YOUR DESIGN COACH

Chou-Tac

Your Messages & Questions

I am from india.i want to learn sketching products....
I am from the midlands in England...
I come from the Brazil and I’m looking forward to expanding my skillset!...
I'm from Cameroon, I love shoes and want to invent and create mines. I've being thinking a...
I am a hobbyist...
Hi i’m Midhun from India and I need to improve my sketching skills...
I´m from México. I would like to know what this book offers...
I'm from. Malaysia...and I admire the sketching artwork & love to make my own art...
I come from the Taiwan and I'm looking forward to expanding my skillset!...
I'm a design student from India and I want to improve my design sketching skills...
I come from the USA and am looking forward to expanding my skillset! :D...
To improve my architectural sketching...
I can't get my free book :(...
Ola Michael, Quizas te quieres el "Designer Starter Kit" en espanol. If yes, please send...
I discovered Nomad Sculpt on iPad. https://nomadsculpt.com/ It's crazy interesting. It ...
I am from Holland and I love to design or sketch or sculpt on my iPad...
Quero voltar a desenhar...
Hi Dalila, You are starting an amazing journey! Congrats !!...
Awesome. I hope learning drawing is helping you at your house building activity!...
Welcome Haonan :)...
Hi Rena, if you have any link where we could see your work, I am curious when you mention ...
Awesome! Hope you find valuable content and tips in the blog :)...
I'm from China, and I'm an industrial design student...
Hi! I study sculpture in High School of Fine Arts in Athens,Greece. I"ve just watched the...
I‘m from China,I am a student majoring in industrial design...
I'm from cameroon and i built houses...
I am from Algeria , I am first year industrial design student...
Minimalism is simple but often not easy to find the right curve or line. That is the beaut...
Hi Nicolas, You don't need to change any of your cables. You just need to buy a travel ad...
As another artist travelling US to france with a fat cintiq, a simple question: how did yo...
Like minimalism designs in my crafts...
sadhique from kerala, india...
Hi Mikhael, How are you doing? Thank you! The cover changed, but the guide remains the s...
Hello Rabia, Glad you are looking for sketching improvement besides your school :)...
Hi Marion, I made a beginner introduction to start drawing from imagination. It will help...
Hi Roy, You are starting an amazing journey! Congrats!...
I am Ajayce Roy From India Right now I am looking forward to study product design....
I love sketching but I would like to have more use of my imagination...
ı want to learn draw,ı am a student...
I see a new cover, then I'm curious to download it again, because the book is very solid a...
Hi Dalila, After you go through the Designer Starter Kit, I invite you to try this tutor...
Ola Ruben, If you want to receive the designer starter kit in Spanish, please send me an...
Hi James! Lack of patience is a double-sword quality! I am glad it brings you here. :)...
Hi Julius, awesome! Hope you will find valuable tips and techniques in the blog....
From Rwanda, looking forward to becoming an industrial designer...
USA. Art has always been in my life is various mediums. MY LACK OF PATIENCE seems to bring...
Hola, soy de México, me inspira mucho tu forma de enseñar a dibujar, tus videos y la inf...
I am from Algeria. Want to get better at sketching objects...
Want to get better at sketching objects...
Hi-I'm Terri. I want to learn to draw...
My pleasure Marcos. Estoy feliz para ayudar te a dibujar mejor cada dia. Hope my Spanish...
Superbe Shammi, Glad you are back in track for sketching :) Bravo!!...
My pleasure Sven, I hope you find helpful content for your drawing journey! Cheers, Chou-T...
Hello Eliss, Glad you love drawing and spend time to learn. Awesome! You are gonna do gre...
Hi Estelle, I am glad you enjoy the blog, and that it helps you in your sketching journey ...
Hi Chou-Tac, Your site on sketching is SO Inspiring! I am Estelle, I live in China. I am a...
Kelantan,Malaysia I want to learn to sketch because I love drawing.I always drawing when ...
Thanks Chou Tac for sharing. Love to improve my skills....
thanks, Chou-Tac, your tutorials are exactly what I needed to start sketching again. The b...
Eu sou do Brasil, gostaria de aprimorar minhas técnicas de desenho, muito obrigado....
Hi Vinicius, thank you for sharing about Worldskills. https://worldskills.org/skills/id/5...
Hi chan. My name is Vinícius Arduino, from Brazil. I'm a worldskills competitor, do you k...
I want to get book...
