Thumbnail Sketches “Thumbnail sketches” are quick sketches used to communicate visual ideas for creative work before time is invested in the project.

Here is an example of a quick storyboard sketch with stick figures and no dialogue, just to communicate an idea for a video. Many rough storyboard ideas like this one might be generated before a decision is made to produce one. When one is chosen, a refined storyboard is drawn with dialogue and camera shot info. Then the production team shoots the video to match the finalized sotryboard. Because video production is expensive and laborious, storyboards are a critical guide. Alternatives to drawing include photographing experimental shots and/or Photoshopping imagery.

Thumbnail sketches are also used for page layout to communicate ideas quickly. The sketches above are for a DVD cover.

Sketches are used for all sorts of page layout.

Thinking on the Grid Designers typically imagine a “grid” for their layout sketches, to be sure that there is strong alignment and organization.

Here are some thumbnail sketch examples for a flyer asking people to adopt a pet. I created these quickly. Notice that the best ideas are usually NOT the first ideas, which is why it’s so important to brainstorm many ideas instead of stopping with the first acceptable one that enters your mind. The first headline above (“Adopt Your Pet”) is not nearly as emotionally powerful as the headline “Need Some Lovin’? Adopt a Pet” or “Somebody Needs You: Adopt a Pet” or “Somebody Loves You.” Also, the later sketches that include a girl with her arms around a puppy are much more engaging than a dog sitting in a flyer by itself.

Artists use preliminary sketches before creating elaborate illustrations as well. See the example above. Then, the artist can draw the illustration in full color in Adobe Illustrator by scanning in the sketch and bringing it into Illustrator to use it as a guide to draw over. To do this, the layer with the scanned image is locked. New layers are created on top of it for drawing with the pen tool. This drawing is by heartliverkidneys in DeviantArt

Here a sketch has been brought into Illustrator and the artist is drawing on top of it with the pen tool, adjusting anchor points, etc.

Logo sketches are often used in the same way.

Students use thumbnail sketches to brainstorm ideas for all sorts of class projects. In this project, students were asked to brainstorm graphic ideas for use of a bar code.

What will you brainstorm? Your Turn What will you brainstorm?