Designer's Guide To Architectural Sketching from Udemy

Learn the basics of Architectural Sketching to improve your ideation and visual communication through sketches.

This course is for those beginning or wanting refreshing in Architectural sketching, so be prepared with your tools to learn the basics of great sketches.

Architects, designers, and artists of all kinds are always in need of showing a good visual idea. However, the skill and confidence to sketch are often far below people's confidence level. In this course, anyone can grow their skill in Architectural Sketching through these simple step by step basics from a licensed Architect to get a visual idea across in a great sketch.

This course begins with the basic of pencil and pen usage, as well as tool selection and scaling to make sketches that are relevant and beautiful. The course finishes with Architectural sketching in 2D and 3D to share an idea quickly and beautifully.

What you learn:

- how to sketch 2D and 3D forms

- how to quickly sketch plans and elevations

- how to shade sketches

- how to make perspective sketches

- how to sketch compositions

Course outcomes:

At the end of this course, every student will have more confidence and skill to put an idea down and turn it into a meaningful sketch ready to communicate.

About The Instructor

Brandon Aaron Gibbs is a licensed Architect and instructor, successfully helping thousands of students master design, modeling, and rendering in today's top design programs.

What's inside

Learning objectives

How to sketch with pencils
How to sketch in perspective

How to shade sketches
How to sketch in pen

How to sketch with pencils
How to sketch in perspective
How to shade sketches
How to sketch in pen

Syllabus

Introduction

Class Materials

Choosing Lineweight and Lead Weight

Concepts of Sketching

Starting With Sketch Idea

Starting The Sketch

Basic Sketching Exercise

Students will learn how to craft a sketch in pencil and in pen

Sketching A Box

Sketching Shapes

Adding Shading

Sketching With A Pen

Using The Eraser

Class Sketching Exercise

Students will learn to do advanced sketches in perspective and composition

Sketching A Perspective

Sketching A Composition

Students will learn how to make plans, elevations and 3d sketches

Using An Architectural Scale

Sketching A Plan

Sketching An Elevation

Sketching A 3D Building In Pencil

Sketching A 3D Building In Pen

Sketching Architectural Materials

Conclusion

Course Conclusion

BONUS Design Lessons & Free Resources

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Provides a foundation in architectural sketching, which is essential for visualizing and communicating design ideas effectively in the field

Covers both 2D and 3D sketching techniques, enabling learners to represent architectural forms and spaces comprehensively

Includes instruction on using an architectural scale, which is a fundamental tool for creating accurate and proportional drawings

Taught by a licensed architect, which ensures instruction is grounded in real-world practice and professional standards

Focuses on pencil and pen techniques, which are traditional and versatile mediums for architectural sketching and ideation

Requires students to acquire specific drawing tools, which may represent an additional cost beyond the course fee

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Designer's Guide To Architectural Sketching with these activities:

Practice Basic Shapes and Forms

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Reinforce fundamental drawing skills by practicing basic shapes and forms. This will improve your ability to accurately represent objects in your architectural sketches.

Browse courses on Basic Shapes

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Gather drawing materials: paper, pencils, erasers.
Practice drawing circles, squares, triangles, and cubes.
Focus on line quality and accurate proportions.

Review 'Architectural Graphics' by Francis D.K. Ching

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Study 'Architectural Graphics' to gain a deeper understanding of architectural drawing conventions and techniques. This will enhance your ability to create clear and effective sketches.

View Architectural Graphics on Amazon

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Obtain a copy of 'Architectural Graphics' by Francis D.K. Ching.
Read the chapters on perspective drawing and rendering techniques.
Practice the techniques described in the book.

Review 'Freehand Drawing and Discovery' by Matthew Frederick

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Read 'Freehand Drawing and Discovery' to understand the broader context of sketching in the design process. This will help you to approach your architectural sketches with more creativity and purpose.

View Putting Knowledge to Work on Amazon

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Obtain a copy of 'Freehand Drawing and Discovery' by Matthew Frederick.
Read the chapters on observation, composition, and visual storytelling.
Experiment with the techniques described in the book.

