The Sketching as a research method in design
Keywords:
Design sketching, Design research, Visual Methods, Field research, creative and anlytical processesAbstract
This article investigates the use of sketching as a research method in design, highlighting its ability to articulate observation, analysis, and imagination in field investigations. Although traditionally associated with creative synthesis, sketching is repositioned as a methodological tool for documentation, interpretation, and data generation in design projects. Based on a literature review, pedagogical experiences that have integrated sketching into the practice of design research are analyzed. The results indicate that the flexibility and adaptability of sketching enable the creation of hybrid systems of representation combining visual, textual, and symbolic elements, fostering collaborative data production and encouraging non-linear interpretations, thus avoiding premature fixation on complex problems. It is concluded that the adoption of sketching in the teaching of design research enhances observational acuity, sensitivity to contextual aspects, and problem-solving skills, expanding the methodological repertoire and strengthening the training of designer-researchers prepared for complex and challenging contexts.
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