Hi Sketcher! My name is Chou-Tac,
I’m from France. And you?
- Meet Chou-Tac Chung: Product Designer & Sketching Mentor
- From Childhood Sketches to Global Design
- Lost in Track
- How I Reignited My Passion for Drawing at 23
- When I Enrolled My Design School – Starting from Zero
- I Joined my Dream Company!
- Traveled around the World! USA – JAPAN – CHINA – SINGAPORE!
- DREAM BIG, ACHIEVE BIG
- It's about Persistence and Dream
- LEARN THE BASICS EASY – STEP-BY-STEP
- Are you ready for the transformation too?
- Draw anytime, anywhere, anything! Be silly and creative!
- Learn how to observe in 3D to REALLY learn how to draw
- Featured In & Collaborations
- INTERVIEWS WITH DESIGN EXPERTS
- MEET MY STUDENTS AROUND THE WORLD (SKETCH LIKE THE PROS)
- Student Success Stories
- CONCLUSION
Meet Chou-Tac Chung: Product Designer & Sketching Mentor
As a Product Designer,
I had the chance to study and work around the world!
And I could use my drawing skills as international language to communicate my ideas with other designers such as in Germany, Japan or China!
If you too, love drawing your ideas from imagination, I am here to help you.
I remember how tough it was beginning to believe in myself.
I always loved Product Design Sketching, Footwear design, Concept art and plenty other art and design expression!
Through The Design Sketchbook, I’m on a mission to help aspiring designers level up their sketching skills and chase their dreams in industrial design with confidence and enthusiasm!
From Childhood Sketches to Global Design
Like many of you, I’ve always had a passion for drawing.
I loved sketching daily at school, at home, and with friends during the school break. We were inspired by the world of animated cartoons (Dragon Ball Z, Super Mario Bros, The Ninja Turtles, The Simpsons, Disney…). That fueled my interest for visual story telling.
I collected the Panini stickers, recorded the cartoons on TV, pressed pause, and drew.
Lost in Track
As I grew older, I found myself drifting away from my artistic roots.
I stopped drawing for years and turned to “naturally”, focus my studies on the classics of Business and Information technology. If you succeed to work in one of these fields, you would have succeeded your life! (Becoming a doctor, lawyer, engineer, was also in the list of success path of life.)
I was in the: “Study well, get a good job” mindset.
Technically, there was nothing wrong about my plan.
Except myself.
In class, my mind was elsewhere.
Above are some doodles I made during my marketing class. Nothing much… but I guess inside my brain, a little creative and shy version of me tried to tell me something:
“HEY! HO! You love drawing! What are you doing here every day sleepy in class?”
How I Reignited My Passion for Drawing at 23
It wasn’t until I hit 23 and were graduated of 2 degrees “in my pocket”, that I realized something was missing.
If I kept going that path, I would regret it soon or later.
I realized that I didn’t want to sell a finished product made by someone else; I wanted to create my own instead!
It was then that I decided to learn about design and acquire strong sketching skills to communicate my ideas visually.
YES! I PRESSED THE “BUTON RESET” to follow my heart and pursue a career in Industrial Design.
But life has a funny way of taking unexpected turns.
When I Enrolled My Design School – Starting from Zero
Let me tell you, it wasn’t an easy decision, but it was the best one I’ve ever made. I dove headfirst into the world of product design sketching, determined to turn my childhood passion into a fulfilling career.
I enrolled a Design school in Paris!
I had no clue how to draw. I could copy ok, but creating something from my own imagination was nearly impossible each time!
Of course I felt some doubts along the way,
but remember to recenter yourself at what really matters to YOU:
- Follow your creative instincts, even if it means changing course
- Practice sketching daily – it’s a universal language in design
- Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and create your own opportunities
- Learn from artists, designers who INSPIRE YOU. (Not only the ones in trend at the moment)
- Remember that your unique perspective is valuable. That way, you will create your ow drawing style.
I kept studying with high ambition to be part of the top 10% of my school.
