Working on an iPad
Five years ago, our lead designer Sean got his first iPad Pro—it's become an integral element in his product design toolkit. He recently upgraded to the new M1 iPad pro. Ken, our CEO & co-founder and I sat down to unbox the iPad and talk about design (Apple's and Grovemade's), work, and creativity.
- Nick LaPlante, Marketing & Product Strategy
- Nick LaPlante, Marketing & Product Strategy
Unboxing
Nick: Alright—Sean's holding the new 12.9" M1 iPad Pro.
Sean: The form factor is pretty much the same, the square sides. It feels much more like a piece of paper in my hand than something with rounded edges or something smaller. You can get really gestural with your drawing.
Ken: They haven't changed this form factor for quite a while. I remember when it first came out, it was a huge leap compared to the previous design.
Sean: And when you're using it, like the edge-to-edge screen, almost... It just feels like you're just holding a screen.
Nick: So the design stayed similar, contrasted with the big changes they made on the M1 iMac.
Sean: I don't want them to change it. This is it. Keep it this way.
Sean: The form factor is pretty much the same, the square sides. It feels much more like a piece of paper in my hand than something with rounded edges or something smaller. You can get really gestural with your drawing.
Ken: They haven't changed this form factor for quite a while. I remember when it first came out, it was a huge leap compared to the previous design.
Sean: And when you're using it, like the edge-to-edge screen, almost... It just feels like you're just holding a screen.
Nick: So the design stayed similar, contrasted with the big changes they made on the M1 iMac.
Sean: I don't want them to change it. This is it. Keep it this way.
Ken: But what if it was thinner? It's been a few years. If this was 30% thinner, it would feel so impossible. It's a little heavy, I think. Sometimes I like to lie in bed and watch basketball on it, and it's too heavy to hold above my head.
Sean: True.
Ken: There's room, Apple. You can get better.
Nick: How about the manufacturing quality?
Ken: I think it's actually higher quality than the iMac. When I was really scrutinizing the edges on the stand, there's some chatter and stuff that would never happen on a device like this.
Sean: True.
Ken: There's room, Apple. You can get better.
Nick: How about the manufacturing quality?
Ken: I think it's actually higher quality than the iMac. When I was really scrutinizing the edges on the stand, there's some chatter and stuff that would never happen on a device like this.
![](https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-D1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=200&s=bda2f118b1d0768fec93287aa058b7b5 200w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-D1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=300&s=8467d495406018646d0d26d6291a9525 300w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-D1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=500&s=7074305cee46674f6f11dab11c97d768 500w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-D1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=700&s=fb8718815fa0b90e58339dcd1f1c2f0e 700w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-D1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=900&s=041fbcd40c7e16dbf54f9956260d4ae6 900w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-D1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=1100&s=ec3ee42df81c4ef58cad463c7303eb41 1100w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-D1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=1300&s=751e7736b46acd3e1754ea195a110ded 1300w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-D1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=1500&s=21c6b6b735509978af2d50a0c7e1dc67 1500w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-D1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=1800&s=e8dab1a2bbd80d4460aa51beda636972 1800w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-D1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=2250&s=ce709bda76fe279c700cf488aa399472 2250w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-D1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=2500&s=d88e75e472aeee58c4400e643d860616 2500w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-D1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=3000&s=42b6efd1d940765852fab16682a9be10 3000w)
Sean: They also round these a lot more. The corners aren't as sharp on the iMac, which makes sense when you're handling it. The iPad feels like one of their most innovative products because of all the different things they're doing with it and to it, like that new keyboard they made for it, which is rad.
Ken: I have the old keyboard that Apple makes. It's really thin and light, and I like it. The reason I don't get the new one with the track pad is it's really heavy, so by the time you put that thing on it's as heavy as a computer. That kind of defeats its purpose for me. The new keyboard is gorgeous, though—the way it cantilevers over like that.
