Sketch Prerequisites

Sketch is a versatile vector graphics-based UX design tool for building interactive web and mobile layouts. Sketch users can design layouts optimized for device screens of any size and effortlessly add complex interactive elements to their web designs using Sketch’s symbols tool. If you feel Sketch may be too big a challenge, this guide will help you understand the best methods for learning Sketch and what you should study first to make the process easier. This way, you’ll be successful however you choose to apply your new skills. 

What is Sketch?

Sketch is a design tool for creating user interface (UI) layouts for webpages and mobile applications. Sketch is a vector-graphics design program, meaning that the assets created can be modified and resized for optimal performance on screens of any size. Sketch’s significant features include its easy customization tools, digital collaboration tools, and, most importantly, Sketch symbols. Sketch symbols let users create reusable design elements that can be modified individually, allowing users to build layout assets like buttons and drop-down menus, which all look the same but function differently as the design demands. Advanced Sketch users can use the built-in tools to make even more complex, interactive symbols to optimize their workflow and the functionality of their design.

Sketch originated on the macOS app store and is only available on machines that run off macOS. Therefore, the program can be slightly limiting but is built with the specific functionalities of this operating system in mind. Sketch has features common to almost all macOS native programs, such as touch bar support, Retina and non-Retina displays, and native font rendering. These features allow macOS device users to learn Sketch more efficiently and quickly pick up advanced skills. Web designers can also create layouts designed to operate on devices like next-generation iPhones. The functionalities of Sketch designs won’t be limited to these devices, but the program gives users the tools to optimize their layouts for specific platforms.

In recent updates, Sketch has added new features to make collaboration and prototyping easier for teams of users. Sketch lets designers work together to build clickable prototypes of their webpages that designers can distribute for testing and iteration, a crucial feature of any user-interface design software. And Sketch is constantly evolving to meet the needs of its users.

Read more about what Sketch is and why you should learn it. 

What Can You Do with Sketch?

Sketch allows web designers to create layouts for webpages and mobile applications. Users can create vibrant, interactive webpage models for testing and development using text, images, graphic designs, and artboards. Because Sketch is a vector graphics illustration tool, these designs are easily reusable and scalable. They can be optimized to work on any-sized screen and used in multiple contexts in any design layout. Sketch also recently added advanced features for collaboration and prototyping, allowing team members to work together more efficiently to build model user interfaces.

Sketch’s most unique features are symbols and reusable digital interface assets that can be replicated across multiple pages. Sketch lets users define symbol characteristics to repurpose them as the design warrants. In addition, users can manually override the function of individual symbols, letting users give each asset a different interactive functionality without having to start from scratch. More advanced users can build complicated, multi-purpose symbols that make designing interfaces a breeze.

Sketch also has a robust community of designers and developers who are constantly building new adds-on and templates for Sketch. Users who learn Sketch can take advantage of these resources to make working with the program more straightforward and efficient. Since this community is so active, new resources are available daily.

Is Sketch Easy to Learn?

Sketch is a user-friendly program, and new users should be able to pick up the fundamentals quickly. A few hours of tutorials should prepare users for experimenting with the design tools available. However, the more advanced features of Sketch, particularly the ones that set it apart from its competitors, might take students a bit longer to learn. There will always be more room for improvement and training for students dedicated to learning Sketch.

What to Know Before Learning Sketch

While Sketch has no formal prerequisites, it does have a technical prerequisite and a few general skills that users should be familiar with as they get started. Users must first ensure that their device can run Sketch, since it is native to the macOS platform. Additionally, students may wish to brush up on the basic philosophies of UX and graphic design so they can make informed decisions when designing webpages.

Mac compatibility

Since its release in 2010, Sketch has been exclusive to macOS machines, having been available only on the Apple App Store for much of its development life. So, anyone hoping to learn Sketch must have access to a macOS device. The program is not incredibly system intensive, but you must have macOS Big Sur. 

User Experience Training

Aspiring Sketch users may benefit from cursory UX design training before experimenting too deeply with the program. Sketch is a powerful design tool, but it doesn’t provide much benefit if a user doesn’t understand how they should design a webpage's functionality. 

Graphic Design Training

In addition to UX design knowledge, it will also benefit Sketch users to gain background knowledge in graphic design. Knowing how to use colors, typography, and graphics to communicate a message quickly is a vital part of web design. Sketch users will greatly benefit from learning how to use these tools before experimenting with the program.