Rapid Viz : A New Method for the Rapid Visualization of Ideas

This is the book my instructor at California College of the Arts uses for the Ideation Sketching course. This book teaches you the 'why' and 'how' of design sketching. The book gets a little wordy at the end, but the beginning has a wonderful process for developing your sketches, based on the concept of drawing perfect cubes, then adding and subtracting, to get your final object. This book also includes simple instructions on shading and drop shadows. Whether you are designing products, buildings, interiors or landscapes, this book has you covered, with examples pulled from all of those fields.Anecdotally, I have been told this book is better than the newer versions. I cannot verify that, since I haven't seen the newer versions. I do, however, highly recommend this version.If you are a designer and need to draw, this book is for you. While I cannot stress enough that this book works better with an instructor, there is a great deal of value here for folks who are self-taught too.

I found out about this book through Peter Han from SuperAni (who also made a handy book on perspective called the Dynamic Bible). At first I thought this book was geared towards architect but the exercises, techniques, and mindset that Karl Hanks follows you through is very useful for drawing from imagination and coming up with an imagination overall, even if you have never visualized anything or ever drawn, this book is handy to have after you gain a foundational understanding of drawing and anatomy.

Needed this book for my class, and is helpful.

Great introductory book for drawing, it really comes down to practice!!

If you have been sketching for years then read someone else's review for a more accurate portrayal of this book. 3D, Perspective, Techniques, Depth, Light, Shadows: Previously, these were all completely beyond me. Practice is the key; the ability to sketch does not lie in a book, but rather in the pencil you are holding. This book gives you a starting point for practice. I've gone from appalling to amateur in a couple of months.

RapidViz is an excellent resource for anyone seeking a reference for rapid drawing techniques. Hard to find and worth picking up for that reason alone.

. I would recommend this book if one is looking to learn how to get their ideas down on paper. This book is NOT teaching you how to become a master illustrator but teaching you the basic techniques that you will need so that you can place your ideas from your head down on paper quickly and effectively. I would recommend the 2nd edition which is this one over the 3rd(which I have as well.)The key to getting the most out of this book is doing the exercises. It also recommends just using the most basic of tools which is just some cheap copy paper and a pen or pencil. (they recommend pen at first to prevent from erasing.)

Very helpful book. Learned alot from it.