Are you a designer? A graphic designer? Or an aspiring one? Perhaps the question spinning in your mind is, “Do I need to know how to draw and/or paint to be a good designer? Is drawing necessary to be a designer?”
This article aims to answer one of the most frequently asked questions by aspiring designers and even professionals who want to improve their graphic design skills. I’ll share my opinion and perspective on the matter and provide you with some useful and valuable advice.
Does a designer need to know how to draw?
The short answer to this tricky question is: no, it’s not strictly necessary, but it depends on what you mean by “knowing how to draw.” Let me explain.
It depends…
If by “knowing how to draw,” you mean painting canvases, creating hyper-realistic pencil drawings, or being able to produce perfect portraits, then the answer to the initial question is a clear: no, it’s not necessary.
These skills have little to do with design or graphic work.
Design is not art; it’s not about creating a single unique piece. Design is about planning something—an object, a poster, a website—meant for mass production and use by many different people.
This doesn’t undermine the value of those who can create unique works of art. Painting and high-quality drawing are fundamental aspects of human culture and contribute to making the world a better place. But they are not design.
That said, while artistic skills aren’t strictly necessary for a designer, they can still be extremely useful. Let me explain further.
So, what other ways are there to draw?
Many. What I believe is essential for a designer, particularly a graphic designer, is the ability to effectively represent any idea on paper. In simple terms: a designer needs to know how to create effective sketches. Here’s why.
Don’t Draw—Sketch!
“Don’t draw. Do design sketch,” writes David Sherwin in his book Creative Workshop.
You, as a designer, need to sketch if you want to plan something. You don’t have to create masterpiece drawings to represent an idea.
Many designers come from artistic backgrounds (art schools, fine arts academies) and have learned to draw photo-realistically over time, developing their personal drawing style. But using manual drawing skills to represent ideas can sometimes lead to overestimating the quality of the idea itself.
Drawing as a design tool
Drawing should instead be a tool for designing. It allows you to immediately visualize your ideas and improve them, thus boosting creativity. In fact, during the design phase, the more you draw, the more ideas come to mind.
Personally, I find this particularly useful when working on logo design. Sketching and drafting are key steps in the logo creation process. Sketches help explore various shapes the logo could take, experiment with lettering for the logotype (and later choose a font), or test different combinations of shapes, colors, and letters.
For example, in one of my projects, I started with sketches to brainstorm initial ideas. Using a graphic tablet—a handy tool if you’re already familiar with design software and have drawing experience on paper—I was able to quickly bring to life the concepts that came to mind.
The better you are at sketching, the faster your ideas will flow onto paper. Time is also a crucial factor—sketching helps you avoid wasting time on overly detailed artistic drawings during the design phase.
When designing, focus on creating practical sketches rather than detailed, artistic renderings.
An Example
In a recent university project, I worked on designing a logo and branding for the newly established Polytechnic School of Genoa. One of the most challenging moments was finding the right shape through keywords and messages to convey.
Sketching and drafting were essential during this phase. I filled entire sheets with potential shapes and logos until I arrived at a convincing design, which was then refined on Adobe Illustrator. Without sketches, the ideation phase would have been far less productive and creative.
The role of tools in sketching
For capturing ideas quickly on paper, I find tools like the Blokketto pocket notebook incredibly useful. Its pages, with cross and dot grids, let you sketch, write, and draft on the same sheet. While it’s great for sketching, it can also be used for artistic or representative drawing—an added bonus for any designer.
Let’s explore why that’s beneficial next.
Drawing is still a valuable plus
Undoubtedly, despite the earlier answer to the initial question (“Does a designer need to know how to draw?”) being a relative “no,” it’s clear that a designer who can also produce high-quality drawings certainly has an advantage over those who can’t.
For example, a designer who is also an illustrator can create more comprehensive projects for clients, such as coordinated branding materials featuring illustrations, patterns, or even restaurant menus with artistic depictions of signature dishes.
In short, while being skilled at drawing isn’t strictly necessary, it’s undoubtedly useful. Improving as a designer should always be the goal, right? The beauty of our profession is that, when done right and with passion, it entails constant self-improvement and skill enhancement.
How to improve your drawing skills
By drawing. The best way to learn how to draw is simply to draw.
Start by taking some drawings from other artists and copy them, trying to replicate their graphic quality as closely as possible. Copying is an excellent way to truly learn how to draw. Gradually, you’ll begin developing your techniques, style, and abilities, achieving remarkable results over time.
You’ll need perseverance, determination, and passion, but I’m confident you can do it—even if you think you’ve always been terrible at it!
To help you get started, I recommend a fantastic book on learning to draw: Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain by Betty Edwards. In this book, the author argues that everyone can learn to draw. It’s simply about shifting from a rational way of seeing the world (left-brain thinking) to a more artistic, creative, and emotional perspective (right-brain thinking).
The book offers plenty of helpful exercises designed to “trick” the left brain and gradually teach you to draw creatively.
Thousands of people worldwide have bought this book and achieved outstanding results thanks to its techniques—just read the Amazon reviews to get an idea.
I personally found Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain phenomenal when I read it years ago. It significantly improved the visual quality of my drawings, and I wholeheartedly recommend it. What I appreciated most were the scientific and psychological explanations that accompany every “lesson” Edwards provides—a big win for someone as detail-oriented as I am!
Manual drawing should be nurtured like a plant. By continually “watering” it—drawing regularly—it will grow stronger, more vibrant, and more visually appealing over time.
Why drawing matters in graphic design
Improving your drawing skills isn’t just an artistic pursuit; it’s a way to enhance your overall design abilities. Drawing or illustrating, like learning the basics of marketing, can round out your professional skill set.
But if you’re thinking, “I don’t need to draw because I have Photoshop,” keep this in mind:
Photoshop doesn’t replace pen and paper
Exactly. If you can’t draw by hand, imagine how difficult it would be to start drawing directly in Photoshop or Illustrator on a blank screen. It’s not as easy or intuitive as it might seem.
Even the best digital artists start with manual drawings or use photos as references for their creations. That’s because manual drawing fosters a completely different mental approach than working on a computer—from your physical posture to your level of mental focus.
Using graphic software eliminates the tangible sense of error that’s more apparent on paper, where every mistake pushes you to improve. On Photoshop, a simple Ctrl+Z undoes your mistake, but on paper, erasing a mistake is a physical act—one that can even feel a little frustrating—which motivates you to refine your skills and avoid the same error again.
However, the line between manual drawing and digital design is increasingly blurred. Modern graphic tablets allow you to draw directly on the screen with specialized pens, using software like Photoshop—tools that, of course, you’ll need to master.
Conclusion
In summary, a designer who doesn’t draw is still a designer, and a designer who draws is simply a designer who draws!
As you’ve learned from this article, graphic design is a complex field where there are no immutable laws or absolute truths (this isn’t chemistry or biology!). It’s a discipline where a particular skill (like drawing) may be highly beneficial in some contexts but nearly irrelevant in others.
To truly understand when and how to leverage your skills in graphic design, you need a comprehensive understanding of the field. That’s why I wholeheartedly recommend taking our course—it will undoubtedly help you gain a clearer vision!