I get inspired from artists that I felt impressed and worked hard so one day, I could reach their level!
I have built my portfolio and kept growing without procrastinating. And that’s how opportunities came.
That’s what I believe is the Law of attraction.
I Joined my Dream Company!
You know what? It worked!
At first, I went to accomplish all kind of internships I love from Product design packaging to Footwear. I was even hired before I was graduated (Airness MK in Paris)!
During the recruitment I was proposed to quit my design school to work full time. I refused so I could finish my master’s degree in Product Design I obtained with honours! And I was still hired btw – I spend a few hours per week for school.
Traveled around the World! USA – JAPAN – CHINA – SINGAPORE!
My journey has taken me across the globe, from the fashion-forward streets of FIDM Los Angeles and Hollywood to the innovative design studio in Japan. I’ve had the incredible opportunity to work on everything from avant-garde concept cars at Daihatsu (TOYOTA) in Japan to cutting-edge sneakers at Adidas Performance in Germany.
Each experience has taught me something new and reinforced my belief in the power of visual communication.
One of the most exciting aspects of this career is how universal design sketching skills are.
They’re like a passport that can open doors all around the world.
Since I love travelling, I would merge my envy to discover the world with my passion for design.
DREAM BIG, ACHIEVE BIG
Whether you’re dreaming up the next big tech product or reimagining everyday objects, your ability to communicate visually can take you places you never imagined.
When you allocate your talent, your creativity to provide value to the world, the universe knows “how to reward you with that feeling of gratitude and fulfillment”. It may sound a bit silly, but studies proved that people feel the happiest when they help others.
And you know what?
That is the essence of becoming a Product designer.
It’s about Persistence and Dream
But here’s the thing: success in this field isn’t just about raw talent. It’s about persistence, continuous learning, and a willingness to push your boundaries. I remember spending countless hours perfecting my product and shoe design techniques while juggling my studies.
If you want change in your life, you can’t do the same things as before.
You gotta spend time to draw a lot more often and create your new creative routine!
Drawing will be part of your daily life.
So always keep a ballpoint pen in your pocket!
And draw wherever you can even doodle on napkins, Starbucks coffee cups, receipts… any blank surface you can imagine!
It wasn’t always easy, but that dedication paid off when I landed a job designing shoes worn by thousands of women across the globe working at Charles & Keith in Singapore and within factories in China (* Partly owned by French luxury Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy (LVMH)).
Now, I want to help you unlock your potential too. That’s why I created this blog and my online courses. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to level up your skills, I’m here to guide you every step of the way.
LEARN THE BASICS EASY – STEP-BY-STEP
From mastering 2-point perspective to creating stunning product renderings, we’ll explore it all together.
Remember, every great designer started as a beginner. The key is to keep practicing, stay curious, and never stop learning. Why not start by checking out my Designer Starter Kit?
It’s packed with tips and techniques to help you kickstart your design journey.
Learn perspective step-by-step and soon you will start drawing anything from imagination!
- Products
- Street
- People
- Animals
- Concept art…
Everything is linked through the fundamental of Design sketching!
It is so much fun, that you will become an unstoppable sketcher!
Are you ready for the transformation too?
So, are you ready to turn your passion for sketching into a thriving career?
Let’s embark on this exciting adventure together!
Whether you’re dreaming of designing the next iconic smartphone or revolutionizing the world of fashion, the skills you’ll learn here will set you on the path to success.
My Sketching desk with my Wacom Cintiq 22 with Ergotron arm
Draw anytime, anywhere, anything! Be silly and creative!
Drawing daily becomes your lifestyle. Your moment of entertainment, or calm and meditation.
It is while sitting in some café, scribbling in a sketchbook,
or on the back of a receipt that my best ideas begin.
Do not overthink. Enjoy sketching and improvise!
Having fun is the best way to learn faster and keep going with motivation!
Learn how to observe in 3D to REALLY learn how to draw
I’ve been traveling for nearly the last seven years with my portfolio under my arm like a second passport.