Ken: I have the old keyboard that Apple makes. It's really thin and light, and I like it. The reason I don't get the new one with the track pad is it's really heavy, so by the time you put that thing on it's as heavy as a computer. That kind of defeats its purpose for me. The new keyboard is gorgeous, though—the way it cantilevers over like that.
![](https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-C3.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=200&s=d1a0abbf7af8be2949e9f52aa0b2736b 200w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-C3.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=300&s=896d0d1c8f49bd6ad1ef20790dd8b39b 300w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-C3.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=500&s=4c08db8d1cf3fd682c9f7ad2c37b3c26 500w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-C3.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=700&s=7856074ae3256dd866dfe4a4a04357ec 700w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-C3.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=900&s=b076e294b92a01bcfa284be8ab20adaf 900w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-C3.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=1100&s=9944a4a299611f55c22d04102388468a 1100w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-C3.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=1300&s=4db75ad4d33ab29f2d80c95c606cc99e 1300w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-C3.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=1500&s=fed1c849ca62f69010a84b9b8866e6d2 1500w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-C3.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=1800&s=b05b2c3ab169da5c992af3ef9f90153f 1800w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-C3.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=2250&s=5e5d69c23d630fb92eb766c7e3410857 2250w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-C3.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=2500&s=94e54e0f60c81bc0bab6a77550787367 2500w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-C3.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=3000&s=70f37d5d12f6820c1538d31285fd941e 3000w)
Sean: Amazing. It's a lot like the new iMac in a way. There's a lot of parallels with that circular hit on the hinge.
iPad as Work Tool
Ken: Sean, you're the power user—how much time do you spend using your iPad for product design?
Sean: Yeah, I'd say I'm drawing on the iPad probably like 25% of my time.
Sean: Yeah, I'd say I'm drawing on the iPad probably like 25% of my time.
![](https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-A1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=200&s=8e71f3de67ce9a4694958b01dff4509c 200w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-A1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=300&s=d1ddbe26c7d7eb2d2fe2c7360fa4814b 300w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-A1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=500&s=c855863e1abab8a830458eb514af3bb1 500w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-A1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=700&s=fdb70b0f11f76c8bd5e28ba4ff99e594 700w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-A1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=900&s=bd90e1de5bf4a36fec1aa1c928c2cc76 900w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-A1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=1100&s=e0d8451be40d5f53fbb790b84af8a80e 1100w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-A1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=1300&s=c7a9efc86d6830a3e02387f243514f80 1300w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-A1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=1500&s=7f84e58112518496ebbdc618351f6e5c 1500w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-A1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=1800&s=ccacc31ed23ec536d72d61a131249aa4 1800w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-A1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=2250&s=83e7e116ca6a31411f5581e4f323ac29 2250w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-A1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=2500&s=ab332672231fe5a7d0474916624a4a20 2500w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-A1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=3000&s=25bd97f0c8267cd7ce7c00045b40b665 3000w)
Ken: That's unbelievable.
Sean: Yeah. Then the rest is modeling. The main use that I have is for drawing & sketching with color. I feel like I'm more iterative on the iPad because for some reason, on a screen, it feels less precious than a piece of paper. So I can just iterate, iterate, iterate, sketch, sketch, sketch, and then just print things and put them up on the pinup boards really quickly.
Ken: You know, the iteration thing is really interesting. It's completely different than analog. You're not going to redraw a hand-drawn sketch again and again.
Sean: And then also drawing birthday cards. The main use of the iPad Pro is probably drawing birthday cards for the team. [laughs]
Nick: Oh man. We might have to debut those. We've been keeping them private, those birthday cards. This might be the debut.
Sean: Yeah. Then the rest is modeling. The main use that I have is for drawing & sketching with color. I feel like I'm more iterative on the iPad because for some reason, on a screen, it feels less precious than a piece of paper. So I can just iterate, iterate, iterate, sketch, sketch, sketch, and then just print things and put them up on the pinup boards really quickly.
