Why We LOVE the Doodle!
At Wodehouse we are always doodling - we admit it. We’re a design team not AI algorithms - humans, and that’s what sets the ideas in a creative design agency apart.
Not all heroes wear capes. If you are a professional creative, the doodle is like having a superpower. It's fast and adaptable and incredibly effective, in coming up with ideas and getting them across. You can be as lateral as you like. Chris in the studio does a kind of sketched shorthand for whatever pops into his head, so he doesn’t lose it. What looks like confusing thumbnails make perfect sense to him.
You can think of creativity as being akin to a working a muscle, but developing a neural pathway, the brain has neuroplasticity even in adulthood, which means new pathways of thought are made all the time - as one thing the brain does like is efficiency. The repetition makes your brain better at lateral thought, after over 20 years in the business design at Wodehouse is akin to a second language.
Don’t Go
Doodling is an impromptu method to express ideas as they come to mind naturally for designers to quickly capture concepts and explore potential without worrying about exactness or flawlessness - see if it works and don’t be afraid of a white page. Remember the first mark is the hardest, so just draw anything to get past that barrier. Concentrating on sketching is a brainstorming session where imaginative notions can be documented before they slip away. We are in the business of visual communication - so we make our thoughts visible!
Expect the Unexpected
When artists or designers sketch randomly on paper or digital devices for fun or relaxation without pressure to create work of art or design masterpiece can spark inspiration and unconventional problem-solving approaches that may surprise themselves as they delve into their subconscious thoughts and make unexpected connections not usually reached through organised office meetings. There’s a reason why an OND foundation course concentrates so much on the skills of drawing, and often being asked to produce something in a couple of minutes. It was termed “loosening up.” Not being precious with a doodle equates to more creative solutions. Let your mind wander through the creative landscape, explore creative possibilities in a state of flow where ideas materialise, and insights emerge naturally. You can roll out ideas and brand assets without moving your mouse. Good research, and a pad and pen is a particularly potent combination.
Don’t Be Shy
Doodles are great, for expressing thoughts in a snap when words just don't cut it! They are super handy for pitching concepts to clients or working with teams and non-designers because doodles can capture the core of an idea or design layout effectively, superior to long winded explanations or slideshows. Much as our designers hate to say it, doing Mac concept work with a client over their shoulders never works. A pen and paper is faster and somehow a better talking point.
If you have a particular style, then celebrate the hand drawn aspect. People think quite fondly of a creative that wants to ‘craft’ on their behalf. The problem with designing on a Mac is that everything is so highly finished nobody accepts anything at a rough level - it just looks like bad art!
Crash Your Plane and Walk Away
Doodling’s playfulness makes it nothing to be afraid of when thoughts are not flowing. It promotes trying out things without worrying about making mistakes or failing in the process. By blending styles and combining influences while drawing unexpected connections together allows designers to come up with more daring and unique results. Even things like page spreads, how a document folds or whether a format might work can all be doodled first. Doodle a concept first - then think about how you’re going to create it.
Still WORK - But Different
Drawing provides designers with a break while they continue to stay involved, in their tasks. It enables us to take a step back and consider ideas from various viewpoints resulting in new insights, so we can push the limits of our software and optimise a creative solution. As we touched on before, according to research drawing has the potential to enhance concentration and retention making it an effective method, for rejuvenating creativity.
Doodles Travel Well
The act of doodling allows designers to brainstorm ideas freely and express themselves creatively while staying motivated and enjoying the process. Its ease of use and adaptability make it a valuable tool. You can take it on the road with you, pick up a pad and a pen and doodle in a coffee shop, or even on a train.
So - What’s Our Preferred Weapon?
A Zebra ballpoint, available in packs of 5 from Amazon. (Thank us for the link later.) Rubber grip, perfect diameter, nice ink flow - sorry to sound Alan Partridgesque - we have it bad. AI by contrast is not open to these human foibles, however it is just a machine like a coffee maker or a photocopier and has no personal preference or original thought beyond a prompt it interprets, so really doesn’t address a clients needs! In the same sense that a template-based design is not a magic solution or a panacea. We always say, “poor marketing, ultimately costs more.”
For a design solution or campaign for business or charity that’s as unique to you as those irrepressible doodles are to us, why not say hello to Wodehouse?
We love good design and aesthetics and don't feel it should cost the earth either. Across all areas of business and the charity sector Wodehouse have delighted our clients with graphic design, high quality print and direct mail solutions since 2003.