I was even invited to become the host of a TV documentary about creating a Travel Sketchbook!
At my design school, every Thursday afternoon, we used to go out in Paris somewhere new each time. We sit, observe and draw for 4 hours. I loved it!
Start this habit to learn how to observe things in 3 dimensions, monuments, buildings, temples, food, people accessories… around you. Go out and explore! Do not only get inspired from Google image or Instagram!
If the artistic methods I’ve acquired aid me in my life and in my career,
I believe that they can also help you to learn, and help you with your projects.
Don’t forget to explore the blog for daily drawing tutorials and articles.
And if you’re ready to take your skills to the next level, check out my Industrial Design Sketching online course.
Together, we’ll unlock your creative potential and bring your design ideas to life!
Remember, every sketch is a step forward.
So grab your pencil, fire up your imagination, and let’s start creating the future, one drawing at a time.
I can’t wait to see what you’ll design!
Happy Sketching!
Cheers,
Chou-Tac
Featured In & Collaborations
Martijn Van de Wiel
Martijn Van de Wiel, Instructor at TuDelft, Netherlands
INTERVIEWS WITH DESIGN EXPERTS
David Salow
David Salow, Art Center College of Design PASADENA
Michael DiTullo
Michael DiTullo, Product designer
Dwayne Vance
Dwayne Vance, Toy Designer
Edward Eyth
Edward Eyth, Concept artist, designer, sculptor, instructor at Art Center College of Design
Daniel Bailey
Daniel Bailey, Footwear designer / Conceptkicks.com
Noah Sussman
Noah Sussman, Sport Designer – Adidas
And many more amazing interviews from professional designers here
MEET MY STUDENTS AROUND THE WORLD (SKETCH LIKE THE PROS)
Let me know your email below and I will send it to you!
We will also keep in touch on the daily drawing tutorials and articles for you to keep making progress with the Design Sketchbook blog and like hundreds of other students join my Industrial Design Sketching online course!
Taipei, TAIWAN
Madrid, SPAIN
London, UK
SINGAPORE
Student Success Stories
Discover my Design sketching student’s testimonial here.
Such as Jeff Armstead, or Martin Goulet among my hundreds of students.
CONCLUSION
As I reflect on my journey, from sketching the TMNT, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles characters during school breaks to sharing my passion with all of you, I can’t help but feel grateful for the path that led me here.
To you, my dear reader and fellow design enthusiast, I want to emphasize several key points that have shaped my career:
- Follow your creative path: Don’t be afraid to change direction, even if it means pivoting from your initial studies. I took that leap at 23, I graduated at 27and it made all the difference. You are never too old to start.
- Develop your new drawing habit: This is your superpower for communicating ideas effectively. Make sketching a part of your daily life and let it inspire you.
- Acquire and grow your design sketching skills with confidence: If you can’t draw today, never feel guilty or lower. It’s just nobody taught you before how to learn step-by-step.
- Use design as your passport: Sketching has allowed me to work and learn across the globe, opening doors I never imagined possible.
- Create opportunities: Hard work and preparation are key. Keep that pencil moving and be ready for the chances that come your way.
- Build a community: Through The Design Sketchbook, I hope to pass on what I’ve learned and help you on your own design journey. Let’s support each other and push the boundaries of design together.
Remember, your creative spark is a gift.
Nurture it, and let your sketches shape the world around us. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to refine your skills, every line you draw is a step forward.
Thank you for being part of this incredible journey.
Here’s to the countless sketches yet to come!
Dream big, sketch often, and never stop creating.
Cheers,
Chou-Tac
Hi Chou,
I think you are doing exceptional work here with the blog to help people get into design.I tried registering for the Sketch Drive waitlist but it gives me an error 404 when the enter my email. PLease help
Regards
Zaid
Hello Zaid,
I have just forward your message to the technical team. We’ll try to see how to solve this.
