Sketching anyone?

As the net generation of designers reach for the digital tablet or the smart phone rather than the sketchbook, design students may wonder if they need traditional drawing skills. But there are different types of drawings associated with different stages of the design process. In the early stages, sketching is the more flexible and spontaneous way of drawing. Sketching out ideas, then, is not so much about technical drawing skills, or drawing in the tradition of the arts academy, but about the ability to express first thoughts visually, either on one's own (i-sketch), or in team settings (we-sketch). Sketching, though, like all types of drawings, is a skill that improves through practice.