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Sketching is fairly unanimously considered one of, if not the most, important tools in a designers toolbox.  They let us convey ideas and thoughts in a quick, easy to grasp manner that affords everyone the ability to be on the same page (when it’s done correctly).  To many people, it is a great deal of what sets us apart from other people with ideas and criticisms, in that we are able to visibly demonstrate what we are thinking of.  Until recently, there has not been too much software to help the designer to actually replicate the pencil and paper method of sketching on the computer.  Autodesk’s Sketchbook Pro (formerly Alias Sketchbook Pro) was one of the first to truly capture the feeling of putting pencil (or pen, airbrush, etc) to paper for tablet and computer users alike.  It was simple, it was fun, and it got all the things it tried to do, right (again, starting with a small number of functions, but ensuring it did them all well, rather than being a bloated mediocre product).  Since it’s inception, it has evolved and added more functions, and is now set to go mobile as well, becoming an iPhone app (examples of artwork done using the mobile version can already be found here, and the quality is surprising).  However, since then, there really hasn’t been too many innovative sketching programs that a designer can look to in order to help freshen up presentations and reviews.  This is where ILoveSketch comes in.

The program is designed to create three-dimensional sketches such that a viewer could rotate freely in any direction and understand the shape and geometry of the sketch with almost no need for interpretation.  Upon first glance, it reminds me somewhat of Google SketchUp’s relationship to fully fledged 3D Software like Alias Studio and 3D Studio Max.  It allows one to sketch on 2D planes in a 3D space, therefore giving the user the freedom to construct 3D sketches.

Car Sketch Made in ILoveSketch

Such a program has never really been tried before in this manner (that I am aware of).  Some similar tools have been packaged with expensive 3D Suites such as Alias Studio, but nothing quite this accessible for the average designer.  It loses much of the less pristine, rawness that some designers crave for their work, but it also gains incredible amounts of potential.  Since these lines in 3D space are Bezier curves, they can be replicated in other 3D programs, and potentially printed to Rapid Prototyping machines.  The ability to be able to sketch something in a few minutes and then immediately be able to handle it and look it over, is an undeniable advantage that would immediately make this a compelling software choice for at least some designers.  Furthermore, they are now aiming another version of the program at those who are not necessarily professional designers, but would enjoy using such a program, called, EveryoneLovesSketch (the names could probably use a bit of work).

Click to Watch a Youtube Video of EveryoneLovesSketch

The development of this program is intriguing, even though it is certainly not for everyone.  Many designers have a hard time acclimating to using a tablet or computer for any kind of sketching, and this does seem like it would be less inviting than Autodesk’s Sketchbook Pro.  However, for those who are keen and have gone digital, it looks like it will be one more weapon at their disposal.