Thank you for your patience. Feel free to try again though. 🙂
Cheers,
Chou-Tac
Dear Chou-Tac,
I love what you do and appreciate so much that you share it for others to learn from.
I’m an Industrial Deign student and heading towards my Final Project. Do you have any tips for me? I don’t have a clear direction yet. What’s the smartest thing to do when choosing what your project will be about? I’m anxious and would love to hear some advice.
Thank you so much!
Sari
Hello Sari,
Wish you all the best for your final project. I have written an article that may helo you. Feel free to have a look: https://www.thedesignsketchbook.com/tip-137-how-to-get-a-high-distinction-with-a-great-topic/
Hope it helps !
Hi Chou-tac 🙂
Why don’t I get email updates of the new posts?
Hello Chetan,
Do you mind send me your email back at choutac@thedesignsketchbook.com – we’ll find a solution 🙂
Hey Chou!
I really love your Website!
I’m an Industrial Designer from Austria Graz.
Me and two friends are going to run a Website that’s also (Industrial) design related.
Please contact me.
Cheers Nils
Sure, let’s keep in touch Niles 🙂
Hey Chou,
Great website, good tips on sketching. i am a product designer myself and i find these really useful.
i had a question for you. Can you tell us the importance of knowing/learning human anatomy(figure drawing, anatomy, dynamic poses etc..) sketching as a product designer? will it help in designing better products? if yes, then how & where to begin.
Thank you
Hello Samarth,
You have a great question as many student designer neglect this. To me, as a product designer, basic anatomy is good enough. You don’t have to study every single muscle, however, it’s good to have a basic understanding of the skeleton and joints to draw human poses.
Benefits:
1- Show the scaling and proportion of a vehicle, house, furnitures… compared to the user.
eg. If you draw a user with abnormal short legs, you may draw an abnormal motorbike ahah.
2- Showing some scenarios of product usage.
Many students draw a product only. They never showcase it in its environment. You could even prepare a story board. If you do that, your clients will love it !
3- Give life to your product !
eg: Imagine drawing a slide without kids playing on it. Pretty sad right ? Weither you draw architecture, cars, products… try to include people in your research and presentation boards.
Bonus1: If you want to study further such as dynamic poses, it’s all beneficial – especially if you design sports goods for example.
A good way to start simple is to draw people with sticks. 🙂
Bonus2: You can cheat using photography. Take some pictures, and import them in Illustrator where you can draw some silhouette.
Eg: A project I did when I was student where you can see some white silhouette. http://www.coroflot.com/choutac/PHILIPS-Forecasting-2010
Cheers,
Chou-Tac
hey Chou, your knowledge and experience when it comes to a designer’s life is great so i thought you’d be the best to answer my question. I didnt get into the design school i wanted to, so i’m planning to take a gap year to enhance my drawing skills and portfolio and try again. to make the best use of my year towards my design future, what do you suggest i do ?
Hello Adwait,
Please let me reformulate to make sure I understand.
Do you mean you applied for a school, and they unfortunately didn’t accept your application? (+ you don’t want to consider any other ?). So you aim to improve your skills for a year by yourself, and reapply again.
If yes, the first thing I would try to know is WHY they didn’t accepted your candidature (Sketching ? Motivation? Creativity?…who knows ?). Different schools have different criteria.
One of my friend has been first rejected from London College of Fashion. They told her to improve her drawing skills from live drawing. (Like many fashion students, she learned drawing models with a “2D technique”. Somehow closer to illustration – but that school promote a more “3D technique”, I would say closer to animation). The she took some Live drawing courses, and started to better understand how clothes react on body curves. She came back, reapply and was admitted (without waiting an extra year).
To get a chance to save a year, show them how motivated you are. Knock there door. Ask why, see what you can improve and reapply asap if you can. If you can’t, still apply ahah ! Sometime daring make you pop out from the crowd. And it cost nothing to try.
Hope it helps, and let’s keep in touch.