I am glad to accompany you on your learning design journey Gabriele :)...
Hi Musab, The book is free and it is delivered to you by email. Did you well receive it?...
Can I order this book?...
Eu sou do Brasil, e quero aprimorar e aprender mais sobre design. A artes me fascinam...
Hi Adrian, Oops, just saw your messages by chance. :) Please say hello to the team Creapo...
I'm from central California and have an interest in urban design. My goal is to design wal...
Thanks for sharing good information I read this post I really like this article....
I have always been interested in industrail design....
I'm from Japan. The reason I want to learn sketching is because I want to be a product de...
*Cheap*, sorry!...
Because of you I bought A5 Fabriano sketchbook and a couple of cheab BIC roundstick black ...
Thank you for sharing these awesome books for free. I’m from Myanmar. I always intereste...
I saw your Youtube tutorial...
Hi, I got my BA in 2010 at the age of 50. For my final project I wrote a short story and i...
ola a todos. sou do brasil....
brasil....
I was able to find it. Thank you! :)...
I was able to find it. Thank you! :)...
I'm ami from India and I'm looking for best technique and better skill for my design...
Hello! Maybe the beginner guide play hide and seek in the spam folder. Can you have...
Hey, I really appreciate it that you're able to provide beginners a free guide but I still...
Hi Sanjay, Glad to have you on board! You will get tutorials in the upcoming days and we...
A Mechanical product designer by profession learning to draw perspectives and human figure...
My pleasure Zahra. I am always happy to help, and glad you wanna improve. I learned s...
Hi Chou-Tac Chung, im so happy to find you again,my major is Industrial Design but im not ...
Hello Titi, Please thank the person who recommended the book to you. :) Feel free t...
That's an awesome goal you have Ruan! The gaming industry never stops growing. Bravo!...
I'm taking an animation degree and was referred to your book. I caught a glimpse on how to...
i like scathing...
I'm learning myself programming and game development on my own. And I want improve my draw...
I'm glad you enjoy David! By the way, in case you may be interested, the registration...
Hi, Chou-Tac Chung - Just wanted to say hi, and thanks for doing the videos. They're all r...
Estoy feliz porque te gustas la video de tutorial y ayudarte a dibujar las formas del arte...
Excelente contenido para aprender y para enseñar .Muchas Gracias por compartir...
Hey. How to determine in which scene I should be drawing a parallel source of light or a d...
Hi Daniel,  Yah, these days, it is better to rest if you feel any pain from your injur...
Hello I am from Montreal Canada, I've been sketching on and off for a while but more often...
I also hope you will find valuable content on the blog during your journey Deep. You sa...
Hi Stefan, I like your expression of a Chronic overthinker. You can find multiple vid...
Hi :-) hailing all the way from Denmark. I´m getting into portrait drawing and I was hopi...
Hi from Portugal I want to improve my drawings....
Hey, I am a Mechanical engineer, I like solving problems. But I want to explore my care...
Hy I'm Sabareesh, from India, basically I'm a graduate naval architect, who designs ships ...
Hi Mr Smith, I hope you find plenty of content that helps your high-school students....
Mr. Smith from Buffalo, NY I teach high school Architecture. I make every attempt to inc...
Hi i'm Jorge from Colombia and I need to improve my skills...
We can feel your high motivation Ian, awesome!! If you are a beginner, you may try this t...
Hope you find helpful content on the blog Salim :)...
Why the quality of image is decreasing when I'm posting on Instagram?...
Why the image quality decrease when I post it on Instagram?...
iwant improve my draeing...
i want improve my drawing...
I didn’t get a book yet please help me...
I WANT TO CREATE MY DESIGNS...
Hi Deanna, Do you mean the Designer starter kit? It is free. :) You can download ...
how much is the book?...
Hi Kathleen, I'm happy if it can be helpful to your art students. :) Thank you for s...
Great article. I'll share it with my high school art students! I always appreciate your ar...
Keep up Emmanuel! :D It is always worth pursuing what matters to you....
Thank you Chou-Tac. Your words inspire and give me hope....
Welcome on board Javier! :)...
Hello, I am Javier from Spain...
Hey Josh, Thank you for being an inspiration for the Design Sketchbook family and ...
Heck yea! I'm glad my question ended up making it as a full post! Hope it helps others as ...