Ken: You know, the iteration thing is really interesting. It's completely different than analog. You're not going to redraw a hand-drawn sketch again and again.
Sean: And then also drawing birthday cards. The main use of the iPad Pro is probably drawing birthday cards for the team. [laughs]
Nick: Oh man. We might have to debut those. We've been keeping them private, those birthday cards. This might be the debut.
![](https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-sketch-I1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=200&s=527d85a33ed128e04b33fa89862a23bd 200w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-sketch-I1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=300&s=7d18d09d91163abd285baf000f36d2a3 300w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-sketch-I1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=500&s=a0c7a9ab705cc6a5eb77020654fd5204 500w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-sketch-I1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=700&s=ba214261ff5454b34283b7913c064a91 700w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-sketch-I1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=900&s=d52af25195eaba7335ae93c681e12fe5 900w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-sketch-I1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=1100&s=ef750be502cbfc90706ef24df766fc20 1100w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-sketch-I1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=1300&s=cb799bfe9590bd064f8f34b216143540 1300w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-sketch-I1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=1500&s=9f23902b2860c526f92ebb0d5c2c8a32 1500w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-sketch-I1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=1800&s=0a6bfa2a029c666f1066cf56f52975f9 1800w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-sketch-I1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=2250&s=4e600b671b2d50e6601482b0788faeaa 2250w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-sketch-I1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=2500&s=dc61d52d709c12d1863d7afb2402cb0d 2500w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-sketch-I1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=3000&s=b6ce86a706faf9fbdcbbb93b946967a3 3000w)
Let's Get Some Apps
Ken: Sean, can you talk a little bit about the specific app that you use and why you like it?
Sean: Yeah. I'm using Paper by WeTransfer. What I like about it is, unlike a lot of the other programs, it's very simple. There are no layers.
Sean: Yeah. I'm using Paper by WeTransfer. What I like about it is, unlike a lot of the other programs, it's very simple. There are no layers.
![](https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2Fsean-A3.png?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=200&s=a947bd8ecda7ec9db066f36c7ea1e873 200w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2Fsean-A3.png?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=300&s=b1593d603cee9c8029be01ebb7f1e836 300w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2Fsean-A3.png?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=500&s=e6293cecca721c9b4db1366b504f46c9 500w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2Fsean-A3.png?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=700&s=ac1e44ec80695fdc74b6541d99b2df38 700w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2Fsean-A3.png?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=900&s=3943f12e8cde1a07e2cc86effaa4fdb7 900w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2Fsean-A3.png?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=1100&s=b5335ac593b4f74e91316c071235db8d 1100w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2Fsean-A3.png?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=1300&s=0c33463876f33c2c1c8c880918263e1e 1300w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2Fsean-A3.png?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=1500&s=1173275f68fc8748608f99e25ae9f878 1500w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2Fsean-A3.png?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=1800&s=eca32c2c05aabe0263731dba20112907 1800w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2Fsean-A3.png?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=2250&s=ac228edcc58e75ba8a001cf736da3ff8 2250w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2Fsean-A3.png?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=2500&s=d4b6201d5a13af2dc5320caa586036d3 2500w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2Fsean-A3.png?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=3000&s=81c41ff5b4e28be82d2abd953a50575b 3000w)
It's simple—it's just a quick, dirty sketch—but they often look really good when you add color and shadow.
SEAN KELLY
Lead Product Designer
Ken: I'm sure the app designers get emails every day about stuff people want, and they're intentionally not providing it. You can't please everybody, right? It's very, very simple. Their Paste app for presentations is kind of the same philosophy. They'll have one tenth of the features of their competitors, but that makes us want to use it more.
Nick: What other users would enjoy that narrow focus?
Sean: It's really kid-friendly. Whenever I imagine really hardcore illustrators and stuff, I don't think they're using the Paper app. I think our application is really unique to our company because we're not an agency. We don't present to clients. We're just using it to communicate internally with ourselves, and so that sketching style is perfect.
