Drawing and Perceiving

The basics of drawing are universal to all design disciplines. Understanding these basics, such as mass, volume, form, shape, contour, texture, light, dark, shadows, orthographic projections, paraline views, and perspective, is critical to the successful representation of figures, structures, and landscapes.

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From Leonardo da Vinci to Louis Kahn, the world's great designers and architects have used the observation and drawing of real objects to inform and inspire visionary constructions. This book prepares students of architecture and design to carry on a similar dialogue between their perceptions of the physical world and their understanding of the elements of design. It instills an understanding of the basic principles of drawing that are universal to all design disciplines - mass, volume, form, contour, texture, shadow, and more - as it explores the knowledge, rational thought, and analysis that design professionals rely on to create successful drawings. This combination of technique, theory, and analysis equips the designer with a powerful set of tools, crucial to both the creative process and the successful career.