ASLA 2014 Annual Meeting Denver, Colorado Education Session SAT A08 Saturday, November 22nd 11:00am – 12:30pm Room: Four Seasons 4

Freehand Visions: Sketching Design Ideas in a Digital World

Field sketch, Richard Alomar, ASLA The session expands on last year’s popular Freehand Visions with new insights into the evolution of freehand sketching in a digital world, where the spontaneity and freshness of rapid concept sketching has become a creative and competitive edge. Explore developments in the global urban sketching phenomenon, using rapid sketching techniques as a spark plug in the design conceptualization process, and interactive digital sketching with pen-interactive computers.

This session takes freehand design imagery beyond traditional “hand graphics” and “rendering,” exploring rapid sketching approaches from allied creative fields and their application to landscape architecture through both analog and digital sketching.

Learning Objectives:

• Explore a less rigid, more accessible style of sketching that kick-starts creativity and complements digital work flow.

• Learn rapid, loose and agile sketching techniques for the design conceptualization process. • Discover the global urban sketching phenomenon; learn how it’s impacting education and how to

start a local group. • See real-time demonstrations of digital sketching techniques using pen-interactive computers.

Presenters: James Richards, FASLA Robert Chipman, ASLA

Richard Alomar, ASLA

On-the-spot digital concept sketch, Bob Chipman ASLA

Freehand Visions: Session Outline

I. Introductions: speakers, mission, learning objectives

II. Urban Sketching as Creative Fuel (Richard Alomar)

A. Urban sketching in the global community

1. The state of the movement

2. Learning from allied creative fields

B. Urban sketching in the academy: teaching and learning

C. Urban sketching in the local community: building a constituency, starting a group

D. Demonstration

III. Digital Sketching: The Future of Drawing (Bob Chipman)

A. Timeless skills, new technologies

B. Merging the physical expressiveness of hand drawing with the virtual assistance of

the computer

C. Digital sketching for the conceptual design process

D. A gallery of creative digital sketching applications for rapid design + communication

E. Demonstration

IV. Freehand for a Digital Age: (Jim Richards)

A. The world rediscovers the art of the handmade

B. Focus on more and better ideas in the beginning, not pretty pictures at the end

C. Rapid sketching techniques

D. Audience Participation Demonstration (Jim Richards and team)

V. Questions and Answers

On-the-spot sketch, James Richards FASLA Presenter Bios: JAMES RICHARDS, FASLA, is an Associate Professor at The University of Texas at Arlington and co-founder of Townscape Inc., a town planning and urban design consultancy based in Fort Worth and Vancouver. He is a member of the Board of Directors and a blog correspondent for the international non-profit Urban Sketchers, and founder of Urban Sketchers Texas. His book, Freehand Drawing and Discovery: Urban Sketching and Concept Drawing for Designers, is published by John Wiley & Sons. Email: jim@townscape.com

ROBERT CHIPMAN, ASLA has been developing innovative, user-friendly freehand techniques for pen-interactive computer displays to creatively address a wide range of landscape architectural applications. He still sketches on paper too, or on his hand or on a napkin or in the dirt with a stick if needed. Bob is based in Austin, Texas. Email: rchipman@austin.rr.com

RICHARD ALOMAR, ASLA, RLA-Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ Mr. Alomar is a licensed landscape architect and Assistant Professor at Rutgers University. Mr. Alomar’s current work uses sketching and field notes to inform decisions on sustainability and design. He is the founder of Urban Sketchers NYC. Email: Richard.Alomar@rutgers.edu