Pen or Pencil? Choosing the Best Drawing Tool for Designers

As artists and designers, we’re often asked: 
Is it better to draw with a pen or a pencil? 
The answer is personal. But if you follow me for a while, you know my winner drawing tool between them! 🙂

But let’s dive deeper into the unique strengths and learning opportunities each tool offers—especially for those passionate about product design sketching.

By pen, I include all ballpoint pens, gel pens, felt pens, markers, even fountain pens… any ink you can’t erase. However, the pen I use the most in my workflow is the Ballpoint pen. It’s a cheap but technological jewel!

The Pencil: Comfort in Flexibility

The pencil is often the first tool we pick up as children.
Its erasability makes it forgiving—a safe space for experimentation. You can sketch lightly, build up forms, and erase mistakes with ease. For beginners, this flexibility is comforting.

It allows you to explore without fear, to iterate, and to refine.
I believe that pencils are amazing for at projects such as drawing portraits for example.

Pros:

• Easy to erase and correct
• Great for building up complex forms
• Ideal for shading and subtle gradients like you see on beautiful portraits

Cons:

• Can lead to over-editing and hesitation
• Shading techniques can be time consuming
• Sketches may look unfinished or “muddy” if overworked
• The lead breaks or need to sharpen

The Pen: Confidence in Commitment

Switching to a ballpoint pen is a game-changer for designers. Suddenly, every line counts.
There’s no eraser to save you—just your hand, your eye, and the page.

If a sketch goes, wrong, draw another one. It is as simple as that. : )
Not every single sketch you do needs to be perfect. Embrace bad sketches. They are part of the creative process.

This might sound intimidating, but it’s actually liberating.
You’re encouraged to keep moving, to let your ideas flow without interruption.
Mistakes become part of the process, visible reminders of your growth.

When you do a mistake, iterate on top.
Just remember to start all your sketches with a light pen pressure.

You know what?

I love using my construction lines to be part of the final artwork.
It adds some dynamism, and a human touch, opposing neat vector lines or technical drawings.

You are a sketcher. Bring in emotions in your lines!
You don’t want to erase them.

Pros:

• Forces you to commit and move forward
• Helps develop line confidence and clarity
• Mistakes become learning opportunities
• Sketches often look cleaner and more dynamic

Cons:

• No erasing—mistakes are permanent
• Can be intimidating for beginners
• The ballpoint pens can blob at times

Why I Love the Ballpoint Pen

Personally, I love drawing with a ballpoint pen. It keeps me honest.
Without the option to erase, I’m more present and intentional with every stroke. I can see my progress, my “happy accidents,” and my improvements over time.

It’s a fantastic way to build confidence and develop a unique sketching style.

By avoiding erasing, you train your hand and mind to be more demanding with the quality of your lines. You learn to plan ahead using the ghost drawing, to visualize before you draw, and to accept imperfections as part of your creative journey.

In my experience, this leads to faster improvement and a more enjoyable sketching process.

Embracing Mistakes

Mistakes aren’t failures—they’re evidence of learning. When you draw with a pen, you keep track of your journey. Each “wrong” line is a stepping stone toward mastery. Don’t be afraid to let them show!

Which Should You Choose?

Ultimately, the best drawing tool is the one that keeps you sketching. Try both!

Over time, you’ll discover your own preferences and develop a workflow that’s uniquely yours.
But for me, and whoever willing to learn my sketching style method, the ballpoint pen wins!

Remember: What matters most is not about the tool—it’s about the passion, the practice, and the joy of creating.

Cheers,
Chou-Tac