YOUR DESIGN COACH

Chou-Tac

Your Messages & Questions

London, UK I'm hoping to use it as a teaching aid for art classes, esp. for beginners...
i love drawing...
I am from Yorba Linda, california I have started and learning Procreate for Landscape pain...
I can feel your comment has a lot of positive energy Vanessa!...
Hey I'm from Nigeria. Learning sketch because I love fashion and have so many creative des...
I'm from New York, I just want to learn....
I am from Mackay, Queensland, Australia. I really want to learn how to sketch to improve m...
I'm from Nepal and a hobbyist...
I'm from Myanmar...
Mackay, QLD. Just looking to improve my teaching...
Hi :) I m from Poland, Wrocław. I'm industrial designer....
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...

Categories

The designer starter kit chou tac chung
Sneaker sketch book chou tac chung
Copain bakery in seoul wooyoung kim choutac chung the design sketchbook s
Kim is a baker at seoul He creates his bread starting with sketching

Hello Design sketchers !

Too many beginners are afraid of sketching, being afraid of what other people may think. Feeling ashame of showing their clumsy drawings so much they decided to do not sketch at all.

“It’s like Oh I can’t sing, so I don’t sing. But then how are you gonna learn how to sing?”

This is why I have today a inspiring story to share with you that do not come from a designer, but a baker from Seoul who sketch. 

His name is Kim Wooyoung, a Korean baker who Sketch his bakeries before making them. (Yes, yes! Design is everywhere, and it’s also about food!) Kim has no skills in drawing, but he still sketch and get super creative!

He’s also a great example of perseverance pursuing his dream to become a baker, in a country where success is equal “being a doctor or a lawyer”. Some of you, aspiring designers may relate to his story.

“Courage is not the lack of fear. It’s feeling fear but still acting.” – Tony Robbins.

Img
Kim sketches when he used to work at tous les jours a korean chain of bakeries at the rd department

Kim doesn’t look for making “realistic sketches” or neither good one. He would draw a Pain aux raisins with a simple spiral with few little shape in 2 seconds and done ! All what he needs is have a quick memo of his idea so he won’t lose it the day he needs it.

Img
A pain aux raisins bread with grapes

TIP: When you got a new idea, draw it fast, and do it now.
Then later on, you can take your time to devleopp it further.

Kim sketches to innovate, test and propose new products to his clients. His drawing are pretty naive. But do not underestimate them. These “clumsy sketches” make his business grow. Why ? Because what matter most for him is the idea.

He could have considered himself not talented in drawing and decided not sketching anything. Instead, he created a simple system that works well for him – where he’s the creator but also the decision maker. He does not have to show them to convince anyone else.


TO SUCCEED, KIM INVESTED IN HIMSELF

Kim learned baking in France for 3 years. (So we spoke in French, my native tongue).

When most korean students going abroad are sponsored by their parents, Kim paid for all. He invested his savings to learn baking and become professional. He flew to Paris without speaking a word in French, and bet all his saving to come back as a professional baker.

  • He started to study French for 6 months
  • Then 6 more to study bakery
  • And 2 years working as a professional.

He’s now back in Seoul, and has opened his own bakery just 1 month ago with his friend ! His 3 years investment finally pays out. He runs his own bakery and design his own creation.

Too many beginners refuse to sketch because they can’t sketch. But then, when are you gonna start ? A french expression says: “The snake is bitting its tail”. Are you biting your tail ?

If yes,  stop feeling shame. People won’t care you today level, but they will care your progression. To do so, you gotta make your first steps at sketching. Do not worry about other people thinking. It does not matter.

Draw and feel how much you enjoy creating new ideas in your mind and dropping them on paper. Kim may not be the greatest sketcher, but he did that first step and I think he’s everyday happy.

Kim is a calm, humble and a smiley person. However, what he accomplished impress me. You know, it’s the kind of people who are quiet, but have amazing stories to hear and learn about. I wanted to know more and asked him some questions:

Img
<strong>kims next project go back to france studying patisserie <br ><strong>

Chou-Tac: How do you get your ideas to create?

Kim: I spend a lot of time thinking.

Chou-Tac: Do you sketch your ideas?

Kim: Yes

Chou-Tac: Would you be ok to show me your sketches? You might inspire the readers of my blog about product design sketching. I wanna show that creativity comes from anywhere. Not only from a design studio.

Kim: Yes, but I feel shame to show my drawings.

Chou-Tac: Don’t worry. What matter most is not the quality of your sketches, it’s how they help you.

