In this project we consider the close connection between Drawing and Design. Its main
objective is to analyze the importance of Drawing in the Design process. Given that the
designer has to conceive and develop solutions for certain problems that can be of a
very diverse nature, Drawing presents itself as an operational support for problem
solving and critical analysis during the conceptual process in Design.
Nowadays, the fact that new technologies are widely used, does not invalidate the
important role of freehand drawing/sketching as a driving tool when creating the first
ideas and as a critical verification of the several design solutions hypotheses. This project
first phases are based on bibliographical reviews, aiming to investigate the permanence
and importance of the role played by freehand drawings/sketches since the middle of
last century to contemporary times. Through this theoretical basis, we also intend to
verify the relevance of hand drawing teaching in the training of future designers, despite
the paradigm shift resulting from changing times.
Based on a two-phase research methodology, the first being a survey based on a
questionnaire to be carried out among undergraduate students, and the second a set of
semi-structured interviews with designers. We intend to verify the permanence and
importance of freehand drawing/sketching in the daily designers work.
This project also foresees its dissemination through oral presentations at international
conferences in order to promote debate about this issue and to obtain important
contributions from the international scientific and academic community present in
those conferences. These purposes have been achieved and, also, several publications,
mainly as book chapters edited by highly regarded international publishers