In architecture school, we were taught that drawing is a powerful tool for thinking and analysis, and were drilled with different techiniques to articulate our ideas quickly and concisely in an image. Our professors were heavily influenced by the Bauhaus school in this line of thinking (i.e. Paul Klee[1]).

[1] http://ing.univaq.it/continenza/Corso%20di%20Disegno%20dell%...