How does working by hand differ from drawing utilizing the computer or typing on the computer?

  • There is something more physical and tangible with working by hand, especially using various media.
  • All the senses are more engaged (sight, sound, smell, feel, etc) with how media makes marks on a paper.  This taps into more the creative side of brain and a really good mind/body connection.
  • You also get the accidents of marks making a beautiful mark.  The final product has more more energy/feeling and personality.
  • The work is a tangible achievement versus files being lost in a computer.  You can see all parts of the creative thinking process and the experimentation easier.  It may help guide your knowledge and confidence of what you did as it is a physical thing to hold onto.  The note taking and accessibility isn’t as convenient as grabbing a visual journal and flipping/finding your references.
  • Maybe typing words is more left brain thinking compared to hand writing, especially doing various styles.
  • For me, I still get a more direct feedback on paper versus tablets.
  • The computer does represent convenience, modern abilities and spreading your message faster and broader.

Do you think you are using different parts of your brain? Why? Are these different ways of thinking/doing?

  • Left/right sides are the analytical/creative brain
  • Left good for planning, making decisions and working with deadlines.
  • Right good for free creation for the best ideas and expression.
  • Exercises like blind contour drawing, drawing with my left hand and listening to music seem to get me into a more creative brainset – Im focused and in flow of what I am doing.
  • Creative thinking can be idea generation but working with a medium really make you feel present.
  • I think they are different ways of thinking/doing but I feel they work well together as part of your process at different times but can also be used during each other’s process.  Creative ways for left-sided applications eg. project planning visually with a mind map.  Analytical ways for right-sided applications eg. applying data sets to something visual

Which media do you prefer and why? 

  • Both!
  • I prefer now typing out my thoughts due to time spent on computer working and how fast I type.  Also, when I think fast, my handwriting tends to be illegible when I am more creative and I want to jot down my thoughts.
  • I prefer sketching ideas out and mind mapping in the initial stages of work.  Previously being a geologist, I encountered a unique professor who influenced me on mindmapping,  (http://drkurtgrimm.com/) which I used in my past career.  He thought to use visuals to making complex thinking simple.
  • Being back in the creative world, I love hand-on projects and experimenting.  It feels like an infinity of possibilities and you just have to try.
  • I love seeing work sketched out and look polished digitally.  While mistakes are not captured, because you can “go back”, you have an infinite amount of chances to make work look like you want it.