Three other activities

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Show all six activities

Create a Sketchbook of Architectural Details

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Develop your observational skills and sketching abilities by creating a sketchbook of architectural details. This will help you to notice and accurately represent the nuances of architectural design.

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Choose a specific architectural style or building type.
Visit local examples and sketch interesting details, such as windows, doors, and ornamentation.
Label each sketch with the location and date.

Perspective Sketching Exercises

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Improve your perspective sketching skills through repetitive exercises. This will enable you to create more realistic and visually appealing architectural sketches.

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Find reference images of buildings or architectural spaces.
Practice sketching these images in one-point, two-point, and three-point perspective.
Focus on accurately representing vanishing points and horizon lines.

Sketch a Building from Start to Finish

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Undertake a comprehensive sketching project to solidify your skills and gain experience in creating complete architectural sketches. This will help you to integrate the various techniques learned in the course.

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Select a building or architectural space to sketch.
Create a series of sketches, starting with basic forms and gradually adding details.
Experiment with different shading techniques to create depth and dimension.
Refine your sketch until you are satisfied with the final result.

Career center

Learners who complete Designer's Guide To Architectural Sketching will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Architect

Becoming an Architect requires a strong ability to communicate design ideas visually, and this course may be useful in building that essential skill. Architects use sketches to explore concepts, collaborate with clients, and develop detailed building plans. This course, focused on architectural sketching, introduces skills such as using pencil and pen, scaling, and producing two and three dimensional forms, that an Architect will find useful. The focus on sketching plans and elevations, perspective, and composition, will be helpful to the Architect's ideation and visual communication through sketches.

See salaries and explore the career path for Architect

Urban Planner

An Urban Planner benefits greatly from the ability to quickly sketch out ideas and concepts, and this course may be useful in building these skills. They often need to visualize spatial relationships, plan layouts for infrastructure, and communicate design concepts to various stakeholders. The course emphasis on 2D and 3D architectural sketching, including plans, elevations, and perspective sketches, will assist an Urban Planner in conveying ideas effectively. An Urban Planner who takes this course will learn to communicate their ideas with a meaningful sketch.

See salaries and explore the career path for Urban Planner

Interior designer

An Interior Designer relies on visual communication to convey their ideas to clients and contractors, and this course may be useful in doing so. They use sketches to visualize room layouts, furniture arrangements, and material selections. This course, emphasizing the use of pencil and pen for sketching, along with shading and perspective techniques, will help an Interior Designer refine their conceptual drawings. Furthermore, the course's focus on quickly producing 2D and 3D sketches assists an Interior Designer in effectively demonstrating their design proposals.

See salaries and explore the career path for Interior designer

Landscape Architect

A Landscape Architect needs to visualize and present their designs effectively through sketches, and taking this course may be useful. They use sketches to plan outdoor spaces, including gardens, parks, and other landscapes. This course, which includes instruction on sketching 2D and 3D forms, as well as perspective and composition, will help a Landscape Architect communicate these design concepts. The ability to quickly sketch plans and elevations, taught in this course, will allow the Landscape Architect to express their thoughts in a meaningful sketch.

See salaries and explore the career path for Landscape Architect

Exhibit Designer

Exhibit Designers often rely on sketching to generate and communicate ideas for museum displays and exhibitions, and this course may be useful in developing this skill. They use sketches to conceptualize space, layout, and the arrangement of artifacts. The course's focus on architectural sketching, including perspective, composition, and the use of pencil and pen, provides a foundation for an Exhibit Designer to visualize their work effectively. The course, which teaches the user to generate a meaningful sketch, will therefore be helpful to any Exhibit Designer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Exhibit Designer

Set Designer

A Set Designer uses sketches extensively to develop visual concepts for theatrical productions, television, and film, and this course may be useful in building this ability. They need to visualize spaces, layouts, and the relationship between the set and the performers. This course, with its emphasis on architectural sketching in both 2D and 3D, as well as learning to sketch in perspective, will assist the Set Designer in ideation and communication. The Set Designer will find this course helpful in producing meaningful sketches for presentations.

