Inside Designer’s Sketchbooks
Moleskine, an exceptionally popular sketchbook/notebook manufacturer, recently sponsored an exhibition at the Art Directors Club in New York called Detour. The exhibition featured 70 Moleskine notebooks filled by various designers, architects, artists and writers providing a glimpse into the minds and process of many creative minds. Video of many of the notebooks can now be found at YouTube or at the Detour site. There are so many inspiring ways to record one’s ideas illustrated in this video series, all of which drive home the importance of keeping a sketchbook.
I think a lot of people are put off by the idea of sketchbooks because they think it is a place where they are required to make beautiful renderings. If you take away the name “sketchbook” and call it an “ideabook” it mind sound a little less daunting. The purpose of having a sketchbook, notebook, ideabook (whatever you want to call it) is simply to ensure that none of your brilliant ideas slip by you. Keep them cataloged on one place for future reference. It’s also a great place to collect things you find interesting. The practice of cataloging ideas encourages the development ideas. It’s a bit like jumping jacks for your brain, keeping it top working order.
Though there are too many good ones to choose from, here are a few of my favorites in the Moleskine Detour sketchbooks.