Nick: What other users would enjoy that narrow focus?
Sean: It's really kid-friendly. Whenever I imagine really hardcore illustrators and stuff, I don't think they're using the Paper app. I think our application is really unique to our company because we're not an agency. We don't present to clients. We're just using it to communicate internally with ourselves, and so that sketching style is perfect.
![](https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-sketch-G1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=200&s=e76e7ad402439627d143d86f502b03c8 200w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-sketch-G1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=300&s=3786fbefdc7144ff48e943b563272979 300w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-sketch-G1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=500&s=1ee8463616155e0ada62be9a4f7f8ea9 500w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-sketch-G1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=700&s=2b68685810ce29182a085b1bd88405da 700w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-sketch-G1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=900&s=25bb525dd3f0bd6d1367f5f37c29d046 900w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-sketch-G1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=1100&s=8d3517374965463d72aa202e6df6dcf1 1100w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-sketch-G1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=1300&s=0ed328f1e9a26d9a0d1f649efbce0f02 1300w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-sketch-G1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=1500&s=ae0311d9aa1e17131f76c09031605c44 1500w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-sketch-G1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=1800&s=37f14685905c2dd57e0e5545db99620f 1800w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-sketch-G1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=2250&s=93e9ad21e1190daa7a6dede09d3dd6a7 2250w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-sketch-G1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=2500&s=08155acca7118d2d092619ccb44fb8d7 2500w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-sketch-G1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=3000&s=963123bf7039782c77d406179b579d59 3000w)
Oftentimes now, Ken and I are in different places, and we're literally texting screenshots of our sketches to each other and discussing. And then he'll draw on mine, and I'll draw something back on his.
Ken: At the beginning of the pandemic, we tried Google Jamboard where we could draw live online.
Sean: It was kind of cumbersome because we all had to be in there at the same time, so we ended up going back to the old stand-by.
Ken: The way I use the Paper app is different than Sean. Sean's doing the vast majority of product design. I'm more giving feedback on his sketches. Sometimes I'll do my own sketches, which are even lower fidelity. We'll just call it low fidelity rather than low quality. But that's more unusual, I think.
Ken: At the beginning of the pandemic, we tried Google Jamboard where we could draw live online.
Sean: It was kind of cumbersome because we all had to be in there at the same time, so we ended up going back to the old stand-by.
Ken: The way I use the Paper app is different than Sean. Sean's doing the vast majority of product design. I'm more giving feedback on his sketches. Sometimes I'll do my own sketches, which are even lower fidelity. We'll just call it low fidelity rather than low quality. But that's more unusual, I think.
Good Design Flow
Nick: Sean, how does this fit into the overall design flow of a product?
Sean: Yeah. So let's say we have our direction. We have our idea of what we want to do, and now it's about exploring form. I don't want to necessarily hop into the 3D modeling program Rhino right away, so I start sketching the ideas and shapes and forms and functions. A lot of it's just functional explorations. Like what would this do if this looked like this, or this split this way, or if you pulled this that way?
Sean: Yeah. So let's say we have our direction. We have our idea of what we want to do, and now it's about exploring form. I don't want to necessarily hop into the 3D modeling program Rhino right away, so I start sketching the ideas and shapes and forms and functions. A lot of it's just functional explorations. Like what would this do if this looked like this, or this split this way, or if you pulled this that way?