Hi Asti, (Your name reminds me of a place I visited in Italy, where they produce amazi...
I am an Urban Sketcher and I want to improve my skills...
Hi Summer, Oops sorry for the late reply! Do you mind sending me an email at choutac@t...
I dont udernstant how you drawd your sphere and his shadow its says that you "will create ...
Hello! I’ve always loved to draw, and after observing how a lot of the artists I admire,...
Hi Graham, I do believe in "Quick wins". Basically about giving simple exercises th...
Hi I teach design in high school and I am looking for an easy way to teach my students to ...
Oh yeah, it's not free anymore. It's about 20$. I remember seeing a post from them on Fac...
Congratulation Ana for following your childhood dream. That's a great action you can def...
Avec plaisir Tania! N'hesites pas a partager dans les commentaires du blog, ou m'envoye...
Thank you for sharing Chris about the XP Pen tablet! :)...
Great article, thanks so much for sharing your knowledge! I was looking to get a screen...
Bonjour ! Je dessine en autodidacte mais cela fait des années que j'ai arrêté. Donc app...
Thanks for sharing! But Sketchbook is not free anymore for Windows and Mac OS. I use Krit...
Hi, I'm Brazilian, my name is Ana, and i am an frustrated adult how quit drawing as kid be...
Hi, My name is Leon, From Liberia living in Nairobi. I love sketches and would love to lea...
hola yo vivo en Guyana, siempre me ha gustado dibujar, pero necesito mejorar....
hey.. hey,i am form india i love sketching and your words motivate me thank you sir...
Hi Oliver, I am glad you enjoy the drawing tutorials :). Sure, keep going learnin...
Hi, I really like hoe you teach drawing. Some time I started by using some book on techni...
Hi Gordon, It's all my pleasure. I am happy if the blog can help you during your a...
Hi Chou, Just wanted to say thank-you for all the work and wisdom you share. I am 54 a...
Hi! I'm not sure I see the difference between B and C. Are you just resting more lightly...
Soy de la ciudad de méxico, me interesa y me gusta mucho tu forma de exponer cada uno de ...
Soy de la ciudad de méxico, México es mi pais, y me interesa la información de tus libr...
Australia, For self paced learning for my kids at home....
Hello from Brazil! I wanto to learn the sketch to ilistrate n eBook on elkectronics! Best,...
I'm from Portugal. Need to learn more about perspective. Hope your book help me on that. C...
From California. Engineer who wants to learn to quickly sketch product ideas....
Me gusta dibujar desde pequeño y quisiera aprender más....
Yeah! I am happy it helps you refuel your motivation tank! :)...
hey, thanks a lot for this article! i got my college results recently and was feeling do...
am a land surveyor and love designing.......
am a land surveyor and love designing.......
Hello from Hawaii!...
Don here, from Hawaii. Always wanted to be able to draw, looking forward to learn here....
Actually I try to know and learn the systematic technique for sketching. It will help and...
Hi Susan, Thank you for sharing your creative apps selection on iPad. Do you draw ...
Hi there, I've been a professional fine artist for over twenty years. Before that I was a...
My name is Pablo and I'm interested in improving my art skills....
Hi, I'm Julius from Ghana. I've just started drawing and I'm looking for resources online ...
Hello, I have just sent an email to you :)...
I a brazilian and I want to improve my technique...
Is the “37 Secrets of Sneaker Designers'” book still available??? I sent for it, got t...
Hi Chou-Tac! I've been trying to get the book but it's not been sent to my mail, please c...
Hi Gino, Oops! Thanks to you, I realized I forgot to unlock the book delivery. Let ...
Is the "37 Secrets of Sneaker Designers'" book still available??? I sent for it, got the l...
My aim and passion to be designer I'll achieve this surely...
Hello Janet, Yes, the basics are perfect to start sketching the "correct way" as you...
Superb! It's definitely great to explore different styles and methods. :)...
Hi Kamil, As a carpenter, you may like this interview with Guillaume Bouvet. He's a ...
It is my pleasure to share! I also love illustration. Art and design are so interlinked....
Welcome on board Sam! Let me know how it goes, and do not hesitate to leave a comment or...
I'm a self trained set designer Wood worker from Lagos Nigeria Thanks for sharing I real...
Learning to sketch as a hobby and past time....
Hi from Belarus! I'm after illustration. I hope learning to sketch would help me to get i...
Hi! I come from Poland, but I live in Germany, Berlin. I am carpenter and want to learn sk...
