Design Tips Wanted :)

Hi, cookiers,

I was wondering if anyone would be happy to share a little informaton about their design process? I find I procrastinate putting a large set together, as I often decorate as I go, and am a little scared to start sometimes in case I dont like the design I do. I am sure there's a better way!

Do you tend to sketch first and come up with the full design before you start, or do you finalise the small details as you go? For small sets (i.e., set of 3), I tend to have a plan, but for larger sets (i.e., sets of 12), this can be difficult. Looking forward to hearing how your creative minds work. Thank you!

4/27/1711:01 AM

Original Post

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Julia M. UsherFounder and Host, Cookie Connection; Owner, Recipes for a Sweet Life

Hi, Prue's Bikkies & Cakes, Congrats on making your first post. I look forward to many more to come!

4/27/1711:01 AM

Julia M. UsherFounder and Host, Cookie Connection; Owner, Recipes for a Sweet Life

I usually sketch all out first, but allow the finer details to evolve more organically as I decorate (as sometimes what I conceived just doesn't work in practice). But, mind you, I am not decorating for sale any longer, so I have a greater luxury of time than I would if I were designing and decorating to profit from each cookie. In the latter case (when I had my shop), all designs would be well understood (and relatively easy/fast), and we'd decorate to plan with little deviation from it, in order to keep decorating time and labor costs in check.

4/27/1712:58 PM

Prue's Bikkies & CakesNibbler

Hi Julia, thank you so much for your reply and for sharing your design approach, your post was so helpful! Have a lovely weekend and thanks again, it was such a lovely surprise to see your name in my inbox this morning!

4/27/177:47 PM

Aproned ArtistSuper Gobbler

Like Julia, I almost always sketch my designs. They rarely turn out exactly like the sketch, but improvising everything is usually disastrous for me. For more complicated designs, I even make lists of the colors, consistencies, and order of steps, especially if I'm multitasking two or more designs in one session (but I'm a crazy Virgo). Most of my sets are 3-4 designs only. I don't think I've ever made a set with more than 8 designs. Even as prepared as I am, I still procrastinate a moment before committing icing to cookie.

4/28/179:35 AM

EconladyCookie Queen in Training

I rarely sketch my designs since I can't draw. I can picture it in my head. I will make a list of what colors I'm using, consistency and estimate how much I need.

4/28/1710:53 AM

Julia M. UsherFounder and Host, Cookie Connection; Owner, Recipes for a Sweet Life

Econlady posted:
I rarely sketch my designs since I can't draw. I can picture it in my head. I will make a list of what colors I'm using, consistency and estimate how much I need.

I sketch, but I never said I could draw! The act of sketching, even if very crude sketches, really helps me visualize the outcome and identify the steps I need to make it.

4/28/1710:55 AM

EconladyCookie Queen in Training

Julia M. Usher posted:
Econlady posted:
I rarely sketch my designs since I can't draw. I can picture it in my head. I will make a list of what colors I'm using, consistency and estimate how much I need.
I sketch, but I never said I could draw! The act of sketching, even if very crude sketches, really helps me visualize the outcome and identify the steps I need to make it.

I can visualize the cookies. When I was working I could visualize my analysis. It's just how I solve things.

4/28/1712:22 PM