Nominees Announced April 2nd
Honoring the Best
of the Internet
22nd Annual Webby Awards May 8, 2018

WINNER HIGHLIGHTS: Learn to Draw with SketchAR

Four questions with Andrey Drobitko, Founder and CEO of SketchAR, the 2018 Webby Winner for Best Use of Augmented Reality.

With the 22nd Annual Webby Awards just days away, we are gearing up for the celebration by shining a spotlight on some of this year’s stand-out Winners.

Today we’re highlighting SketchAR, Webby Winner for Best Use of Augmented Reality. Below is a quick Q&A with SketchAR’s Andrey Drobitko, about their work, and their Webby.

The main problem when starting a drawing is the 'fear of the white canvas'... We have shrunk the gap between fear and the action of taking the first step.”
— Andrey Drobitko SketchAR

WINNER HIGHLIGHTS: Learn to Draw with SketchAR

Four questions with Andrey Drobitko, Founder and CEO of SketchAR, the 2018 Webby Winner for Best Use of Augmented Reality.

Q: How'd you come up with the idea for SketchAR?

The initial idea was as a tool for artists, as a simple and convenient way to trace sketches onto a big surface.

Working artist Andrey (among the top 10 famous mural artists in Russia) was dreaming about an old idea from 2012: an AR app designed to make the process of drawing easier. 

Through research, we discovered that for those looking to get new life skills, ‘learn to draw’ is one of the most frequent search queries. That’s why our main audience consists of novices in drawing. People who have always wanted to create something but couldn’t. It’s a simple way to take their first step.”

Q: What problem were you trying to solve with SketchAR?

“The main problem when starting a drawing is the ‘fear of the white canvas.’ Even professional artists know how hard it is to start when faced with a bright white surface staring back at you. For novices, [SketchAR] offers hope! We have shrunk the gap between fear and the action of taking the first step.”

Q: Do you have a favorite work that was created with SketchAR?

“I am not sure about the favorite one… but one was where my daughter painted a portrait (of her mom). It is an amazing portrait.”

Watch the video above to see the process unfold!

Q: What does your Webby Win mean to you?

“The Webby Win means that we created the right project at the right time. We have shown that technology like AR can be integrated into daily life. And that right now, it can be used to improve your drawing skills.”


See all this year’s winners in the Webby Winners Gallery. And watch all the highlights from the 22nd Annual Webby Awards, including Amber Ruffin’s host monologue, epic 5-Word Speeches, celebrity appearances, and more, on Tues. 5/15 at webbyawards.com

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