Grow Your Design Talent Step by Step — Practice One Article a Day
Ready to level up your design sketching? Learn how to draw cylinders faster and more accurately by turning your paper as you draw. This beginner-friendly tutorial guides you step-by-step with fun exercises to build confidence, improve speed, and master 3D forms. Start practicing now and see your skills soar! ...
How do you stay motivated to draw every day? The secret lies in a powerful mind hack—changing your identity. Inspired by James Clear’s Atomic Habits, this approach helps you see yourself as a true artist through small daily actions. Start today and transform your passion into a lasting creative habit ...
Start your Industrial Design journey young and unlock the secret to exponential growth in sketching skills! Discover fun ways to draw what you love, build creativity, and craft stories through your designs. Ready to ignite your passion and design like a pro? Let’s sketch your future together—it all begins here! ...
Feeling stuck in your design journey? The secret isn't just talent—it's mindset. Learn how the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People can help you reset limiting beliefs, boost creativity, and build unstoppable momentum in your design career. Ready for a breakthrough? Start reshaping your habits today and design your best life! ...
Unlock your creativity and sketch like a pro with my Fast-Sketching Power Techniques series! In this guide, you’ll discover practical tips, mindset shifts, and unique exercises to help you sketch faster, communicate ideas clearly, and bring your product designs to life—even if you’re just starting out ...
Designers, time to unleash your inner superhero! Master the 7 powers that solve problems and spark innovation — from empathy to iteration, collaboration to storytelling. Want to lead change and tackle design challenges like a pro? Your creative superpowers await. Start empowering your journey today and design a better future! ...
Hello! How are you today? Become the best sketcher you can be with the "90 DESIGN TIP-A-DAY Challenge"! Take advantage of this exclusive drawing challenge, full of motivation and inspiration to help kickstart your creative journey. I feel pumped by this new project I prepare for you at the Design Sketchbook blog!It is called the "90 DESIGN TIP-A-DAY Challenge!"To learn how to sketch, the secret is not only about techniques. But also about daily Motivation, Inspiration and Dedication.All together will build your great skills and boost you to sketch ...
Hello ! It's Chou-Tac, If you want to learn a language, learn playing piano,guitar or practicing a martial art. You need passion and patience to succeed.And it is the same for drawing. It looks tough when we start something new. But the good news is there is a first steppingstonefrom where you'll start an exponential growth. But many will give up before reaching it. And regret years later.The biggest reason of failure is from making ...
15th July 2018: France won the World Cup!!! Last night I discovered 2 players from the French team come from my hometown, Troyes !I feel so happy that YES people from my small town can rise to become Champion of the Football World cup ! It always reminds me how much Success can come from anywhere, and from anyone. No matter your origins, no matter your past story. Anyone starting small even with no ...
How to Draw an Infinity of Products (with ellipses and cylinders) Transcript below Hey guys Welcome to the "Sketching Mini-Tutos"! Sketching from Chouchou from me, Chou-Tac. So how to draw an infinity of products using ellipses and cylinders. Alright, we are going to draw some quick doodles right here to see what we can draw. So here are the basics: one axis, two ellipses and you connect. Then this is a PRINGLES box. Do you ...
I get it—life is busy and time for drawing seems like a luxury. But what if I told you that by simply ditching the TV habit, you could unlock 5 whole months a year for your art? That’s right! Instead of zoning out as a passive consumer, switch to creator mode. Feed your passion with meaningful inspiration, not mindless noise. Your creative breakthrough starts by choosing where your time goes. Ready to own your schedule ...
Hello ! It's Chou-Tac, How things going today ? At noon, I met Eugene and his wife Mandy for lunch at Ho Chi Minh City. They are such a lovely couple. Vietnam is the 3rd country I met in real life people who follow the Design Sketchbook blog. It's meaningful to me and I feel closer to my readers and students. Let me share with you about Eugene's story as an aspiring designer, as you ...
Hello guys from Vietnam ! How are you doing today ?Here is pretty rainy (Raining season),and I just came back from lunch. I am thinking to start sharing with you more about my daily inspirationthoughts or inspiration as a product designer. As I believe that design sketching techniques are just one piece of the puzzle. Creativity, an other one.Would this piece of puzzle be something you may like receiving ? Let me know ! Illustration ...
https://youtu.be/glVXLywt2UM Hello, Design sketchers! 😀 This tutorial guides beginner design sketchers through the process of drawing a dog house using foundational perspective principles and a strategic approach. Why Beginners Lose Confidence and How to Unlock It Many beginners struggle because they start by drawing only what they see directly, missing essential elements and perspective. This leads to inaccurate, wasted efforts and lost motivation. To overcome this, you need to: See in transparency: Visualize all edges, including ...
