A book I wish I had done: Estudos, rabiscos e desenhos

Designers and Drawings

Drawing is a universal language, and a tool for communication, and many times survival. From pre-historical drawings to floor plan sketches, from maps to doodles, they are used everywhere. They serve to connect us to history, wishes, dreams, plans, and others. To materialise what was initially in the ‘air’. It is maybe the most rudimentary form of communication, and yet, remains so relevant. As Genevieve von Petzinger has studied and evidenced with her large study on caves (worth taking a look at her TED Talk), letters might have also started from simple drawings in western alphabets, which we ordered and combined to create meaning. Kanji, the base of Chinese language, is entirely based on the combinations of drawings.  

As a tool, drawing is one of the most important things to kick-start the creative process. Drawings are used in this manner by engineers, psychologists, artists, architects, chefs, but maybe more than anyone else, by designers. The prominent work of Brazilian designer Kiko Farkas is now beyond recognition. His vast array of graphic design work has been exhibited all over the world and a lot of his illustrative posters confirm his long love for a pen and a white paper. An AGI member, Farkas has explored illustrations in his work from many angles, but very frequently resorting to drawings. Now, it was time to take it to the centre of his newest venture.

“Drawing to me is like writing, with no words,” says Farkas in this introductory text. His book is an important display about the accessibility of this tool. It is a confirmation that even if you are not born with the talent of a Rembrandt or David Hockney, you are also able to use it to communicate your ideas and feelings.

The state of the art of the drawing in this book was represented by the launch combined with an exhibition at Galeria Millan, a contemporary art gallery in São Paulo, Brazil. It underscores the importance not only of the work, but also of the medium. The publisher on its side, has produced two sexy publications, with a standard one, and another as a limited edition of 200 (these ones signed, numbered, with distinct cover, and special paper). These two complementary volumes are also important to put designers’ works in more evidence, and make alternative publications viable. As the economics of distribution shift towards direct and peer-to-peer sales, great books from small publishers will start to make a difference in the marketplace.

This book is about the encouragement we should give to every generation to use drawing as a mean to achieve something. And the good news is that it can be learned. By mixing conceptual, typographical, and figurative drawings, Farkas paves the way for a more freestyle use of the pen and a piece of blank paper. You only need a bit of openness, courage, and to let your hands flow. As the author also said, “Drawings can be used as projects to build things both in the real world and the intangible world of imagination, desire, and fantasy.”

Author: Kiko Farkas
ISBN: 978-65-900289-1-4
Title: Estudos, rabiscos e desenhos
Publisher: Bebel Books, 2019

Buy the book here.