Thoughts on hand rendering in Industrial Design

Auckland School of Design Oliver Neuland 20071

Hand rendering as important part of the design process

2Auckland School of Design Oliver Neuland 2007

“Even in our modern era, the first expression of an idea for a new car, or more in general for a new product, is a hand made sketch, drawn with pencils or pens.” www.carbodydesign.com “Digital Technologies in Car Design - Part 1”


Design sketches and renderings are not fine art!


They are a non-verbal language.


The semantic core of both is: to depict possibilities for potential industrial produced objects.


If something, than what is falling off the assembly line is the work of art!

Jeff Koons „New Hoover“


It is the purpose we produce it for which makes the difference .

Joseph Kosuth „One and three chairs“


Whereas in fine art, the drawing or painting is

already the object itself, in product design this

is just a stage towards it.

Mathias Weischer „Wohnwagen“

Oliver Neuland „Bikers Home“Concept sketch


The obvious, public noticed sign of the work

and effort invested in design processes is the

industrial product itself.

Philips LCD TV „Azrea“


Fine Art? – Freie Kunst?

Slawonir Elsner - Installation


Creative expression is a strong force. It forms

to a wide stream, caving our marks deep into

the environment and our actions.


For the longest time this stream was undivided.


Than the stream of creative expression was split.


“Fine arts” started to build a artificial channel

with watergates and sluices, trying to force its

part of the stream and content go up the hill.


Each sluice seems protected. Offering only

limited access to the secret signs, which

open the gates to the carried content.


The rest of the audience is not always able to

cope with the multilayered signs and evolved

aesthetic language used in modern “fine art”.

Andreas Gehlen - InstalationAnke Grams „wenn sie nicht gestorben sind“


The “fine arts” stream has itself immured –

looking over the wall towards the stream in order

to reflect on what is happening in the real world.


The creative stream will always remain.

The artificial separation “fine art” will sooner

or later disappear or run dry.


Designers render and sketch to describe and

visualize a future object. Therefore this is one

of several tools on the way from idea to reality.


Try to think of sketching and rendering as a

sand casting mold or the cocoon of a butterfly.

A stage of transition.


Without cast no bell.

Without cocoon no butterfly.


Why pointing out that renderings for itself are so irrelevant ?

Because…


Every way to fulfill the purpose will be used

and will compete.

Approach: Get the message across and forget it!

Got on to the next idea.

So, No time for romantic moaning!

Time for analyzing the strengths.


“It is difficult to think that in the future a new digital technique will replace the traditional media, anyway the digital painting techniques are more and more used from the first phases of the design process.”www.carbodydesign.com “Digital Technologies in Car Design - Part 1”


It is important to separate:

+ Sketching and quick rendering

+ Presentation rendering and final visualization.

Honda Inhouse design CBROliver Neuland Aprilia „Automatic bike“


Sketching and quick rendering

+ A internal tool, therefore rough and unfinished

+ Lines are more important than surfaces

+ Rather symbolic and overdrawn in proportion

Oliver Neuland Hörmann SenderOliver Neuland Aprilia „Automatic bike“


Foundation for interpreting simple lines and give them a meaning are:

+ Gestalt rule of “Invariance”,

+ Gestalt rule of “law of closure”

+ Ability to imagine a tree-dimensional object

Oliver Neuland Hörmann SenderOliver Neuland Aprilia „Automatic bike“


Oliver Neuland Traktor for Russia Honda Inhouse design CBR

Presentation rendering and final visualization

+ A tool to communicate to the outside world

+ Easy to read for untrained to make decisions

+ Surfaces, color and materials become important


Importance will be different in future with todays

pace of design processes and 3D modeling.


Don´t blank out the human factor in the

creative process and in decision making!


“Every car you see out there is sculptured by

hand (…) computers just reproduce them.”Chris Bangle TED Talk: “Cars are art” 2002; www.ted.com


“If you need to ask what computer programs

make nice shapes because the ones you draw

look ugly, then do yourself a favour and take the

fishmonger option.” ( twowheels 06/07, p.38-39


Planning ahead is the key to overcome the time

shortage. First step for this is to sketch.


Sometimes things seem so clear, that it feels

like a waste of time to draw it up first. -

Than you spend more time than you expected.


You tried to shortcut the birth of an idea.


According to Platon there is an eternal idea of

things (archetype) and an imperfect projection of

them which we see in the real world. (Platonic idealism).

Projection/ Form in real world Archetype/ idea


Scribbling and Sketching can be seen as the

birth hour of the form into the physical world;

as its first visual appearance.

Gottfried Marta „Lepa Zena“


“Design is like an explosion in reverse” Dick Powell, founder of Seymour and Powell London

In this analogy a stack of thumb nails is like a particle cloud of notions which starts to become solid.


Hands, pencil and paper, hard to beat!

+ Fast;

+ Easy to use;

+ Common understood;

+ Self-sufficient from any infrastructure;

+ Tangible;+ Can be illogic and fragmental. (See: Gestalt rules)


“Wer schreibt der bleibt.” “Who writes remains.”

The ability to visualize ideas is a strong tool to

control a discussion and push own interests.


Quick renderings: Designers appreciate these

loose illustrations because the renderer needs to

master the art to omit and expresses that the

work is in progress.


Looking at practicality, efficiency and pace - are

computer input-devices meant to displace the

accurate, elaborate depiction by hand?


Now think of the successful brand and the

products of Harley Davidson – they do not

stand for even one of those attributes.


A Harley promises to be tangible with several

senses. It roars, it vibrates, it smells, it even

glows sometimes and its basic function is easy

to understand.


Products which offer this kind of values are

considered as “honest”. The way they work and

are produced seem obvious and makes a direct

connection to classic craftsmanship.


Producing things by hand reminds the viewer

instantly of the producer as a creative mind.

It establishes respect.


“Kunst kommt von können.” (Art comes from mastership.)

A common aesthetic understanding in society.

In this, someone who can draw is an artist.

Even thought that’s no true, you can utilize it

with hand renderings!


An disadvantage turns into an advantage.

The illustration by hand transports personality

and character.

Imperfections make it authentic and real.


Renderings are open for interpretations.

The client sees the solution which fits in his world

of production, marketing and style.


Producing a rendering by hand is a welcome relief

from the computer work. Using real pencils and

markers as well as touching paper is a sensual

experience.


Hand rendering is:

+ One of several options;

+ Underlines you position as creative mind; and master of your craft;

+ Transports personality and character;

+ Open for interpretation;

+ Low tech -no technical equipment needed;

+ Multi-sensual.

+ Fun.


A rendering sometimes remains, when the

product has already died.


Thank you for your attention!

Thoughts on hand rendering in Industrial Design

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