Hand graphics…to pay or not to pay???

Deryn – I did the shorter 2-day and 7-day classes in San Francisco and felt that it was worth it.  Of course I’m local so I didn’t have to pay for airfare or hotel. ; )  You are right that the confidence is almost as much a factor as the actual skill.  It is taught boot camp style so I think the total immersion is a factor.  I did as much rendering there in 9 days as I would have done in a year in a design program (100 hours or so)    

For what its worth..

I bought the Mike Lin book 10 years ago when I was a landscape designer before going back to school. I just read and copied what I saw..over and over until it started to look like the images in the book. I like Jon’s comments–I agree that there is a difference between hand ‘rendering’ and hand ‘sketching.’ Along those same lines–I had a professor once who procalimed that ‘no one gets paid to doodle..’ Thats BS. Doodling is what your hand should be doing when your brain doesnt know how to solve the design problem. It pays to be practiced enough in hand sketching to draw fairly accurately in perspective, aerial perspective, section, plan, etc.

I also agree that there is a lot one can do with the computer, especially AFTER a person understands how to quickly construct perspective. There’s no need to model an entire site for a conceptual sketch once you ‘get it.’

Fwiw–Here’s a quick computer ‘sketch’ I did for a park idea in a a few hours. The linework is just the illustrator pen tool and the color stuff is photoshop. This is going into Design Development on a project so we’ve already completed a number of hand sketches, studies and diagrams, so a little more detail is appropriate without spending hours modeling, etc.

Deryn, 

Let me start out by saying that I have attended Linn’s workshop as well as ESDA’s graphic workshop. I find you always learn something new because of the different perspectives from each class. I have changed things like, the type of pen I use to the color of markers I keep together. It depends on what you want out of the workshops (the more specific you are the better). I have bought the book (Drawing and Designing with Confidence) before Linn’s workshop and the only thing I saw was HOW to draw what he draws. Quick little short cuts that Linn points out are helpful for sketching, but not final presentations. One thing I keep hearing over and over again is, trace what you like and get to the point where you do not need to trace it again! 

I keep hearing that my hand graphic skills are what sets me apart from the students coming out of school. Remember we are designers that communicate through a graphic “language.” If you are taking a class to help with that language, then it might be worth it. 

I have taken the course, I did so when I was an undergrad and felt that it was WELL WORTH IT.  If you truly can’t afford it, at least buy the book and take whatever you can when the money is there.

1.) How important are hand graphics?

It is a diverse profession – many parts of it do not have high value for hand graphics and many offices use other presentation strategies that no longer require a need for a high skill in hand graphics. However, in a limited job market, limiting your opportunities might not be a good idea.

 I do not have good hand graphic skills (dropped out in ’83 because of it – went back when CAD made the difference  and graduated in ’97). I’ve never worked for a large LA firm, but have worked for licenced LAs in design/build, in engineering/land planning offices, and do a good residential design side business with zero hand graphics and it is never an issue.

2.) Experience with Mike Lin? I do not, but I know several people who have (going back to 1982) all of whom were decent graphic people to begin with and came out of it having taken it to a next level. (my next level would likely not have been worth it, theirs was).

3.) general feeling on course vs. practice?

My opinion is that this type of class is going to give you technique to enhance your own skills (whatever those are). Practice is going to develop and sharpen your skills. They are two different things.

This is your first year, so you have time to understand where you are with your skill sets and a better grasp on what will help YOU over the next couple of years. My suggestion is that you wait to see if you might want to take it when you have a better skill set to work off of and a better understanding of where you are going in the profession. If you take the course, bring a developed skill set to be enhanced and it will be of more value and a better investment.

I’m in agreement with several people’s response – hand graphics are VERY important.  Hand graphics show how you think and express process and individuality.  In interviews, I go immediately to the hand graphics in someone’s portfolio (and I always ask if it is their work).  You will learn so much in an office about rendering style, color selection, line weight, etc.

As for Mike Lin, I have never taken his class.  Someone stated that you will learn valuable tricks, and I think that is a great choice of words.  Rendering is different from drawing because is it usually done quickly and as the last push before a presentation.   That said, tricks are important.  

If you can’t take the class, find someone at your school who is a good graphics renderer (professor) and do an independent study.  Definitely learn some computer graphics but don’t’ rely on it.  It is quickly becoming a commodity that can be outsourced.  Individual stylistic renderings will always be unique and can become a signature for an office.