Most beginners abandon their dreams because of lack of confidence. They love sketching but give up too early. They practice a lot and even put a lot of effort as we say “Practice is the key”. But they never progress so they conclude they don’t have any talent, and talent is innate. Actually the cause is elsewhere: They had nobody to show them the techniques.

I remember how much I struggled at start feeling also discouraged.

Let me show you something a bit embarrassing. Hehe, but I am happy keeping. It’s the first sketch I did for my admission exam for my Design school. I was 22 and I was frustrated drawing like a child. (Picture at the end of this email) May I share with you a bit more about my learning journey?

At first, I was not aimed to be a designer.


At 18, I went to a “corporate path” like most people do. I studied business and Information technology. I graduated. Great, but so what ? I was not thrilled. You know, it’s that sensation that something is missing to feel happy.

I was fascinated by how designers change people’s life. But I had no connection, no experience, nothing.
So I decided to restart from zero. I enrolled in a 5-year Master degree in Product design in Paris. It was the biggest and best decision I ever took in my life.

See also  TIP 23 | Designers Need To Warm Up Before Drawing

But learning how to sketch at school was a pain at start. My first sketches was so clumsy and I had no idea how to make them better. I felt stuck, my motivation was down and I was going nowhere.

One day,
the school introduced us to senior students. They also started from zero. But they was doing internship for Nike, Toyota, Salomon, Louis Vuitton ! So I told myself:

 “If they could do it. I can make it too!”

That day, my belief changed. I knew it was possible.

With my classmates, we struggled a lot but we grow our skills. We was imperfect, but we kept going. Instead of focusing on our imperfection, we felt gratitude to all the tiny steps we did everyday. Still sometime, I wish I took a shortcut giving me all the things I know today.

Then I build a portfolio.
With that, I met people who believed in me. Opportunities opened. I went to study fashion in Los Angeles, did a car internship for Daihatsu (Toyota) in Japan, and even design sneakers for Adidas at the headquarter in Germany. It was a dream for me I though unreachable ! Few years back, I wouldn’t imagine even 10% of that would be possible.

Today, I hope helping passionate people to believe in themselves. I share with you all the things I wish having when I was student myself for you to avoid the mistakes I did and push you toward your dreams.

I tested a beta version of the course with volunteer students last month, I am glad having positive and happy feedbacks. So I decided to launch the official course very soon, hopefully by next week ! Plus, I will give you 1-to-1 feedback on you sketches if you want to. (Limited to the first 50 students)

See also  Stay Positive as a Designer: Practical Tips to Overcome Negativity

Creapole-concours-entree
My first sketch: Entrance exam for my design school. Before that I practiced a lot, but I had no technique.

Graduation day - Product design sketching Concept Sony
My last sketch: Graduation exam for my design school. I obtained my Master degree with honours :). 

2 comments

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Me encanto esto, (en especial por el ejemplo) porque uno puede sentir que es su propia historia, que es su día a día y de verdad alienta muchísimo, hace pensar que sí hay esperanza. Adoro lo simple que haces ver el dibujar y la manera en que logras que uno elimine esas ataduras mentales el “no puedo” “no soy capaz” para comenzar un proceso donde el avance es muy rápido, donde en poco tiempo se ven resultados muy buenos.
    No me cansaré de dar las gracias! c:

Hello! I'm Chou-Tac, 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 dream goal as a student or professional designer.

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

Chou-Tac

Trending

Last comments

  • ASMA SAYADI: “MERCI TRES INTERESSANTJul 19, 18:27
  • Phạm Thị Thảo Ly: “Xin chào bạn, tôi tên Thảo Ly, 36 tuổi, tôi đến từ Việt Nam. Tôi muốn bắt đầu học phác…Jul 18, 15:12
  • Devlin: “australia to get better at shoe design from a google search :)Jul 17, 13:01
  • yazid: “je suis yazid jai 56 ans abiter a algerier jaim dessinerJul 17, 01:47
  • YAZID: “I m 56 from algeria ineed to able to visualize my ideaJul 17, 01:41
  • yazid: “jaime le dessin de designJul 16, 05:38
  • Dharanii: “i found. this. through chatgptJul 15, 22:34
  • Sam: “From the US. I want to become an industrial designer but I need to get thoughts out of my head.…Jul 15, 08:40
  • Samuel Adeniji: “Lagos, Nigeria. It is important for me to learn how to sketch to visually explore and communicate ideasJul 14, 06:26
  • Sajid Munir: “Live in the UAE, am 50 years old. Want to learn so I can be busy in my lonely time.…Jul 13, 12:28
  • Jarul Thakur: “I’m an international student from India, currently in my first year studying interior design in Malaysia. I truly believe that…Jul 12, 00:17
  • BSwin: “This post is super helpful! The Random Product Technique sounds like a fun way to spark creativity and break through…Jul 11, 02:36
  • Mark Thompson: “I m 59 South African I love drawing but have bad habits. I want to start from scratch as though…Jul 9, 17:04
  • Mark Thompson: “I m 59 I love drawing but have bad habits. I want to start from scratch as though I am…Jul 9, 17:03
  • Sam Grosjean: “Pensacola, FL 22 years old I want to bring my ideas and imagination to paper. I did a Google search.Jul 8, 19:46
  • Jo: “Hi, Australia, 50, Im looking for a new hobby, I remember loving to draw when I was younger So hoping…Jul 8, 17:35
  • Spencer: “Austin, TX 50 yrs old I want a way to bring my creations to life I found your blog searching…Jul 8, 10:44
  • Chou-Tac: “I just replied in your email Dion. :)Jul 6, 17:02
  • Dion Lee Uren: “My days are short, I have bowl cancer & before I part this earth always loved to draw muscle cars…Jul 6, 16:28
  • Rashon Richardson: “1 – Florida. 19. 2 – currently studying to be an electrical engineer but I have an interest for designing…Jul 6, 02:07
  • Chou-Tac: “My pleasure Linda. I do have some content about Urban sketching. Hope it helps! Feel free to leave me a…Jul 5, 21:37
  • Adam: “I’m 40 y.o. from Czech. I need to improve to visualize my sketches. I dicover this from Google.Jul 5, 13:06
  • Adam: “I’m 40 y.o. from Czech. I need to able to visualize my idea. I believe it can improve my communication…Jul 5, 13:04
  • Candy-Chan: “I’m from Chicago and I’m 20. I want to learn to sketch to improve my art skills and be more…Jul 5, 09:00
  • Linda Cadeau: “I am a senior and started drawing about 5 years ago. Just want to learn how to draw objects that…Jul 4, 22:09
close-link
Start Sketching Today Step-by-step!

GET YOUR DESIGNER STARTER KIT NOW!

The
close-link
The
YES! I NEED THE BOOK!
Send me The Book
close-image