Hello Design Sketchers!
Today I want to share a valuable tip I learned back in design school. When I was a industrial design student, I was fascinated by car design. I went to ask some transport design students for advice. One of them told me about a lesson from their teacher that stuck with me:
Don’t Overthink Your Sketches – Embrace Inspiration and Flow
Sometimes when you explore ideas, it’s best not to think too much or try to control every single line perfectly. Instead, throw your lines freely with the inspiration you feel at the moment.
You won’t control 100% of the drawing, but you can guide your inspiration. For instance:
- If you want organic, natural shapes, think about leaves, flowing water, and natural elements. Let these images inspire softer, flowing car shapes.
- For machinery-inspired, metallic looks, imagine Transformers or mechanical forms. This mindset directs your exploration into sharper, industrial lines.
Look for the “Happy Accident” in Your Sketches
When you sketch freely, you’ll notice some random but interesting line combinations happen by chance—the “happy accidents.” Your mind can then interpret these lines in unexpected ways and discover new cool shapes or ideas.
Rather than dismissing these accidents, use them as a springboard. Continue sketching and developing your ideas based on these surprising discoveries. This approach often leads to unexpected but awesome results.
Why Beginners Should Try This Too
Although this tip might feel advanced, beginners can benefit hugely from it as well. Let go of perfectionism early on. You might surprise yourself with what emerges.
Inspiration Spotlight: Toyfon and Ben Go
I personally find inspiration in designers like Toyfon.com, a fantastic car designer. My friend Ben Go, a yacht designer, introduced me to his work, and it’s been a great creative spark.
Prepare for Advanced Tutorials
I’m planning to create a sweet tutorial on 3-point perspective soon. But before that, I recommend mastering 2-point perspective first by studying the Designer Starter Kit.
Keep it easy, enjoy the process, and have fun exploring your car design ideas through “happy accidents”.
Cheers,
Chou-Tac
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I love your sketches. Thanks for sharing them.
Great lesson. Beautiful sketches!
Thank you Edward ! :))