Concepts is an infinite, flexible creative tool for all your good ideas. Available on iOS, Windows and Android.

Drawing Dialogue: The Role of Sketching in Architectural Communication

An Interview with Architect & Educator Radu Axinte

“It's important to embrace sketching as an iterative process, it is like a journey of discovery where the hand takes the lead in exploring ideas and bridges the gap between our mind and the piece of paper.”

Hi Radu! Can you please tell us a bit about yourself? What is your background and what do you do?

It’s a pleasure to chat with you about sketching! The love for drawing has been part of me for as long as I can remember. 

I graduated in architecture from GM Cantacuzino in Iasi, Romania, and then continued my studies at Westminster University in London. Those early academic years were incredibly influential, shaping my perspective on sketching as a powerful communication tool. I was lucky to learn from amazing mentors who inspired us to sketch with passion and creativity. 

Today, I’m a senior designer at Heatherwick Studio in London, which is a fantastic place centred around design. I have the joy of working with some of the most talented people I’ve ever met, and we take on the most impressive and exciting projects in the world. 

How did you get into architecture?

I've always had a passion for photography, and when I was 14, I thought the best way to learn about proportions and the relationship between the environment and the human body was through architecture. So, I decided to give architecture a go and study it. 

Through my studies, I gradually became absorbed by the new world of creativity, precision and challenges that architecture offered. Little did I know that this initial interest would become a passion and full-time career. 

Sometimes, I still indulge in a bit of photography, grabbing my camera to take a few shots just to see if I've still got the eye for it. 

How did you end up on the path of teaching technical drawing?

That's an interesting story! Many years ago, I had the pleasure of taking one of Trevor’s courses as part of the Drawing Gym. I was captivated by his approach to drawing as a means of discovering ideas, and we had many in-depth conversations about our shared passion for sketching. 

At that time, I was deeply involved in working through façade details and sketching multiple iterations as the projects evolved. This hands-on experience with detailed sketching was precious and enriching. 

As the years passed, my path naturally led me to teaching. I began teaching digital sketching to engineers in London and developed a series of digital sketching exercises that are now part of the Drawing Gym and I am grateful that this journey has allowed me to share my passion for sketching with others.

Would you be willing to share examples of your design workflow with us?

Certainly! Generally, I believe sketches can be divided into two categories, each serving a slightly different purpose. 

Exploratory sketches are like an ongoing conversation where the outcome is unknown. Their goal is to quickly express an idea and engage multiple people in a continuously evolving dialogue. This type of sketching progresses towards the final result through multiple iterations as the design and conversations develop. 

In the other category are sketches where the objective is clear, and the purpose is to represent the idea as accurately as possible. The goal here is to communicate and illustrate the concept clearly. 

Most of my day to day sketches fall into the first category, where I explore ideas and concepts for various designs. I usually start with an external reference, such as a photo, an imported drawing or a model snapshot and work towards a solution.

I begin by quickly sketching different ideas, similar to using tracing paper and check if my imagination aligns with reality. These intermediate doodles often look messy and may make little sense to anyone but me, as you can see from the example above.

After a few iterations, I trace a cleaner version of the sketch for discussion. This second version is usually more readable to others similar to the one above.

What are the most important things to keep in mind when sketching designs?

When it comes to exploratory sketches, it's important to understand that they are a timeless way of communicating ideas, a practice that goes back to cave paintings and probably even earlier. 

It is also important to embrace sketching as an iterative process, it is like a journey of discovery where the hand takes the lead in exploring ideas and bridges the gap between our mind and the piece of paper. 

These 2D representations of our thoughts don't need to be beautifully artistic; their primary purpose is to share our vision with others and effectively communicate the concept. 

What are some of the biggest challenges you face as an architect and educator?

We are living through remarkable times with unprecedented access to computing power and tools. The dawn of AI is upon us, gradually integrating into our daily lives and work, enabling us to accomplish more in less time. 

