sketching

Sketching: Tools of the Trade (Pens, Pencils, & More)

Anyone have any strong recommendations for specific models of pens or pencils for the UI sketching process? 

I'm also interested in any additional trusty accouterments you feel add to the process and quality (rulers, stencils, paper, etc). 

Direct links to purchasing pages would be a super bonus :)

Thanks, 
-- Clark Valberg
Epicenter Consulting
www.EpicenterConsulting.com

Mini Design Challenge Suggestions

Hi,

Does anyone have suggestions of topics for quick (~10 minutes) design
challenge scenarios?

The University of Michigan SOCHI (Student Org. in Computer Human
Interaction) is hosting an event to practice our rapid sketching and
ideation skills, particularly in preparation for upcoming job
interviews that many of us have. We've done sketching scenarios like
this in the past and would love some fresh ideas.

Are there any scenarios that you've encountered during IXD/UX
interviews that might be good to practice with?

How many alternatives, concepts, or sketches are enough?

http://www.90percentofeverything.com/2009/01/14/why-you-shouldnt-rush-into-a-solution-too-quickly/

Harry posted an interesting post on "90 percent of everything" about not
rushing to design solutions too quickly. Designers should cover the design
space with divergent approaches first and identify proper alternatives
before converging on an idea.

Develop your sketching skills in NYC

In Bill Buxton's landmark book 'Sketching User Experiences,' he not only
teaches us about sketching, he argues that sketching is the archetypal
activity of design -- an action central to design thinking and learning.
By illustrating the nuances of sketches, he illustrates how "it takes the
same kind of learning to acquire the skills to converse fluently with a
sketch as it takes to learn to speak in any other foreign language."

Dave Malouf and I agree, and to help others acquire this skill we decided
to hold a workshop in New York called 'Sketching for Interaction Design.'
Taught by