Hello my name is Jan, I live in Perth, Western Australia. I am 72 years old and now disabl...
This is a great reminder to half things.. thanks...
I’m design garments and just expanding on sketching....
I’m looking forward to sharpening up my sketching skills for sneaker design. Thank you f...
i Come from Les Baux de Provence. Thé lockdown five me Time to draw and now i love it bu...
Thank you for sharing this with us...
Hi! I live in Mexico. Im arquitech and i want to improve my sketching styale. Thak's for g...
Hi , I’m trying to take my drawing to the next level ....
My name is Chris Richards from Asheville NC and I need to improve my skills to better pres...
I work as illustrator, I'm very curious about design techniques....
I'm from Arizona. I just started teaching myself how to draw because I've always wanted to...
how is you learn design product ?...
M a french student in a design school, i wish that you're book can help me in my work...
I'm from Brazil and sketching is my favorite hobby....
Very enlightening article. Been reading your blog little by little for some time now but ...
I want to crack the nid exam (National institute of designing)I am preparing for the exa...
Thank you so much for making this content and for your fantastic YouTube videos! I hope to...
I want to draw to open my business and as a hobby...
I'm a landscape architect and want to polish up my landscape drawing skills....
I'm theater design student and want to learn more about sketching....
I want to learn how to design for the industry....
I want to learn it so I can design environments for the industry....
Hello, I've tried signing-up several times for the book download, but no success. Nothing...
My major is industrial design. I'm a design sketch teacher. I'd read the book to improve m...
Gostaria de aprender outras técnicas de desenho porque faço Design de Calçados....
Hello Chou-Tac, I am Marina from Serbia. I study graphic design. Thank you for sharing thi...
Oroville, CA I want to learn it so I can design environments for the gaming and film in...
I've always loved drawing but geneRALLY REfused joining a course. I've always wanted to be...
I’m teaching designdraxing myself and want to have indpiration for my lessons...
Sacramento, CA...
I am a student of Design... but my drawing skills never developed well... when I was 12yo...
I want to improve my skills to better support my students when working on sketching design...
I’m learning how to be better at illustrating for animations...
Hi me prem...
Hi, I’m from Singapore. I am a teacher ,teaching design and technology. I want to be a...
I am a Mechanical Engineer. I do a lot of computer drawing every day, but I would like to ...
i want to be a product designer, sketching is the first building blog to be...
I want to learn how you learn how to draw what you see....
I am an art teacher and want to learn from other artists. I work in USA in Washington sta...
I am an art teacher and want to learn from other artists....
Hi Manuela, Yes there are some tutorials about straight lines. You can get them here...
Hi Nadya, I have just send it to you by email :) Chou-Tac...
Tried downloading book nothing happening. Can you please send me a copy. Thanks...
Hi chou-tac I love your videos. I have a question i always drawed feather lines. I am now...
I've always known I have the talent for drawing/sketching plus I love art but I didn't tak...
Well, I want to learn how to sketch so I can be a animator so I can make this animation fo...
I could relate to this post quite a lot. When I was in my third year I found myself questi...
I'm a student in 3D computer graphics for games and film, but want to improve my artistic ...
My pleasure Jan!...
Totally agree Bryan! :)...
Hi Greig, Hope you find plenty of helpful content on the blog. :) Please let me know...
Awesome Albert, Please, let me know how it goes with the students. :)...
Hello Sam, I am glad that you could correct your elbow position when you draw ellipses...
I have been drawing since I was a kid but never took it seriously enough to learn/study ho...
I would like to use the book for students who are having difficulties with drawing. Tha...
Awesome Usamah, It's such a great feeling to solve problems helping people (even if we...
when I studied mechanical engineering, it was very difficult because of the many calculati...
studying product design...
Trying to get back into sketching, I teach high school design technology and am looking fo...
I am a student and a freelancer, looking forward to be very good in design sketching and t...
