Update: We have now published our follow-up article of readers' responses - see it here.
Historically, the ability to draw by hand - both to create precise technical drawings and expressive sketches - has been central to the architecture profession. But, with the release and subsequent popularization of Computer Aided Design (CAD) programs since the early 1980s, the prestige of hand drawing has been under siege. Today, with increasingly sophisticated design and presentation software, from Revit to Rhinoceros, gaining in popularity, the importance of hand drawing has become a topic of heated discussion. Even so, when we published the short article "Hand vs. Computer Drawing: A Student’s Opinion" last week, the number of people offering their thoughts in the comments was far beyond what we expected.
For this reason, we wanted to offer our readers the chance to express their thoughts more broadly on the topic. Are hand drawings an anachronism in 21st century architecture? Or do they offer a way for architects to explore ideas that computer applications can't? Is there a distinction to be made between the usefulness of technical drawings and sketches? Is there a difference between drawing in education and when working in practice? What are the ramifications of architects who can't draw, or of architects who can't use computer applications?
We'd like you to leave your thoughts about all these questions and more in the comments below. The most interesting and insightful comments will be featured in an upcoming article.