Hey Chou, As you advised I talked to the authorities of the college where i was rejected. Their student entry is based on the marks obtained during the Design Aptitude test the college conducted earlier this year and that i hadnt scored the cut-off.(I got a 37.5 wherein I needed atleast 45). Thats the most help they could do . Its more of self analysis i guess, and i guess its upto me. They also dont accept anymore applications untill next year.
Thanks for your time in trying to help me out, now I’m ever determined to make it into that college.
Dear Chung, I’ve been searching for a website, a book that can help me better understand the sketching techniques in product design, now after several years I found it! Thank you very much for the time and effort you put to help someone like me realize his dream.
Best wishes.
Your words are very touching.
I am always glad to discover that the blog and the Designer Starter Kit give value to you guys.
Thank you Alzaidan.
hey please a tutorial on how to draw watches …….:)
Noted, I will think about it ! Thanks Mihir for proposing.
Hey Chou,
thank you for sharing your great experiences and your artworks with us…
I am so into digital designing and using technologies alongside my experiences. .. I just wanted to ask you about a good graphic tablet which can be great as a traditional sketchbook (is there any? Lol) Tnx for all of this blog and your very great support on ur blog 🙂
Aleemir
Hello Aleemir,
There is multiple criteria to choose a tablet. It mostly depends of portability, budget and wether you want to use Adobe software or not.
I recommend Wacom brand for the tablet. You can’t go wrong (Except for the Cintiq Companion that I do not recommend: Heavy, expensive, pen precision average at the edges of the screen, length of batteries limited).
If you have:
– Small budget: Wacom Intuos
– Medium budget: the screen tablet medium size. I tell you more it here. https://www.thedesignsketchbook.com/the-wacom-tablet-i-get-cheaper-than-a-cintiq/ Not easy to get ! To me the perfect size is 15″. I am not fan of smaller size.
– Big budget: The Cintiq 22″ (24″ is too big and you can’t rotate the screen)
If you look for portability like a sketchbook:
– NO Ipad. The palm keep touching the screen. The software that allow the palm recognition are not that performant. Plus I havn’t found yet a pen that gives me full satisfaction. Some people do great stuff with Ipad, but honestly, good luck ! 🙂
-Samsung Pro Note 12.2 gives great results with Sketchbook Pro (many product designers love that software, including me) But, the system is Android, so you won’t find Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator on it. Note that the pen is ultra thin and the screen a bit small. Ok for portability anyway. Not that comfortable. But it’s ok. More info here: https://www.thedesignsketchbook.com/samsung-note-pro-12-2-tablet-review/
– You could consider Windows surface, but I havn’t try it for drawing. So I can’t tell much. The pen is less sensitive, but the TRUE test is not the number of sensitivity, It’s to test by yourself. Low sensitivity may be enough, especially for a beginner. Before buying, make sure that the pen won’t lag if you open a big file on Photoshop.
Hope it helps !
Hello Chou i suscribe to design sketchbook last year but for some reason guide 2, 3, 4 won’t load. I’ve try to open them in different browsers and on different network please let me know what i can do to fix the problem.
Hello Daniel,
I guess something wrong happened during the download. I have just tested the link, it’s working well. I invite you to download again the eBook. Check your email, I send it to you.
Let me know when you have it. 😉
Yes. I have yet to receive the designer kit. I dont see it in spam or regular email. When i email you it returns to sender. TRMtherealmc8@gmail.com
Hello Saul, I have just send it to you back. Please check your email. Cheers.
U sent me a copy of Starter Kit and it doesn’t work. Opens and then crashes everytime!
🙁
Hi Deepak,
Oh that’s a very annoying situation. Thank you for letting me know.
I have opened the email and checked the link. It’s the same as the one I send to other subscribers. I guess, something wrong happened during the transfer or there is a software compatibility issue. Do you mind download it again ? Best is if you try with an other computer.
Let me know how it goes.
Chou-Tac
a really very nice site…try to organize some events or competition and I think this will help me/us to improve by inspiration….
That’s an interesting idea.
Thanks.
Cheers,
Chou-Tac