Hello, I'm from Oklahoma. I'm interested in sketching because there are times words simp...
Thanks for the help and book to help and practice...
Congrats on your choice of the creative path Teertha! I am glad the sketching videos hel...
Just a student interested in design and wanted to know where to start...
Thank you. I'd like to learn to become a better sketcher....
Hello! I am going to apply for master's degree and found your videos to helpful for me....
Hello Richard, I am glad you enjoyed the video tutorial on perspective and found it be...
Hi Chou-Tac, Greetings for the day. My name is Mahendra and I'm from India. I love to dr...
Hi Dev, PLease find my reply on your email. :) See you there! Cheers, Chou-Tac...
Salut Paxon, Bienvenue a bord! Je serais curieux de ce que tu fais pour les scenogra...
I want to sign up for the sneaker sketching course . Vould you help me with that?...
Bonjour! Je viens de lire votre introduction et je voulais vous dire bonjour d’Austin a...
Chou-Tac I went through your 2 point perspective tutorial. You've done an outstanding job...
from Switzerland, Suisse romande, et je parle français, I live near the lake of Neuchâte...
I am a beginner at 68 and want excellent help....
Am darhnyell from Nigeria . I love art and am passionate about it right from childhood...
Hi, i´m glad to meet you, whith us I had the necesary I need learn to draw better. thanks...
Hi, I did not receive the book till now. I am very interested to learn sketching. I am sea...
I want to refine my skills to be the beat artist I can be. Always learning...
Design Technology Teacher Qld Australia teaching Design...
Hi Sandi, You got a great initiative. Handsketching will help you a lot in your journey...
Hi, I'm a product design engineer student. So I would love to be skillful at sketching not...
Hi Uyen, If you use a screen tablet like a iPad or Wacom Cintiq, it gets very similar t...
Hi Matthew, I am glad you enjoy sneaker design so much! I have just finished writing...
Hi Chou-Tac, it's nice to meet you... I came across your website by vigorous researching. ...
I also need to know moreabout technique. I watch video and the Pro Designer is using Ipad ...
Me too. I watch video and the Pro Designer is using Ipad for sketch book, I wonder do we d...
Hi, I studying at Art and design University and I want to learn more about sketching. Than...
I did not get the book. I asked for it Again today....
I checked spam every day but, no, I did not get the book. I asked for it agin today....
Hi Ojo, Happy you are back with your passion for drawing! I have sent an email to you ...
Hello Chou Tac. I'm a former student of yours I started the sketch like the pros course ...
HELLO! I'M GABE. I'M FROM BRASIL. I'M AN ART TEACHER AND UNPROFESSIONAL DESIGNER. I WAN...
WANTED TO LEARN RENDERING TECHNIQUES...
Hi Miguel, I agree, being able to draw the products you have in mind will drastically ...
Hi Alexandra, Your teacher is wise. The world is generous of discoveries! For us t...
Hey Kym, You are totally right, for a concept artist, the key is a good understanding ...
Hello Aquilla, Glad to see you here and explore how to keep improving your art skills....
Hi Andreas, The book is sent to your email. Did you receive it?...
Thanks Praveen, I am glad it helps you!...
That i s great you go back to your passion. Your ideas and concepts will definitely take...
Thank you for the update Michelle. I am glad you received it. Sometimes email like t...
I was able to download it today using a non-gmail account. I put in a temporary email and ...
These tips and tricks are so amazing and easy to follow. Great explanation of drawing sket...
Hi, I am from India and wanted to learn to sketch because currently whatever I am thinking...
To the ones who didn't get the book, i tried with some diferent mail accounts and i only c...
I’m a Production Engineer, I need to be required basic drawing skills....
Hi, I'm Michelle from the US and I am unsure what direction to take when it comes to studi...
Thank you, Great method's; and very professional....
i love sketching but never was good at it....
Have tried to get the workbook several times but not received it via email. Can you please...
Hi, I'm Daniel. I'd like to design sneakers also but I don't know where to start. I've see...
i dont think there are a lot of design studios in turkey...
Hi there, This is Summer from the XP-Pen team, I am reaching out for a cooperation cha...
I am studying Design and Technology teaching at University and I need to learn how to draw...
Hello, from the US. I've always loved drawing and doodling as a kid. Drawing allowed me to...

