TOOLS OF THE TRADE

Serviette Name Priyanka Rao

By InvestSMART · 2 Jun 2012

By InvestSMART ·
2 Jun 2012

Comments

Name Priyanka Rao

Job Furniture designer

Where Evolvex.com.au

Why is it important?

I'm often out in meetings, and many of them are in cafes or bars. I have my iPad and iPhone, but when it comes to something creative I find it easier to write it down on paper. If I'm in a cafe, serviettes are always around. Before meetings I'll write my dot points on one, or doodle on one. Of course, I will then take my serviette drawing and turn it into something more professional. I'd never present it to a client.

What do your colleagues think?

People probably find it a bit funny, but among designers it's quite common. There's also something nice about drawing in a casual way; there's a feeling of throwing away judgment. You're not committing to anything. Often, you find you can progress a lot of ideas in that state, because you're so open.

Unusual moment?

Around the time I was doing the first designs for Evolvex, I was out with friends at a cafe and started drawing ideas and diagrams on a serviette. I still have that serviette. We recently filed a patent, and some of the drawings for that patent originally came from that serviette.

How much does it cost?

Free. You can always ask for more and they are easily stowed in a handbag. I highly recommend them as thinking tools. It's not like drawing on a white piece of paper; it's so easy to think creatively on something like a serviette.

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Frequently Asked Questions about this Article…

Why do designers sketch ideas on serviettes (napkins) during meetings and cafes?

Designers often find it easier to capture creative ideas on serviettes when they're out in meetings or cafes. The article explains that quick serviette sketches help people think freely, avoid early judgment and progress lots of ideas in an open, informal state — sometimes faster than using an iPad or phone.

Is sketching on serviettes a common practice among professional designers?

Yes. The article notes colleagues might find it a bit funny, but casual doodling on serviettes is quite common among designers as a spontaneous way to develop concepts.

Can a serviette sketch be turned into a professional design for clients?

Absolutely — serviette drawings are often just the starting point. The article says the designer routinely takes serviette sketches and converts them into something more professional, though she wouldn’t present the raw serviette sketch to a client.

Can napkin or serviette drawings contribute to a patent or intellectual property filing?

In this example, yes. The article describes how early drawings on a serviette contributed to designs for Evolvex and that some of those sketches eventually formed part of a recently filed patent.

How much do serviettes cost as a creative sketching tool, and are they practical to carry?

Serviettes are free and widely available, making them a practical and portable thinking tool. The article recommends keeping them in a handbag and says they’re great for quick creative work.

Should I ever present a serviette sketch directly to a client or investor?

According to the article, serviette sketches are useful internal thinking tools but not presentation-ready. The designer turns those initial scribbles into more polished work before showing clients or investors.

What simple tips help make the most of spontaneous serviette sketches in meetings?

Keep a pen handy, jot down dot points or doodle before a meeting, and treat the serviette as a low-pressure way to explore ideas. The article highlights that casual drawing frees you from commitment and helps progress concepts quickly.

Why do informal sketches on serviettes help the creative process more than blank paper or digital notes?

The article suggests that the casual nature of a serviette encourages throwing away judgment and staying open to ideas. That relaxed mindset can let you progress more concepts than when you feel pressured to be perfect on plain paper or digital devices.