The Evolution of the "Digital Sketch"

I’ve always viewed the hand sketch as the most critical artifact of the design process—it’s where aspiration emerges. Recently, I’ve been exploring how AI can lengthen the value of these sketches, transforming them into what I call Digital Sketches.

Here are three things I’m learning through this hybrid workflow:
1. Deepening the Value of Communication: By combining hand sketches with tools like mnml.ai and Lumalabs, I can take a concept to the next level that helps the team as well as clients see the atmosphere and materiality earlier in the process.

2. AI as a Thinking Tool: We aren’t replacing the hand; we’re enhancing it. I use these digital iterations to interrogate my own designs—testing the sketch into a living laboratory.

3. An Invigorating Exploration: There is a new level of discovery seeing your thoughts solidify almost in real-time. It makes the conceptual phase feel incredibly dynamic and open-ended than ever before.

How is AI changing your design "thinking" process?