Categories

The designer starter kit chou tac chung
Sneaker sketch book chou tac chung

Drop academic school and go to a design school instead.
It sounds crazy, right?
But if you’re looking for a career change, why not try it?
You’ll learn new skills, meet people who share your interests, and get paid to do what you love.

​​​​​​​You don’t have to feel like a black sheep?
It’s maybe the time to refocus on your life goals, and join a Design school, where all sheep are all kinds of colors!

reasons to drop academic for design school w
reasons to drop academic for design school

5 reasons to drop Academic for Design School.

  1. You want a career you love, not a job!
  2. Art and design school are not risky as people say.
  3. You are not a machine. You are a creative person!
  4. You have the rebellious mind of a Designer.
  5. You love to discover, study, and learn all your life!

When parents, friends, and teachers all tell you:
“Get good grades, get your diploma and you’ll get a good job”.

But your inner voice says opposite:

  • What if I get a job I hate for 40 years and then become old and grumpy?
  • I don’t want to become a sad accountant, doctor, salesman, or programmer…
  • Having a title, but not happiness. Is what we call ‘Success’?

The first step towards success is to find out what you love doing.
You may need to try many things before you find something that makes you happy.
But once you do, stick with it.

It will take time to build up a career around your passion.

Academic school teaching science
I was learning things at academic school without knowing how i would ever use them one day

A bit about how I drop academic school

I didn’t always know what I wanted to do with my life.
I just knew I like skateboarding and drawing.

After my Baccalaureat, I tried stuff.

I studied business and marketing at university.
I narrowly pass, then I changed to Information Technology studies.
I passed too, but as a very average student.

It was boring to me… and I was drawing in class. : P

I realized I was “allergic” to doing stuff I don’t feel passionate about.
I did not want to fit into the mold and work only for a salary.

In French, we describe this boring routine as saying: “Métro – Boulot – Dodo”.
That means: “Subway – Work – Sleep”.

  • Within a day, we are awake for let’s say 12 hours – and we work for 8 hours.
    (excluding transportation)
  • Imagine hating that 8 hours…
  • Then repeat this for 40 years?
  • Should we fight harder to find a position we love? Isn’t it?

I wanted to wake up every morning starting something meaningful.

Ok but, “What work could I do”?

Phone drawing concept beginner
I made this drawing a while ago before my design school

After 3 years of academic university, I still tried to figure this out.

