Just finished my 50th sketch for a new collection concept

I was cleaning up my desk and counted all the concept sketches I've done for this new line. I hit 50, which kind of shocked me. In my experience, I usually get a solid idea after maybe 20 tries, but this one just kept changing. I was stuck on the idea of using recycled sailcloth for structured jackets, but the shapes weren't right. After about sketch 35, I switched to thinking about deconstructing old workwear instead, and things clicked. It mattered because it showed me how a big pile of 'bad' ideas is actually the only way to find the good one. Has anyone else had a project where you had to push way past your normal number of drafts to find the right direction?

2 comments

2 Comments

spencer_thomas42d ago

I used to get mad at myself for scrapping a bunch of early drafts, like it was wasted time. Your sailcloth to workwear switch is a perfect example of why that's wrong though. All those "wrong" sketches just build the path to the idea that actually works.

avery_foster312d ago

My first ten drafts for a new cocktail menu were all trash, but number eleven was the one.