ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
- Why is communication of design ideas with teams and with stakeholders important throughout the design process?
- How are sketches used to document and communicate design ideas with accuracy?
Types of Sketches
We communicate ideas every day by talking with friends, texting messages, or sharing videos. Engineers often communicate their design ideas visually. Sketches are a quick way to share ideas with others. Even if you think your drawing looks awful, a sketch can be worth a thousand words. With some sketching practice and an understanding of sketch types, you will improve your ability to quickly and effectively transfer your design ideas to a visual representation to share with team members.
Before you begin, watch the Types of Sketches video, which describes the following sketch types you will learn to draw in this activity.
Before you begin, watch the Types of Sketches video, which describes the following sketch types you will learn to draw in this activity.
Thumbnail Sketch
A preliminary visual of a possible idea for a design. Most thumbnail sketches are not full size and have little detail. Their purpose is to help quickly explore possible alternative designs.
1. Create a thumbnail sketch on Cartesian (square) graph paper of a small object from either your home or classroom. Remember to make the width and height of the object proportional in your sketch. Add some basic details and darkness to the lines before you share your thumbnail sketch.
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2. After you’ve completed your thumbnail sketch, trade sketches with a classmate and answer the following questions:
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Isometric Sketch
A sketch in which an object’s parallel edges are drawn with parallel lines, typically at 30-degree angles to the horizontal baseline. There are no vanishing points and three sides of the object can be seen simultaneously.
3. Using isometric graph paper, create an isometric sketch for a design of a cardboard box that has a rectangular hole cut into one side of the box.
4. After you’ve completed your isometric sketch, trade sketches with a classmate and answer the following questions:
- How does your classmate’s isometric sketch compare with yours?
- If your sketches are different, why do you think your sketches are not identical?
- How does an isometric sketch differ from a thumbnail sketch?
Multiview Sketch
A sketch typically including three primary views of an object that are drawn using orthographic projections. The top, front, and right primary views of the object are projected onto a drawing plane perpendicular to each view. An isometric sketch of the object is often included.
In the following steps, you will create a multiview sketch of the object shown on the left in Figure 6. If necessary, use five linking cubes to recreate the object, as shown on the right in Figure 6. You can use the video for reference as well.
Object Views (Isometric, Top, Front, Right)
5. Use isometric graph paper to create an isometric sketch of the object in Figure 6.
6. Cut out the isometric sketch and paste it onto Cartesian (square) graph paper. Position the isometric sketch in the top-right corner of the graph paper.
7. Using the example layout shown in Figure 7, draw the three primary views (TOP, FRONT, and RIGHT) of the object in Figure 6.
6. Cut out the isometric sketch and paste it onto Cartesian (square) graph paper. Position the isometric sketch in the top-right corner of the graph paper.
7. Using the example layout shown in Figure 7, draw the three primary views (TOP, FRONT, and RIGHT) of the object in Figure 6.
PLTW GATEWAY NOTEBOOK To add your multiview sketch to your PLTW Gateway Portfolio, insert a photo.