Comments on: Why pen+paper is better http://fivesketches.com/2009/04/pen-and-paper-is-better/ Ideation, design, and usability for development teams Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:52:11 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: Jason http://fivesketches.com/2009/04/pen-and-paper-is-better/comment-page-1/#comment-137 Jason Wed, 10 Jun 2009 01:00:22 +0000 http://fivesketches.com/?p=1240#comment-137 Good stuff. I was playing with some mindmapping software today, but your article reminded me that more basic tools can often be more effective. Cheers, Jason Good stuff. I was playing with some mindmapping software today, but your article reminded me that more basic tools can often be more effective.
Cheers,

Jason

]]> By: Sam DeMooy http://fivesketches.com/2009/04/pen-and-paper-is-better/comment-page-1/#comment-62 Sam DeMooy Tue, 21 Apr 2009 16:03:01 +0000 http://fivesketches.com/?p=1240#comment-62 I use small index cards and pen to "draft" my ideas before going to the larger paper for my 5+ sketches. I probably generate 15-20 index cards of ideas before I create my 5 sketches as I usually capture one idea per index card. Using the cards gets the big picture ideas out of my head to clear room for more idea, plus I can spread out all the cards on a small table to see them all at one time. The index cards allow me to sketch anywhere, like when walking home, and capture ideas at any time. I use small index cards and pen to “draft” my ideas before going to the larger paper for my 5+ sketches. I probably generate 15-20 index cards of ideas before I create my 5 sketches as I usually capture one idea per index card. Using the cards gets the big picture ideas out of my head to clear room for more idea, plus I can spread out all the cards on a small table to see them all at one time.

The index cards allow me to sketch anywhere, like when walking home, and capture ideas at any time.

]]> By: Mathew Sanders http://fivesketches.com/2009/04/pen-and-paper-is-better/comment-page-1/#comment-60 Mathew Sanders Mon, 20 Apr 2009 10:31:43 +0000 http://fivesketches.com/?p=1240#comment-60 Good post! Another benefit of sketching that isn't mentioned here is around the type of feedback that you get from a sketch vs. a more refined design. Kathy Sierra says it best: "The better it looks - the more narrow the feedback" Your readers will probably find <a href="http://headrush.typepad.com/creating_passionate_users/2006/12/dont_make_the_d.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">this post from Kathy</a> interesting: Something I'd like to see is a discussion around sketching and the relationship of stakeholders with designers. When you're working on a project where the decision makers are not the designers (perhaps a client/design-agency relationship) there is the responsibility of making sure that the decision makers/stakeholders have enough information to make an informed decision in choosing winning designs in the convergence stage—and also how low level of detail opens up ambiguity in understanding. Good post!

Another benefit of sketching that isn’t mentioned here is around the type of feedback that you get from a sketch vs. a more refined design.

Kathy Sierra says it best:
“The better it looks - the more narrow the feedback”

Your readers will probably find this post from Kathy interesting:

Something I’d like to see is a discussion around sketching and the relationship of stakeholders with designers. When you’re working on a project where the decision makers are not the designers (perhaps a client/design-agency relationship) there is the responsibility of making sure that the decision makers/stakeholders have enough information to make an informed decision in choosing winning designs in the convergence stage—and also how low level of detail opens up ambiguity in understanding.

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