![](https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-B1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=200&s=881abd67e140b267245fa49c485a9993 200w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-B1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=300&s=aaa493e9b66e60ef5897440c1c704c9a 300w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-B1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=500&s=543c0f687835b6b11eb766ceff7f585d 500w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-B1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=700&s=60cc689d3ad283cabcb7644467e5fc08 700w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-B1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=900&s=946bf108999b930590f03bdaa182084b 900w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-B1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=1100&s=32a985ec3321b352232515b0daeb78f2 1100w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-B1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=1300&s=dd24a42c6d2987362e4dd9850e46bca5 1300w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-B1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=1500&s=583a15e51fb3f32794bad8c834d933b3 1500w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-B1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=1800&s=b813a8c1cf7eb1681e8aafdb593f558e 1800w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-B1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=2250&s=2c092eed03fea93c8b638c61e12727d2 2250w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-B1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=2500&s=b7eeb4edd553da602e16802c4d4b4137 2500w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-B1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=3000&s=f44328a1fae4e71cb01e5170f4e42cf6 3000w)
I'll iterate in the sketches, jumping back and forth between Rhino and drawing. But what I like is I can do a drawing and print it up on the board really quickly. And then I can do work in Rhino, print it, and put that up on the board. And then I'm physically sketching directly onto the printouts on the board.
![](https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-sketch-H1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=200&s=416046af1e553b0e00b7b58b16299a98 200w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-sketch-H1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=300&s=1de6e7565596625efc0917eab2f84eaf 300w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-sketch-H1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=500&s=d180d1a1f6dee53cb9e294876592329c 500w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-sketch-H1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=700&s=d01ac80874612b1e3ed284896f082c67 700w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-sketch-H1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=900&s=3fdc480d40c5ae00754b7c1ef0d8caaf 900w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-sketch-H1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=1100&s=35ded15603caacd2f992d3e0688aacb6 1100w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-sketch-H1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=1300&s=785ba10fbfe059e7f3531e9b3b4465c0 1300w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-sketch-H1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=1500&s=c35158e277c1bc1de204f3876c34bc73 1500w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-sketch-H1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=1800&s=3ab79b25c3cedfaceeb88a77c454198e 1800w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-sketch-H1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=2250&s=44392c4f36d9eaa48e2137ad46cf9585 2250w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-sketch-H1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=2500&s=11a3d07032d554ad18e0ca647be7e1c7 2500w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-sketch-H1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=3000&s=4d56e9efbad8a5adb791ed1043de66f6 3000w)
Nick: So it's not necessarily one-directional?
Sean: No, no. I'm using it constantly for everything.
Nick: Ken, I feel like you use Paper for brainstorming and ideas, too.
Sean: No, no. I'm using it constantly for everything.
Nick: Ken, I feel like you use Paper for brainstorming and ideas, too.
![](https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-sketch-J1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=200&s=cc5334bab6dd1cd9fbf91cf2e1df6619 200w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-sketch-J1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=300&s=c90ef05a4f24cbdc3408557b0e11dd81 300w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-sketch-J1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=500&s=50fd0cf6ac151e0b5cd5dde0a08b6afa 500w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-sketch-J1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=700&s=2895718492491a442c9783af717fff2f 700w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-sketch-J1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=900&s=a91bd07eb0c460f42febdb001b597fb6 900w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-sketch-J1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=1100&s=e0b1e5aeee4614b1770db5c8ad34de60 1100w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-sketch-J1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=1300&s=cd3ecadcb72d17d61f2aa871ecac3c5a 1300w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-sketch-J1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=1500&s=2a4fd92ceb880db3417a974d4a72420a 1500w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-sketch-J1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=1800&s=3713097b25ce9ab1e35361247b7b3328 1800w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-sketch-J1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=2250&s=f4e7a845f217b979135f7fc2d55ce5f4 2250w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-sketch-J1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=2500&s=812789b0e0091cc031576d9a0c47b707 2500w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-sketch-J1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=3000&s=a288b2d14acedebb6ca69803be06d27f 3000w)
Ken: I do. Strangely enough, I'm like a business guy now. 90% of my "sketches" are actually charts and diagrams trying to organize thoughts and strategies and business mechanisms and stuff like that. I find that really useful.
