Sketching as Interdisciplinary Communication

Abstract

Sketching is a tool used by designers worldwide.[1] Before there was ever written language, humans used images to convey meaning. Although we now have a multitude of languages worldwide which use words to describe both physical objects and abstract concepts, the need for drawings as a communication tool has never completely disappeared. People of disparate backgrounds still benefit from a sketch of a concept since even within a common “language ” i.e., English, French or Russian, many disciplines have specialized terminology. Intel Corporation-- a company once based solely on products at a scale smaller than the human eye can see-- houses a new arm of research and design called The Digital Health Group. This group is charged with creating products that combine healthcare and technology, producing functional and appealing prototypes for research and potential marketability. Because we are a group of innovators, our job is not to define manufacturing specifications, but rather, to explore new use case scenarios, form factors and innovative ways to implement current technology. The group has a wide array of experts, from social scientists and psychologists to hardware and software engineers. Taking the findings of the social scientists distilling them into product needs and conveying the needs to the engineers is the task given to the design team. In this team, sketching promotes and enhances interdisciplinary collaboration. Why a sketch? Creating a paper sketch, that is a loosely defined drawing of an object or concept, allows disparate workers to have a common talking point. A sketch is often the birth of an idea. It is still the quickest and most efficient way to convey ideas. Keeping a sketch loose leaves the idea open for some interpretation. Product development begins as team members from different disciplines look at a sketch and begin to process, make assumptions and ask questions. I