See salaries and explore the career path for Set Designer

Industrial Designer

Industrial Designers regularly use sketching to explore and communicate their product design concepts, and this course may be useful in helping them develop this ability. They use sketches to develop the visual look and feel of products, and they use plans and elevations. This course, focused on using pencil and pen, creating perspective sketches, and generating sketches with shading, may be helpful for an Industrial Designer. The course focus on quick communication of an idea through architectural sketching can be particularly useful to an Industrial Designer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Industrial Designer

Product Designer

Product Designers need strong visualization skills to develop and refine design ideas, and this course may be beneficial in developing this ability. They use sketching to explore different iterations of product concepts and to present them to stakeholders. This course's focus on architectural sketching, including 2D and 3D form, and plans and elevations, may help the Product Designer to communicate ideas effectively. The ability for quick sketching, as taught in this course, may aid a Product Designer's ideation and design process.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Designer

Concept Artist

Concept Artists rely heavily on sketching to generate initial visual ideas for characters, environments, and props in games and films, and this course may be useful in building their base skill. This course on architectural sketching will build the Concept Artist's ability to use perspective, form, and composition. The ability to confidently create meaningful sketches, taught by this course, will likely be useful in a Concept Artist's workflow.

See salaries and explore the career path for Concept Artist

Animator

An Animator uses drawings to create moving images, and this course may be helpful in building foundational abilities. While not directly related to animation techniques, the principles of sketching form, perspective, and composition are fundamental to successful animation. This course on architectural sketching introduces students to 2D and 3D forms, plans and elevations, and shading skills, which may benefit an Animator. The course teaches how to communicate an idea through meaningful sketches, which is a helpful skill for an Animator.

See salaries and explore the career path for Animator

Illustrator

An Illustrator uses drawing skills to create images for books, magazines, and other media, and this course may be useful for building visual communication ability. Although this course focuses on architectural sketching, developing strong drawing skills, understanding of perspective, and confident linework may be helpful. An Illustrator will find that the ability to communicate with a meaningful sketch can be beneficial to their work. This course may provide an Illustrator with a new perspective on sketching.

See salaries and explore the career path for Illustrator

Draftsperson

A Draftsperson creates technical drawings and plans based on the designs of architects and engineers, and this course may be helpful in developing their base skill. This course emphasizes the ability to generate sketches in 2D and 3D, create plans and elevations, and use architectural scaling, which are valuable skills for a Draftsperson. Although a Draftsperson typically works with digital tools, understanding the foundational concepts of hand sketching, as this course provides, may be useful for initial concept development.

See salaries and explore the career path for Draftsperson

Real Estate Developer

A Real Estate Developer may find it useful to be able to sketch out the conceptual designs of proposed projects, and so this course may be helpful in building that ability. Though a Real Estate Developer does not directly create these designs, being able to visualize and communicate them can facilitate collaboration and speed up decision making. This course, which teaches how to use both pencil and pen, as well as shading techniques, may be useful for a Real Estate Developer. This course teaches the ability to make a meaningful sketch, and this skill may be useful on site visits.

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Construction Manager

A Construction Manager needs to have a solid understanding of spatial relationships and how to communicate design ideas, and this course may be helpful in that regard. While they primarily use technical drawings, this course's emphasis on architectural sketching, including plans, elevations, and perspective, may help a Construction Manager visualize project elements. The course provides practice in generating a meaningful sketch, which can be useful in on-site communication. This course may assist the Construction Manager in communicating design intent to team members.

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Civil Engineer

A Civil Engineer may find the ability to visualize and sketch design concepts to be helpful when collaborating with design teams, and so this course may be of use. While the work of a Civil Engineer is primarily technical, the ability to generate quick sketches of plans and elevations may be useful in communicating ideas. This course, which focuses on architectural sketching in 2D and 3D, may help a Civil Engineer build this skill. Furthermore, the course teaches the ability to create meaningful sketches that communicate a visual idea.

See salaries and explore the career path for Civil Engineer

Designer's Guide To Architectural Sketching

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