![](https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2Fken-A1.png?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=200&s=8161a7782440835b56dc1fc7af139853 200w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2Fken-A1.png?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=300&s=b91b2173ac12b0e6984b9913c208863f 300w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2Fken-A1.png?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=500&s=f28b5fa2e71bc891f2b48cc4583dabc7 500w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2Fken-A1.png?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=700&s=5b2858382d5b2010fa39651b405910f8 700w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2Fken-A1.png?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=900&s=522adb642cfe2a4278e222543651df60 900w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2Fken-A1.png?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=1100&s=29b0d01b310876823ad0192c14afc633 1100w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2Fken-A1.png?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=1300&s=12a50b579a45068ba02afc02f7354b25 1300w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2Fken-A1.png?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=1500&s=01498ddc9b9460a39579a26de390e21d 1500w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2Fken-A1.png?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=1800&s=096cc4df96b14ecec3d29be06b5a6fae 1800w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2Fken-A1.png?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=2250&s=20535d12eaf6ab6c139483a185fdeaf7 2250w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2Fken-A1.png?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=2500&s=395cfea2be753b996a297da6dfaf1cf2 2500w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2Fken-A1.png?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=3000&s=08ed6543f605572b1d6a3dd5fcdad124 3000w)
There's some things you just can't fit in a spreadsheet or bullet points, and you really want to kind of visually draw the relationships between things.
KEN TOMITA
Co-Founder
Nick: And then contrast that with a whiteboard or a notebook—a physical thing. Do you tend to go back to use the iPad more for that stuff?
Ken: I actually don't use notebooks at all anymore. I'm all iPad Pro with the pencil.
Ken: I actually don't use notebooks at all anymore. I'm all iPad Pro with the pencil.
Sean: I actually happen to still use a notebook, just because I can't always get to my iPad—maybe I'm out and I don't have it. So I keep a tiny sketchbook and a pen in my pocket. And I'm always like, if I have an idea...
Ken: Literally you just pulled one out.
Sean: If I have an idea, I pull it out and I sketch that idea, just so I have it handy.
Nick: I use Paper app too, but mine is mostly for wireframes and layout stuff, or data visualization. I'll be like, "this is what we want the dashboard to look like." And it's the flow of having it digital, and then just, "bloop"—AirDrop it. It's so fast.
Ken: Literally you just pulled one out.
Sean: If I have an idea, I pull it out and I sketch that idea, just so I have it handy.
Nick: I use Paper app too, but mine is mostly for wireframes and layout stuff, or data visualization. I'll be like, "this is what we want the dashboard to look like." And it's the flow of having it digital, and then just, "bloop"—AirDrop it. It's so fast.
![](https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-E2.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=200&s=7dc0d724e553a313490ec6aea7516cb2 200w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-E2.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=300&s=bf5c91e2b49b8afe38b22a9abae20da5 300w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-E2.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=500&s=c66a70b43f11e87f91eaf2e3fab2ad48 500w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-E2.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=700&s=df50f08c965cde82369d945d2922f911 700w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-E2.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=900&s=714dcd8e84cfbff122f973c69935bcf6 900w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-E2.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=1100&s=3b506541c84aa1e867d6e7609ffe409d 1100w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-E2.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=1300&s=2dbd814d8ad7775e0c26183207e30de5 1300w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-E2.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=1500&s=e946703c3ed528d81196a6b20d762edd 1500w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-E2.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=1800&s=06f9a52df64cb59797dd0a45bca90d92 1800w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-E2.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=2250&s=8f24c6414bb646a7c9c80b5051e63843 2250w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-E2.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=2500&s=35c35177b51778a6dcb5cf3ff1e858f1 2500w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-E2.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=3000&s=f2108c23e2a2222f42e6734490d464a5 3000w)
Sean: Are you drawing it by hand?
Nick: Yeah. So it's funny. It's like three different use cases of the same app.
Nick: Yeah. So it's funny. It's like three different use cases of the same app.