I dropped that boring path and I enroll in a design school in Paris, CREAPOLE-ESDI.
5 years later, I successfully graduated with my master’s degree in Product Design with honors.

Yeah!!
I was 27 years old and excited about the future!


TIP

If you think you’re too old to learn something new, please think twice. 🙂
It is worth giving multiple shots if you need more time.


Today,
let me give you the 5 reasons
why you should consider a Design school, instead of academic education.


5 reasons to Drop Academic for Design School.

1- A Career you love, not a job!

In my 3rd year of IT university, a classmate told me:
“It’s the first time I meet an Asian guy who doesn’t get good grades.”
(I’m Chinese-born in France).
Great… I was compared to the cliché of that perfect Asian dude good at math and playing the piano.

It is not that I was an “idiot” or something.
I was just not in the right environment.
I felt like a fish trapped in a fishbowl.
I was bored studying JAVA coding on a black screen or studying other IT stuff.

Programmer job
Men listening music coding on computer

Some people love coding JAVA!
I do understand it could be fascinating for them.

But that was not ME.

  • I could not project my future self,
    sitting in an office cubicle coding JAVA or fixing a computer’s network.
  • I could not imagine my future self
    going home from work exhausted, and feeling meaningless.

(What example of ‘future’ would I give to my future kids about working?
I wish my future kids to feel excited to build their future.)

I went to school “in zombie mode”, till I graduate.

Hurray, I got a certificate. So what…?

What’s the real worth of a “Degree certificate”
if it doesn’t mean anything to you?

It is like a VIP ticket for a concert in which you hate the artist…
It has value for someone else, but once again, not for me.

I could get a job, and “be a good boy”.
But with 0 motivation to make a career.

  • I would give the minimum service.
  • I might end up with a meaningless role forever
    and create my own “Bullshit job”.

This is why I jumped into Design school!

For the first time,
I took a decision related to my self-interest!
I choose a path about what I want, not what others may expect from me.

Suddenly,
I discover an ambitious version of myself ready to move mountains!

Why?

Because I could finally project a happy scenario for my future.


TIP
If you are happy, your creativity and work will outperform like crazy!
Take a minute, and imagine how would you feel living the designer life you dream of?


2- Who says Art schools are risky?

Have you ever heard:
Studying art and design is riskier than a regular education”.
Really?

Use at own risk

First of all, anything we do is risky.
If we want a life that is not risky, we better do nothing in jail and sit.
(“Life is risky” – Jim Rohn)

The world needs designers.
Design is everywhere around us.
We may not even have enough designers.

I receive emails from young Indians studying engineering
but felt miserable not joining a design school instead.

While there are already too many engineers
since we promised young students the eldorado.

Today, so many engineers go to work in “zombie mode”.
I do not wish that for you.

Go for what you love.
It will give you a higher chance of success giving remarkable results!

Your passion is your best asset to success!

Do not be an average person.
But an extraordinary designer!

Don’t make decisions listening to ‘fear’.
Follow what makes you feel excited.


TIP
Do not measure your chance of success on how easy or hard is a degree.
Feel how much love you feel towards it.
Doing so, your perspective will change.
Every problem will become a game you want to solve!


3- You are not a machine. You are a creative person!

A regular student spends years at school learning stuff you can find on Google.

  • They are asked to memorize and deliver info without making mistakes.
  • Making mistakes is bad. We get penalized if we do so.
  • Some more, most of this data will be forgotten after a few days…

Knowledge was power, but it’s now a “Commodity”.
I personally believe the best asset is now “Creativity”.

Industrial design chair sketch
Your design needs your personality your stories

A design school will teach you to make plenty of mistakes, learn from them, and grow.

When you start drawing with Iteration.
You learn to think like a designer.

  • A design student wakes up, eats, sleeps, and breathes design…
  • Anything you see, hear, or taste… could be an inspiration for your projects.
  • Anything you experience becomes a part of you, a story you can use for your design projects.

