Learn How to Sketch Like a Pro with Learning Curves by Klara Sjolen and Allan Macdonald
Learning Curves by Klara Sjolen and Allan Macdonald: A Review
If you are a designer, a student, or anyone who wants to improve your design sketch skills, you might be interested in reading Learning Curves by Klara Sjolen and Allan Macdonald. This book is an inspiring guide that offers tips, tricks, exercises, and examples to help you learn how to sketch effectively and creatively. In this article, I will review the book and tell you why you should read it.
Learning Curves By Klara Sjolen And Allan Macdonald Rapidshare
Introduction
What is Learning Curves?
Learning Curves is a sketch book that was published in 2011 by KEEOS Design Books. It has 177 pages of content that cover various aspects of sketching, such as reasons to sketch, learning to observe and explore objects around you, drawing theory, finding the right mindset for drawing, trying different materials, using your sketches to communicate effectively, creating highly emotive images to engage and attract your audience, and what sketches to use at each stage of the design process. The book contains work from over 60 designers from different fields, such as product, automotive, and fashion design. The book aims to teach you how to really learn to sketch, not just how to copy or imitate others.
Who are the authors?
The authors of Learning Curves are Klara Sjolen and Allan Macdonald. Klara Sjolen is a Swedish industrial designer who has worked for companies like Volvo Cars, Electrolux, Nokia, Sony Ericsson, and Philips. She is also a lecturer at Umea Institute of Design and a co-founder of KEEOS Design Books. Allan Macdonald is a Scottish product designer who has worked for companies like Nokia, Philips, Electrolux, Whirlpool, LG Electronics, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, and Huawei. He is also a lecturer at Umea Institute of Design and a co-founder of KEEOS Design Books.
Why should you read this book?
You should read this book if you want to:
Learn how to sketch better and faster
Develop your own style and personality in sketching
Enhance your creativity and problem-solving skills
Communicate your ideas and concepts more clearly and convincingly
Have fun and enjoy sketching
Main Content
Reasons to sketch
Sketching helps you learn
Sketching is a powerful way to learn new things. When you sketch, you activate different parts of your brain, such as visual, spatial, motor, and memory. You also engage your senses, such as sight, touch, and sound. Sketching helps you process information better, remember it longer, and recall it easier. Sketching also helps you learn from your mistakes, as you can see what works and what doesn't, and improve your next sketch.
Sketching helps you communicate
Sketching is a universal language that can be understood by anyone, regardless of their culture, background, or education. Sketching helps you communicate your ideas and concepts to others, such as clients, colleagues, or users. Sketching also helps you communicate with yourself, as you can clarify your thoughts, explore your options, and refine your solutions.
Sketching helps you create
Sketching is a creative tool that can help you generate new ideas and solutions. Sketching allows you to experiment with different shapes, forms, colors, textures, and perspectives. Sketching also allows you to express your emotions, feelings, and personality. Sketching helps you create original and unique designs that stand out from the crowd.
Learning to observe and explore objects around you
Observation skills
Observation is the ability to see things as they are, not as you think they are. Observation helps you understand the world around you better, such as the shapes, forms, colors, textures, patterns, functions, and meanings of objects. Observation also helps you discover new possibilities and opportunities for design. To improve your observation skills, you need to pay attention to details, ask questions, compare and contrast, and sketch what you see.
Exploration techniques
Exploration is the ability to see things as they could be, not as they are. Exploration helps you expand your imagination and creativity by trying new things and breaking the rules. Exploration also helps you find new solutions and alternatives for design. To improve your exploration techniques, you need to play with variations, exaggerate features, combine elements, and sketch what you imagine.
Object analysis
Object analysis is the ability to see things as they work, not as they look. Object analysis helps you understand the structure, function, interaction, and context of objects. Object analysis also helps you evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of existing designs and improve them. To improve your object analysis skills, you need to dissect components, trace movements, simulate scenarios, and sketch what you understand.
Drawing theory
Basic shapes and forms
Basic shapes and forms are the building blocks of sketching. They help you simplify complex objects into simple geometries that are easy to draw and manipulate. Basic shapes include circles, squares, triangles, rectangles etc. Basic forms include spheres, cubes, pyramids, cylinders etc. To improve your basic shapes and forms skills, you need to practice drawing them from different angles, sizes, and positions, and sketch how they relate to each other.
Perspective and proportion
Perspective and proportion are the principles of sketching that help you create realistic and accurate representations of objects in three-dimensional space. Perspective is the technique of creating depth and distance by using vanishing points and converging lines. Proportion is the technique of creating scale and size by using reference points and measuring units. To improve your perspective and proportion skills, you need to practice drawing objects in one-point, two-point, and three-point perspective, and sketch how they change according to their location, orientation, and dimension.
Shading and lighting
Shading and lighting are the elements of sketching that help you create contrast and mood by using values and colors. Shading is the technique of creating shadows and highlights by using different tones and gradients. Lighting is the technique of creating sources and directions of light by using different hues and saturations. To improve your shading and lighting skills, you need to practice drawing objects with different light conditions, such as ambient, directional, or spot light, and sketch how they affect their appearance, texture, and atmosphere.
Finding the right mindset for drawing
Overcoming fear and frustration
Fear and frustration are the enemies of sketching. They can prevent you from starting, continuing, or finishing your sketches. Fear can make you doubt your abilities, compare yourself to others, or worry about the outcome. Frustration can make you lose your motivation, patience, or interest. To overcome fear and frustration, you need to embrace mistakes, learn from feedback, and enjoy the process.
Developing confidence and style
Confidence and style are the allies of sketching. They can help you express yourself, impress others, and improve your skills. Confidence can make you trust your instincts, experiment with new things, or challenge yourself. Style can make you stand out from the crowd, show your personality, or create your signature. To develop confidence and style, you need to practice regularly, find your inspiration, and be yourself.