I think one of the biggest challenges we face now is maintaining the capacity to immerse ourselves in a task. As tools become more complex, it’s easy to lose focus on our core goals as designers and the vision we are striving to achieve. 

This is why I appreciate the simplicity of sketching. With minimal elements and barriers between the mind and the hand, sketching allows us to represent ideas effortlessly. It facilitates a level of testing and exploration with minimal effort, helping us stay connected to our creative vision. 

Can you elaborate on your teaching and sketching philosophies, particularly the idea that breaking free from computers enhances creativity and engagement?

At the Drawing Gym, we focus on encouraging professionals to move away from their screens and embrace sketching as a simple and effective way to communicate design ideas. 

One of the main challenges we encounter is the difficulty of thinking creatively when relying solely on a computer. It often takes too much effort and time to convey design concepts using a mouse and keyboard, especially in everyday conversations where quick solutions are needed. 

Design is all about collaboration and refining ideas over time. Sketching allows for this flexibility and responsiveness. Digital sketching, in particular, extends these benefits by offering the ability to reuse and adapt sketches for different purposes long term.

We, at the Drawing Gym, aim to create an environment where sketching not only sparks initial ideas but also serves as an active tool throughout the design process, supporting continuous exploration and improvement. 

What are some of the most common mistakes that you see people make when they're sketching?

I might have said this before but when it comes to sketching, I always stress the importance of communicating ideas clearly and efficiently. That's the mark of a successful sketch. 

One common mistake I see is people striving to replicate the beautiful style of reference sketches. They can get caught up in making their sketches look perfect, forgetting that the main goal is to quickly convey an idea rather than create a work of art. 

As people gain more experience and improve their hand-eye coordination, they tend to focus less on the mechanics of sketching and more on how to use this skill to achieve their creative vision effectively. 

For beginners, my advice would be: "Don't worry too much about making your sketches look perfect right away." Developing your unique style will come naturally with practice and time. The key is to prioritise clarity and effectiveness in getting your ideas across through sketching.

Do you have any advice for people who want to learn to sketch architectural designs?

When you're starting to sketch, my advice is to start small and gradually work upwards and take on more challenges. It's natural to feel a bit overwhelmed at the start, so it's helpful to seek guidance and follow a structured learning path.

Building your sketching skills is like starting a fitness routine—it takes time and consistent practice. Just as small steps in the gym lead to stronger muscles, regular sketching sessions lead to noticeable improvement. Remember, everyone starts with sketches that might not look perfect at first. The key is to keep practising and refining your technique with each attempt. 

What are your thoughts on the future of architectural engineering and sketching?

These are exciting times for sketching in architecture and engineering. Sketching has evolved to be incredibly versatile with the advent of apps that can create sketches in both 2D and 3D, and even animate them directly on devices like iPads. 

In today's fast-paced environment, effective communication and coordination of designs are more crucial than ever. Sketching remains one of the most efficient methods for achieving this, requiring minimal resources while conveying ideas swiftly. 

The emergence of AI brings new possibilities to sketching and design. AI tools, such as Visoid AI focused on architectural design, enable sketches and ideas to be enhanced and iterated upon rapidly. This technology allows sketches to be transformed into robust concepts, using prompts and references to explore and refine designs more effectively than ever before.

Radu Axinte is a designer based in London and works at Heatherwick Studio. He also teaches digital sketching at Techy Sketching to the foremost engineers around the world. Radu strongly believes in the effectiveness of sketching in all its forms. You can find more of his work on Instagram; make sure to check it out! 

Cover photo: Metropolitan Circus building, Bucharest, Romania

Interview by Annelise Sandberg

Recommended

Design Life of a Paperless Architect - Architect Craig Burns shares his paperless design workflow on iPad in our Architectural Design Q&A.

Designing Architecture Beyond the Limits - Architect Sean Gallagher discusses design workflows and strategies for competitive architectural design.

Architectural Design Sketching on the iPad - Architect Amin Zakaria shares how sketching with Concepts' grids and live Snap helps his design workflow.