too well.
          I can't draw either, Camarota. I don't think it's important to draw "good" sketches, but it's important to lay out your concept on paper first, where you can visualize it as a big picture. That's the real purpose of sketching first.

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          • #6
            Oh man, I need to start integrating alcohol into my design process, thats what I've been forgetting all these years. And to think, that the burrito shop down the street has a 1 dollar Corona Special everyday of the week, and I dont take advantage of it on my lunch break... !!!!!

            Ok, thats it tomorrow, You will all be reading some posts from me after getting a fat buzz

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            • #7
              Beer doesn't work for me. I prefer a bottle of premium gin at my desk.

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              • #8
                Sketch, Sketch, Sketch constantly.

                My background is in illustration so I have always found pencil and ablank pad a good start.

                Next, depending on how spot on I am, I scan in the illy and trace over it.
                If it's not clean enough, I do a cleaner pencil or other media clean-up.

                Then proceed from there...

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                • #9
                  well, i was going to say i just go to the computer nowadays, but then after some thinking, realized when i was talking to one of my last clients for a logo/identity, that I started scribbling on an envelope. Then I transferred the sketch into Illustrator. (not by scanning but with the pen tool.) Then if I had a thought I might sketch it out or just jump on the computer to do it.

                  I guess it depends on how intricate the design/logo is. some that are very easy just start on the computer, but there are times when i sketch them out to start.

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                  • #10
                    I find I write a lot. My sketch book (especially when I'm coming up with a logo or an identity concept) gets filled with my actual though process and I tend to scribble or sketch along with it.

                    I'm not the greatest illustrator either - my drawings have a painterly style to them. Very loose. But I always find ideas come more readily when sketching/writing.

                    I'll often go to the computer when I have an idea, and something new will develope from it, but the sketchbook is still king.

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                    • #11
                      Nicotine, Valium, Vicodin, Marijuana Ecstasy and Alcohol...
                      Nicotine, Valium, Vicodin, Marijuana Ecstasy and Alcohol...

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                      • #12
                        I sketch for logos, but a lot of times for cd covers I don't. A lot of that process is so dictated by what artwork is available for use and how much copy that I'll go straight to the computer a lot. Most of the time, I'll have a general idea of where I'm heading anyway. But for things like logos, I'll sketch quite a bit. My biggest problem in graphic design is that I tend to overconceptualize things and spend way too much time on concept development. Sketching stuff out seems to shorten that process.

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                        • #13
                          I always have a sketchbook/paper beside me. I'm one of those constant doodlers, I can't help it. I had to bring the sketch book to work or all my office paperwork would have doodles all over them. I'll sraw on anything so I keep it a habit to have a sketch book with me.

                          But don't always start with sketches in my designs unless I am just creating some original artwork. But I may sketch elements I need to trace out in Illy.
                          I prefer Illy over Photoshop for creation/re-creation.

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                          • #14
                            I start out sketching. Always. Whether it be a bar napkin, a receipt in my wallet or just a piece of scrap paper. I hardly ever use a sketch book, but that's just me. I like using whats around me at any given moment. But I don't just jump on the computer. To me it's a huge no-no. So much creativity is lost when jumping right into Illy. Many people need to convey their concepts a certain way and sketching can help get that rolling. If you jump right on the computer and don't know how to do something you want to show it can hinder you final result. Throw down 10-15 small sketches and THEN hit the computer.

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                            • #15
                              I must admit that I'm a compulsive doodler, too. I doodle on whatevers near me as well. Growing up, I always made a specatacle of the tv guide cover!

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