![](https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2Fsean-A3.png?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=200&s=a947bd8ecda7ec9db066f36c7ea1e873 200w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2Fsean-A3.png?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=300&s=b1593d603cee9c8029be01ebb7f1e836 300w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2Fsean-A3.png?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=500&s=e6293cecca721c9b4db1366b504f46c9 500w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2Fsean-A3.png?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=700&s=ac1e44ec80695fdc74b6541d99b2df38 700w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2Fsean-A3.png?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=900&s=3943f12e8cde1a07e2cc86effaa4fdb7 900w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2Fsean-A3.png?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=1100&s=b5335ac593b4f74e91316c071235db8d 1100w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2Fsean-A3.png?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=1300&s=0c33463876f33c2c1c8c880918263e1e 1300w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2Fsean-A3.png?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=1500&s=1173275f68fc8748608f99e25ae9f878 1500w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2Fsean-A3.png?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=1800&s=eca32c2c05aabe0263731dba20112907 1800w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2Fsean-A3.png?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=2250&s=ac228edcc58e75ba8a001cf736da3ff8 2250w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2Fsean-A3.png?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=2500&s=d4b6201d5a13af2dc5320caa586036d3 2500w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2Fsean-A3.png?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=3000&s=81c41ff5b4e28be82d2abd953a50575b 3000w)
I think it's interesting that we're all using iPad Pros, and we're all doing different things, but we're all sketching the different things that we're doing.
SEAN KELLY
Lead Product Designer
Ken: Another way that I use it, and I think you do too, Nick, is critiquing digital content. Screenshot it and take the pencil and just write over it. Replace this copy, change this word, move this over here. I use it all the time.
Nick: It's wonderful for that.
Ken: You screenshot, and automatically the pallete thing comes out. And I'll mark it up and send it to Nick at six in the morning. [laughs]
Nick: "Got some ideas."
Ken: In the creative process, it's rarely the gear that matters. Look at photography. People always make that mistake. They're obsessed with the gear, but really, the storytelling moves the needle the most—the composition and light. But this device, I feel like when the pencil came out, that was truly a game changer.
Sean: And it's so much better than the first-generation pencil, where you had to take the back off and plug it in—which I might add is like the worst. The pencil sticking out? It's pretty awful.
Nick: It's wonderful for that.
Ken: You screenshot, and automatically the pallete thing comes out. And I'll mark it up and send it to Nick at six in the morning. [laughs]
Nick: "Got some ideas."
Ken: In the creative process, it's rarely the gear that matters. Look at photography. People always make that mistake. They're obsessed with the gear, but really, the storytelling moves the needle the most—the composition and light. But this device, I feel like when the pencil came out, that was truly a game changer.
Sean: And it's so much better than the first-generation pencil, where you had to take the back off and plug it in—which I might add is like the worst. The pencil sticking out? It's pretty awful.
![](https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-F2.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=200&s=13b01e4920fc7dbdd72e60a433208fc2 200w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-F2.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=300&s=86c0c10faaa051ec49e7f9a4ba0f8c36 300w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-F2.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=500&s=f745045dcab57a7f6c86dda2a202fe71 500w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-F2.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=700&s=2e93e650bbc3421e2b0c0811db87c27b 700w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-F2.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=900&s=443915d150f422528773006c469954ac 900w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-F2.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=1100&s=821ce2e8514ff08cecf1e0c20f3dd650 1100w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-F2.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=1300&s=70976013487b272ef16003c42817fb13 1300w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-F2.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=1500&s=c2bce4fc55ad7cbead39c3451f7d48b9 1500w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-F2.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=1800&s=58790d54aea66240ebbcfa78404c1ed8 1800w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-F2.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=2250&s=2c290e857e63bf6adbbc235b689ccb0d 2250w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-F2.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=2500&s=2e7c2d2d6729e0477e53a2a279994af7 2500w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2FGMP0213-ipad-article-F2.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=3000&s=f5493df9513fb28d62f62360866527d3 3000w)
Ken: It's the worst. Whenever I charge it, I always have to protect it. It's got this thing sticking out. I have to put it somewhere safe and stable.