Exploring Design Through Sketch Models
written by Ellena
At White Red, the process of design exploration often starts in the most hands-on way — with a scalpel, some card, and a glue gun. Sketch models are a vital part of our creative toolkit, allowing us to quickly test ideas and refine concepts in real time.
Working with tactile materials like card, foam board, and glue gives us the freedom to experiment without overthinking. These tools let us explore spatial relationships, proportions, and how light interacts with form — things that are harder to fully grasp in digital space alone.
There’s something uniquely intuitive about model-making. It invites a kind of playfulness and discovery that fuels our design thinking. Each fold, cut, and layer helps us uncover new possibilities and make decisions faster.
While 3D-printed models serve as refined visualisations later in the process, our sketch models are raw, immediate, and exploratory — the creative spark before the polish.
