The Art of Drafting

Drafting is the "graphical representation of structures, machines, and their component parts that communicates the engineering intent of a technical design to the craftsman or worker who makes the product" (www.britannica.com). Indeed, drafters 'communicate intent'. In the context of building design, a drafter visually conveys an idea that a builder can bring to life.

Many, if not most building designers, including architects and engineers, are drafters. In fact, technical drawing is part of their education and training. Some drafters are also designers. After years of experience, and as more project obligations are delegated to them, many drafters naturally assume design roles. An experienced and knowledgeable drafter’s set of drawings often need only an engineer’s review and seal to ensure they meet building code requirements and qualify for permitting by the building official.

How crucial is the role of a drafter? In most municipalities, in order to produce a complete set of construction drawings, you may need either an architect or an engineer. The architect or engineer may also be the project drafter, or they may employ one. In either case, a drafter is needed to produce the construction documents.

There is something beautiful about a set of well-drawn building plans. The distinct and consistent lettering of a drafter’s annotations accurately communicate dimension, materials and construction methods. The drawings of walls, openings, finishes and other building features are depicted with purposeful lineweights and shading that convey proportion and relative position. Elevations, perspective renderings and floorplans can be works of art. Even when software is used to produce a 3D model, nostalgia for this ancient artform frequently moves modern designers to emulate the drawing board. Often, computer-generated renderings are purposely given a vintage blueprint or sepia look, and you have probably come across a hand-drawn style applied to a visualization.

When you see an impressive structure, admiring the engineering that made it possible, or stare at an elegant building appreciating its beautiful architecture, know that there is a set of drawings somewhere that are a drafter's work of art. And if you have your home's original plans, hold on to those drawings. You may want to have one framed.

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