How designers perceive sketches

This research examines how novice and advanced design students perceive different things from conceptual sketches. This is chiefly explored through their descriptions of these sketches to a member of their peer group. It shows differences between the two groups in terms of their use of formal and symbolic references and explores what this might tell us about how designers think while sketching. It also investigates whether sketches from the designer's own domain are described differently to sketches from another domain, and discusses what this might tell us about the acquisition of design expertise.