Back to the drawing board? Exploring process drawing and pathways to drawing participation in Higher Education for graphic design students.

My thesis will explore the value of a rough sketch, or ‘process drawing’, in the creative process of Visual Communication Design students at Western Sydney University (WSU).

Through the development of improvisational drawing activities, such as doodling and squiggling, my research will explore strategies to encourage drawing participation and demonstrate the value of a quick sketch or thumbnail in the creative process.

Currently my thesis will employ the following qualitative methods:

• Classroom observations
• Pre and post questionnaires
• Student interviews and conversation analysis
• Analysis of speed drawing exercises
• Analysis of my own creative processes

The development of activities will be informed by my own visual arts and design practice.

This research may add to the critical discourse in drawing research, which argues that process drawing should continue to be clarified, demonstrated and encouraged in design schools.