A designer makes the world more beautiful, easier, better environmentally friendly…

When you design,
your life experience brings a positive impact on people’s life.


TIP

Carry a notebook everywhere you go.
Doodle stuff you like as a memo.


4- Rebellious mind of a Designer.

Parents often want to know if a design school is legitimate.
So they ask if the state recognizes their degree.

My design school was not.
And that was great! Because they were independent.

Teaching design
Learning design from professionals with field experience

Our teachers were Professionals.
They do not have any teaching licenses, but they had ‘EXPERIENCE’.

They may not have all the qualifications an academic school requires.

But…

We had outstanding teachers sharing their real-life and work experiences with us.
So we know that what they teach us, is what is really happening on the market.

I really liked the class held by Miss Gérard about innovation.
She was a Designer for Decathlon, the French sports brand for all.

Decathlon footwear design sketch and research
<a href=httpswww Decathlon Design target= blank rel=noopener title= class=broken link>decathlon design research<a> for kipsta footwear

She pushed us to think out of the box.
Even though sometimes our ideas were crazy, she loved them!
Because that craziness may be the beginning of amazing products.

We were rewarded with questioning the status quo.
We had to be rebellious to push the boundaries.

Being bold in our ideas was a strength. It felt great!
We could express ourselves,

and not try to be small and invisible like following blindly the rules of an academic school.


How to choose your design school

When you choose your design school, look for a “rebellious direction”.
Some design schools adopt an academic framework that may block innovation.

Every design school is different.
Some have the best computer lab, but make sure their teaching is not dusty.
Do not hesitate to visit the school, and talk to current students.

It is also very important to know which schools are recognized by the industry.

What matter is not the state’s recognition of a Design degree, but the market’s.
Ask where the students go to work for internships and after graduation.

Also, do not underestimate the network effect
where alumni tend to recruit new students from the same school.

If the alumni are now in the best design companies,
you may have “access to some ladders”.


5- Discover, study, and learn all your life!

Most people stop learning new things after graduation.
They get a job and do the same thing day after day.

They are stagnant.

Actually, they regress…
Since the world evolves, they get behind.

Vr helmet old man
Learn new technologies

Designers learn all their life!
They keep evolving.

Just think about your sketching skills.
It’s an art that you will keep grinding all your life.

Think of the new software and tech tools you can use.
I see more and more creations made with the Oculus using Gravity sketch
– where you can sketch in 3 dimensions!

Drawing shoe vr virtual reality with gravity sketch
Drawing a shoe using virtual reality technology

Keep learning.
Be connected to the world.

  • Take projects that push you out of your comfort zone.
  • Embrace new projects like the next season’s episode of your favorite Netflix show. 😛
  • Solve problems.
  • Try to predict what problems are we gonna face in 20, or 30 years.
  • Keep learning and draft your skills and your style.
    That is how you’ll stand out, and nobody could replace you. Become UNIQUE.

Who do you want to be?
Which version of you would you like to become?

Remember, YOU decide for your life.
The decisions you make or let other people take for you will define you.

It takes courage to follow our passion.
I wish you a wonderful creative career.

I like the expression “Write your own story”.
For us, it would be about “Draw your own story”. : )


Feel free to share with me your fear, worries, or any questions
in the comments below,
or by email at choutac@thedesignsketchbook.com.

I am always happy to help!
Chou-Tac

PS: Here is an interview with David Salow, from Art Center College of Design Pasadena.
He shares with us plenty of tips and advice to create a great design portfolio.

PPS: The wonderful interview with Michael DiTullo, who might inspire plenty of aspiring designers!

Chou-Tac

Hello! I am a Product Designer from France.

If the sketching methods I’ve acquired aid me in my life and in my industrial design career, I believe that they can also help you reach your design goal as a student or professional.

My aim is to help you all along with your design projects and journey!

Leave a comment in the blog or send me an email at choutac@thedesignsketchbook.com : )

Chou-Tac

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