How can you investigate the design intent of a sketch?

To investigate the design intent of a sketch, varying a dimension is an effective method as it allows you to observe how the geometry within the sketch responds to changes. This dynamic interaction reveals the relationships between different elements, such as constraints and their roles in defining the overall shape and functionality of the design. By adjusting dimensions, you can identify which parts of the sketch are dependent on others and how the design evolves, thereby giving insight into the designer's thought process and intentions.

Other methods mentioned, such as looking in the Status line for Intent comments, can provide some information, yet not as directly as manipulating dimensions. Automatically created dimensions might indicate relationships but do not fully capture the intent behind those relationships. The Design Intent Browser may offer an overview of design aspects, but it doesn’t provide the hands-on experimentation that allows for a deeper understanding of the relationships at play in the sketch. Thus, varying dimensions stands out as the most practical approach to fully grasping the design intent.