Practicing and improving
Practicing and improving are the keys to sketching. They can help you master the basics, advance your techniques, and achieve your goals. Practicing can make you familiar with the tools, materials, and methods of sketching. Improving can make you aware of your strengths, weaknesses, and areas of improvement. To practice and improve, you need to set a routine, follow a plan, and measure your progress.
Trying different materials
Choosing the right tools
Choosing the right tools is an important decision for sketching. The tools you use can affect the quality, speed, and ease of your sketches. The tools you use can also influence the style, mood, and message of your sketches. Some of the common tools for sketching are pencils, pens, markers, brushes etc. To choose the right tools for sketching, you need to consider their characteristics, such as tip size, ink flow, color range, and erasability.
Experimenting with different media
Experimenting with different media is a fun way to sketching. The media you use can add variety, interest, and creativity to your sketches. The media you use can also enhance the texture, effect, and expression of your sketches. Some of the common media for sketching are paper, cardboard, fabric, wood etc. To experiment with different media for sketching, you need to try their possibilities, such as layering, cutting, folding, and stitching.
Mixing and matching materials
Mixing and matching materials is a creative way to sketching. The materials you use can create contrast, harmony, and balance in your sketches. The materials you use can also convey meaning, emotion, and story in your sketches. Some of the common materials for sketching are photos, stickers, collage, stamps etc. To mix and match materials for sketching, you need to combine their qualities, such as shape, form, color, and pattern.
Using your sketches to communicate effectively
Sketching for yourself
Sketching for yourself is a personal way to sketching. It helps you explore your thoughts, feelings, and ideas in a visual way. It also helps you document your experiences, memories, and dreams in a tangible way. Sketching for yourself can be done for various purposes, such as learning, reflecting, or relaxing. To sketch for yourself effectively, you need to be honest, expressive, and spontaneous.
Sketching for others
Sketching for others is a social way to sketching. It helps you share your concepts, solutions, and opinions with others in a clear way. It also helps you collaborate with others, such as clients, colleagues, or users in a constructive way. Sketching for others can be done for various purposes, such as informing, persuading, or entertaining. To sketch for others effectively you need to be clear coherent and concise.
Sketching for presentation
Sketching for presentation is a professional way to sketching. It helps you showcase your work skills and portfolio in an impressive way. It also helps you impress your audience such as judges investors or customers in an engaging way. Sketching for presentation can be done for various purposes such as selling pitching or demonstrating. To sketch for presentation effectively you need to be organized polished and confident.
Creating highly emotive images to engage and attract your audience
Using color and contrast
Using color and contrast is a powerful way to create highly emotive images. Color and contrast can help you attract attention create mood and convey meaning in your images. Color can help you express emotions such as happiness sadness or anger in your images. Contrast can help you emphasize elements such as focal point hierarchy or depth in your images. To use color and contrast effectively you need to understand the color theory such as hue value and saturation and the contrast principles such as complementary analogous and monochromatic.
Using emotion and expression
Using emotion and expression is a human way to create highly emotive images. Emotion and expression can help you connect with your audience create empathy and convey personality in your images. Emotion can help you show feelings such as joy fear or surprise in your images. Expression can help you show actions such as smiling crying or shouting in your images. To use emotion and expression effectively you need to understand the facial expressions such as eyes mouth and eyebrows and the body language such as posture gesture and movement.
Using storytelling and context
Using storytelling and context is a narrative way to create highly emotive images. Storytelling and context can help you communicate with your audience create interest and convey message in your images. Storytelling can help you show events such as beginning middle or end in your images. Context can help you show settings such as time place or situation in your images. To use storytelling and context effectively, you need to understand the story elements, such as characters, plot, and theme, and the context elements, such as background, foreground, and perspective.
What sketches to use at each stage of the design process
Sketching for research and ideation
Sketching for research and ideation is the first stage of the design process. It helps you gather information, generate ideas, and define problems for your design project. Sketching for research and ideation can be done using various types of sketches, such as notes, diagrams, and mind maps. These sketches are usually quick, rough, and messy, as they are meant to capture your thoughts, observations, and insights.
Sketching for development and refinement
Sketching for development and refinement is the second stage of the design process. It helps you develop concepts, test solutions, and refine details for your design project. Sketching for development and refinement can be done using various types of sketches, such as thumbnails, wireframes, and mockups. These sketches are usually more detailed, accurate, and realistic, as they are meant to explore your options, evaluate your prototypes, and improve your outcomes.
Sketching for evaluation and feedback
Sketching for evaluation and feedback is the third stage of the design process. It helps you present your work, collect feedback, and make revisions for your design project. Sketching for evaluation and feedback can be done using various types of sketches, such as renderings, storyboards, and scenarios. These sketches are usually final, polished, and expressive, as they are meant to showcase your results, gather opinions, and make changes.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Learning Curves by Klara Sjolen and Allan Macdonald is a great book for anyone who wants to improve their design sketch skills. The book covers various aspects of sketching, such as reasons to sketch, learning to observe and explore objects around you, drawing theory, finding the right mindset for drawing, trying different materials, using your sketches to communicate effectively, creating highly emotive images to engage and attract your audience, and what sketches to use at each stage of the design process. The book also contains work from over 60 designers from different fields, such as product, automotive, and fashion design. The book is an inspiring guide that offers tips, tricks, exercises, and examples to help you learn how to sketch effectively and creatively. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to master sketching.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I buy this book?
You can buy this book from Amazon or from the official website of KEEOS Design Books.
How much does this book cost?
This book costs $39.95 on Amazon or 29.95 on KEEOS Design Books.
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