Sketching is not just right side of the brain stuff. All throughout my academic career my professors almost unanimously agree that students should draw more pictures when trying to solve math, physics, biology, computer science, etc. problems. After years of hearing their pleas I’ve finally started to come around. Even with all this technology surrounding me I can safely say that sketching is the quickest way to get ideas out of my head. Some may suggest mind mapping software but for me nothing beats pencil and paper. Drawing offers a physicality that we’ve yet to duplicate in computer interfaces. Things like multitouch screens and Wacom tablets come close but they just never feel quite right.

I’m not huge fan of upfront design. I prefer to take an idea and start building and design through iteration of an actual product. Pencil can be great for that. Several of the features I’ve written have started out as quick sketches on paper with mini-addendum sketches as I go. And nothing beats going to a different room with your pencil and paper to solve difficult conceptual problems. Because I kept losing these awesome sketches, a few weeks ago I bound some Idea Works notebooks. They’re recycled from old stationary that we couldn’t use because of an outdated phone number. Good for the environment and good for the brain.