Introduction
What is design drawing?
The ability to visualise and model is a mode of thinking from which we derive our capacity to design. To record our intentions as drawings is a sophisticated process.
Gallery
The gallery illustrates the phases in progression of children's understanding of design drawing.
Assessing design drawing
Explaining the progression in children's understanding of design drawing.
The theory of design drawing
Initially, children see their drawings as 'containers' for their representation of reality. The 'journey' starts when children begin to see their drawings as tools for making changes.
Three whole-class lessons
The series of lessons based on Flat Stanley play on the 'journey' metaphor. Stan goes on a journey in his envelope; the children’s ideas go on a journey through their drawings.The container / journey metaphor is explicitly taught; children are shown how to exploit it.
What is this site about?
- Drawing for designing as "ideas sketches"
- Young children - aged 4-9
- Developing children's understanding of using drawing to develop their ideas prior to engaging with the materials
- Helping children to develop ideas for a quality product, rather than cutting into the materials and deciding the form of the product part-way through the making.
- Helping children to use an easily accessible medium for recording and modelling their ideas about what they would like to make.
What is this site not about?
- Drawing for purposes other than designing
- Asking children to do things beyond their current capability
- Technical drawing i.e. the kind used in industry and GCSE projects.