Sketching the process with Tom Skeehan

Posted on 27 October, 2016

We have all heard the saying a picture speaks a thousand words and this holds even more true when it comes to the design world.

Design drawings bring abstract concepts to life, and allow for a universal understanding of an idea regardless of language, technical understanding or skill level. The importance of design drawings as a form of communication has not evaded the keen eye of Canberra-based furniture designer Tom Skeehan.

Having been heavily involved in the design industry, not only as a designer, but as a teacher too, Skeehan has come to recognise a serious gap in the industry.

“I believe design drawing is one of the most important skills a designer can have,” he explains. “I realised that there is a need for design drawing book that not only teaches you the fundamentals of drawing but why we draw and the different ways that we can use drawing as communication.”

This has proved as the inspiration for Tom’s first self-published book Sketching Process.

Skeehan Studio’s Ki-Low chair

Sketching Process is an insight into the use of illustrations in numerous areas of product design, from furniture, to lighting, fashion, automotive, architecture and interiors. The book looks at the different styles of various designers (Skeehan included), and shows how they incorporate their illustrations into their production process.

Through this 200 page publication, Skeehan hopes to inspire designers to further their technical drawing skills and develop their own unique style and form of drawn communication.

An excerpt from Tom’s Sketching Process

Skeehan has launched a Kickstarter for his book, you can support it here: www.sketchingprocess.com.au.

Featured Designers

• Alexander Lotersztain – Derlot
• Robert Foster – F!nk
• Dale Hardiman – Dowel Jones
• Erin Hinton – Hinton
• Tom Skeehan – Skeehan Studio
• Ross Gardam – Ross Gardam Design
• Kevin Snell – Snell Architecture
• Adam Goodrum
• TAKT Architecture
• Jon Goulder
• Andrew Simpson – Vert Design
• Formswell Design studio
• Tom Fereday
• Design by Them
• Corr Blimey

All images via www.skeehan.com.au