Abstract
Mo Zell in her book The Architectural Drawing Course states that "However, repeated construction of drawings will not necessarily result in becoming a good architect, although it might produce a good draughtsman". She then adds that drawings and models can reinforce a designer's ideas through presentational intention. But she also argues that "hand drawing provides the most direct way to transfer thoughts onto paper. The knowledge of how to construct three-dimensional images, to think using your hand on paper, and to analyse ideas through sketches provide an excellent foundation for architectural design" (Zell, 2011).
In interior design courses and studio projects the situation is similar. Why is hand drawing fundamental? What does hand drawing convey when it comes to presentation or expressing design ideas? Why do some students feel unconfident when it comes to hand drawings? More importantly, what do they do to express their ideas and projects effectively?
This paper explores these queries through student's experiences in a design studio within the discipline of interior design. The main focus is to examine the means they have used in their projects and its functionality in expressing their ideas. Although the course project is not identical to the students, the case studies in this paper highlight some cases of students who tend not to use hand drawing in the final presentation. The cases chosen are of students' projects and are a reflection of three years' experience working in different courses. The study reflects their thoughts and opinions towards hand drawing, and explores some presentation techniques that students prefer. Moreover, it articulates the teacher's observation and analysis, and the development of students' knowledge and visualization. Finally, the outcome of the study endeavours to contribute to current research on conceptual presentation and its potential role in interior design.
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