Img
Did you know the slices made on the top of the baguette can actually be a baker signature The way the bread is sliced on top will define the taste It influences the way the bread will grow in the oven Kim taught me also that the steam goes through the slices so the bread can inflate

Kim: The sketches are in my house. Can I bring tomorrow ?

Chou-Tac: Yes, I’ll be back to meet you again ! 🙂

A day later, I am flipping the pages of Kim’s sketchbooks. The sketchbooks are actually cheap note books. Nothing fancy, neither “arty feel”. There is even some mispelling on the cover. Once again, what matter are the ideas not the “packaging”.

Img

TIP: Beginners tend to start looking for legitimity to build self-confidence. So they buy an expensive Sketchbook. “I invest in expensive and quality material, I am training hard to be a designer.” Wrong. The inverse effect may apply.
Buy an expensive sketchbook with a thick and nice cover, and you may end leaving it empty – being to worried to spoil it with your beginner sketches.

As a beginner, you wanna spend most of your time exploring techniques, learn, failing, iterate… Get a cheap sketchbook or draw on spare paper (you can gather with a plier), so you won’t be afraid of failing. By definition, a sketch book is not a gallery of beautiful sketches like what you see on internet. A sketchbook is a place where you gather your ideas and improve. Remember that a sketch = unfinished drawing.
Kim’s sketchbooks are his “Research idea center”, not a portfolio.

 

Img
<strong>when kim was looking for a logo for his company Why a snail Because its slow Like a bread needs time in the oven Longer the bake tastier it become minimum hours <br ><strong>

Kim: I need to put my ideas of recipe on paper to realease them. I can refer back to them anytime. But my sketches are not good I am not sure you understand.

Chou-Tac: I do understand. But these sketches are made for yourself only. They are not aimed to be shown to others, right ? So what matter is that the sketches talk to you.

Kim: Yes exactly. The sketches “talk to me”.

Chou-Tac: When you see your own sketches, it reactivates your memory and associate it texture, the crips, the colours, the volume… and so on. Your sketches are  connected to your visual memory.

Kim: Yes, and it’s also about perfume.

When do you like sketching ?

Kim: I especially like to sketch at home before sleeping. When I am alone. It’s quiet.

Did you learn sketching at your bakery school in France ?

Kim: No, no. There is no course for that. Sketching is not compulsory. In fact, in bakery, we do not sketch. I was inspired from my friends in France who study arts.

How long does it take you to make a sketch ?

Kim: Very fast. It can be 1 minute. When I have an idea, I can experiment it fast and propose it to my clients the day after.

“The question is not what you look at, but what you see.”
― Henry David Thoreau

Copain bakery in seoul wooyoung kim choutac chung the design sketchbook e
Kim tahion and myself 🙂

What is the difference between French and Korean bread?

In Korea I can propose a lot more creative products, we look for variety and novelties.
In France we look for tradition, we pursue excellence and quality.
There is no right or wrong. It’s for me two different pleasure as a Baker to accomplish.

In Korea, bread are considered like a dessert. This is why many bread are sweet and soft. The Korean word for “Bread” is the same as for “Cake”.

TIP: As a product designer, look for cultural difference ans specificities, so you can better create for local people. Your vision and interpreation may not be right. Do not only feed your memory of forms. Travel and meet people to enrich your “Culture memory” !
Bonus TIP: If you are student, I recommend you to study a foreign country for your graduaction project. That’s where you will find a lot of treasures and impress your jury with a meaningful project.

How does it affect your process of creation?

Korea loves fashion, change, novelties. French bread has a lot of regulation to respect: Gramms, measurement, aspect… But in Korea there is no such rule ! We can do anything we want. I like to reinvent the basics into new creation. The components that matter are the combination of Aspect, perfume, colour… We mainly look for the harmony.

However, the taste is not the top priority here. The aesthetic yes. It’s the experience of trying soemthing new that matter most. If a Korean try something and it’s not good, it’s fine. He will try something else. Here in Korea, I worked for “Tous les jours” (A korean bakery brand using a French name) where I was part of the research and devlopment team.

I miss the research of quality though like we do in France. But Korea offers me more freedom in my creation. I personnaly enjoy Patisserie. So I try to input that fun inside my bakeries. One day I wish going back to France to study Patisserie because it’s very creative!

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Does it happen you sketch something, and the day after, we could find your porduct on the shelves?

Yes. I can experiment fast. My clients enjoy coming back discovering new things!

Do you always sketch your ideas?

Sometime, I realise on the spot. But most of the time I sketch my ideas first.

