Yo, what’s up? As someone who’s been in the design game for a minute, I know how important it is to make sure non-technical stakeholders understand design concepts. 🎨 It can be a real challenge to convey ideas through sketches, especially when you’re dealing with folks who aren’t design-savvy. But fear not, my friend, because I’ve got some tips that’ll help you bridge that gap.

First off, keep it simple, stupid. 💡 Don’t try to get too fancy or use jargon that’ll confuse people. Stick to basic design elements like color, shape, and composition. Use examples from everyday life to explain your ideas. For instance, if you’re working on a website, you could use the analogy of a storefront to explain how the homepage should look and function. This will help stakeholders connect with your ideas and understand them better.

Secondly, make it visual. 👀 Sketches are a great tool for visualizing design concepts, but don’t rely solely on them. Use images, diagrams, and other visual aids to help communicate your ideas. You can also use tools like InVision or Figma to create interactive prototypes that stakeholders can play around with. This will give them a better sense of how the design will work and feel.

Another thing to keep in mind is to be patient and open-minded. 🙏 Remember that not everyone thinks the way you do or understands design in the same way. Be willing to answer questions and explain concepts in different ways if needed. And be open to feedback and suggestions from stakeholders. They may have insights or perspectives that you hadn’t considered, which could ultimately lead to a better design.

Lastly, avoid using too much technical language. 🤓 Designers can get caught up in using industry-specific terms that may not make sense to non-technical stakeholders. Instead, use language that’s easy to understand and relatable. For example, instead of saying “user experience,” you could say “how it feels to use the product.” This will help stakeholders grasp the concepts and feel more comfortable giving feedback.

In conclusion, conveying design concepts through sketches to non-technical stakeholders can be a challenge, but it’s not impossible. Keep it simple, make it visual, be patient and open-minded, and avoid using too much technical language. If you follow these tips, you’ll be well on your way to getting everyone on the same page. 🔍