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Why did you choose COPAIN as you brand name?

“COPAIN” has 2 definitions: The first one means friendship. I want a place where my clients feel good and friendly. The second meaning is Shaing bread (Co-Pain). People who share bread or food are basically friends. Plus I look for a warm friendship, like bread.

I have learn a lot from you. Especially that what matter the most the good looking of the sketch, but the idea on paper.


The lesson I extract from your experience is that: If you are afraid of sketching, making ugly one, you stagnate at level 0. However, if you do clumsy sketches and keep going, it’s enough for you to create beautiful products.

Sketching something clumsy will bring THOUSAND MILES further than sketching nothing. Don’t be afraid, and start !

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Education in Korea gives a lot of pressure to students.

I met Kim again few days after to take a picture with him. We chit chat about the difference between the education culture in Korea and in France.

Chou-Tac: Hey Kim, Korean studends have a lot of pressure about their degrees and path to universities right ?

Kim: Yes, in Korea we need to show to our family and the society that we succeed. To do so, become wealthy is the best sign of a life success.

Chou-Tac: Do you mean you need a big house, a big car so your family can be proud ?

Kim: Definitely. We are under a lot of pressure to become a doctor, a lawyer and so on and join a big company like Samsung for example.

Chou-Tac: I see. In France there is a lot of people also like that though.

Kim: Oh yeah ?

Copain bakery in seoul wooyoung kim choutac chung the design sketchbook b

Chou-Tac: Yes, but of course not as predomninant like in Korea.

Kim: I felt in France people could do whatever they like.

Chou-Tac: That’s true. We have more freedom to follow our own path. In France if you wanna become a baker, a chef, or anything is welcome. At 16 years old, you can follow a lot of professional training.

Kim: Yes, it’s called he CAP degree.

Chou-Tac: When I was young, a lot of young student who don’t like school took this path. A good number of them succeed, while some high graduated students will struggle looking for job. Why ? Because we’ll always need their skills.

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Chou-Tac: How did you manage to convince your parents to let you go study bakery in France ?

Kim: Usually in Korea, parents pay for all the fees for their kids abroad. In my case, I decided to pay for everything: the flight ticket, the studies and so on… I saved money and I could work in France while I studied too.

Chou-Tac: Wow ! You are a great example of motivation ! I admire you follow doing what you love and pursue your dream.

I also agree to succeed, there is no need to become rich for the sake of showing off your big house or car. Success is about being happy working in something we love.

Kim: There is no point accumulating things. When you are rich, you are tempted to buy many things. And to me, when I own many things, I am confused.

Chou-Tac: Haha ! Yes, it’s like Obama (when he was president) who do not have to decide about his clothing or meal of the day. So he has lesser things to think about.

Kim: Mark Zuckerberg as well ! I saw a documentary showing this is the reason why he wear a jean and t shirt everyday.

Chou-Tac: Congrats Kim, for having opening your own bakery and being so creative ! And thank you for sharing with us your amazing experience :).

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I really appreciate Kim’s wisedom. He’s young, humble and demonstrate his motivation not by words but the acts. I believe his parents are proud of his entreprenarial spirit.

“We have only one life. Make it meaningful.”

Don’t get me wrong, above we are not saying getting wealthy is wrong. But that should not be the priority: The passion is. We have only one life. Make it meaningful.

An other point is that there is no right or wrong about culture society. We all have different stories. I went to the national museum in Korea. It showed how the country did evolve from a farmer land to a super power in less 50 years despite of the wars. For the country to stand up, education has been in the center of everything. Few decades ago, kids used to study in the wood as their school was demolished. Now in 2017, education is still in the center of everything.

“Safety may not always be the best answer to happiness.”

Wherever you come from. If you have difficutlies to convince your parents, try to understand their point of view, where they come from. All parents want their kids safe and healthy. Even though safety may not always be the best answer to happiness. In a civilisation where hunger was the priority, we could realise the gap of the generation mindset. So never get mad at them. It’s your role to tell them what you want and look for ways to get your independancy to follow your own choices. Remember that there is no single way to become a designer.

Beside that, let me share with you more pictures of the yummy food made by Kim and his team ! :9

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When customers come the team come introduce their creation
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I enjoyed coming his bakery to blog and prepare the future sketching courses
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My neighbours
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So cute A snail croissant

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I was so happy eating bread made with the french style I missed it so much being asia for quite a few months already Thank you kim and your team

PS: I am preparing the launch of Sketch Like The Pros 2017 for soon ! 🙂

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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