GERMANY: Noah Sussman, a sports product designer with experience at Adidas and UVEX Sports, shares his story of moving from the USA to Germany, the role of sketching in sports design, and his passion for creating emotional, innovative products. Gain inspiration from his career highlights, creative tools, and advice for aspiring designers ...
Leonardo Peneranda studied Industrial design, and he's today a 3D artist for video games. He enrolled my course Sketch like the Pros as a VIP student. Leonardo sent me his work about cubes - it is pretty unique. More than following the course step-by-step, he spices up his drawing session: by drawing cubes following a path. His training became an artwork! "Make it personal." Adding a zest of creativity in anything you do help you learn faster. Cubes along ...
Ben Go’s story shows the power of drawing to shape a career in yacht and industrial design—from early challenges to working across industries like cars and boats, and ultimately designing and living on the ocean. His journey proves that hands-on sketching, combined with passion and self-driven learning, can open doors to unique design paths. ...
My girlfriend and I went to Starbucks last Tuesday. She likes to go there to work without distractions, so I was pretty bored. I grabbed a pen and started drawing on her receipt what I saw around me—the Nubox and Subway shops. Receipt are great for doodling. Give them a second life! Embrace the Freedom of Sketching on What's Handy What I love about doodling on receipts is that you don’t get to choose your ...
1 Learning how to sketch is about making iteration. We try, we do mistakes, we adjust... we retry... and so on. That's how we keep learning and get better at anything. If you want to learn the violin, you have to try, explore and train your ears. So you will fine-tune. Same for drawing. I was reading an article from my friend Roy Pallas, blogger and illustrator from Blog-ledessin.com. He was talking about Kimon Nicolaides, author ...
These last few days I made a lot of research about the IPad Pro - wether it is suitable for me - as a sketcher.* I am a Wacom user for years, and I was positively impressed from what I saw online about the Apple tablet. But I promise to myself to do not get too excited about the newest or the latest product in trend as long as I have not tried it myself. *Not ...
Successful product design depends on the collaboration between creative designers and skilled technicians. This article shares insights from a Thai carpenter about building empathy, solving problems together, and refining designs through teamwork, proving that strong relationships outshine lone skills. ...
Hi guys, To keep in touch more often with you, I am experimenting blogging with my phone! I am writing with my Xiaomi (Redmi) phone and the screen is pretty small. I feel like writing an email to you while I actually write an article for the blog. And I like it like that. Why? Because the mindset is different and I feel closer to you. This way, I wish sharing with you more daily ...
Nicolas Gomes, a passionate industrial design student from France, shares his path from childhood curiosity and mountain adventures to interning at Salomon and pursuing a master’s in fashion design. Nicolas reveals how daily sketching, openness to new experiences, and a love for sports and travel fuel his creativity ...
Struggling to choose the ideal design project topic? Find out how focusing on a niche can unlock creativity and impress your jury. This guide reveals insider tips to help you explore, commit, and innovate — making your project truly standout. Ready to get inspired and ace your design school challenge? Dive in and discover your perfect topic fast! ...
Want to create striking product sketches with markers? Join Chou-Tac to learn how to start sketching with Pantone and Tria markers in a simple and fun video tutorial. Discover tips to add color, depth, and professionalism to your sketches effortlessly. Ready to bring your designs to life with markers? Start now! ...
Struggling to find your drawing style? Learn how to “steal” smartly from artists and designers you admire to build your unique voice. Chou-Tac explains how mixing inspirations and practicing fundamentals will shape your artistic identity. Ready to craft your style? Start your creative journey now! ...
Feeling hesitant to share your hard-earned skills? Here are 5 compelling reasons why opening up and sharing your design knowledge will actually help you improve faster. Empower your growth journey, inspire others, and join a vibrant creative community. Share your skills and transform your design path today! ...
Shoe drawing is difficult at the start for anyone. To make it easy, we start by learning how to draw a shoe from the side view. If you are wondering how to draw shoes, you might face at least one of these issues: You don't know how to start. The shoe you draw has a bad proportion (both in perspective and side view). You have difficulty to visualize the shoe in 3 dimensions. The 2 ...
I am following a cool page about Footwear design on Instagram: @PaletteStudioCoCredit featured image on the home page from Rob Maston or @raw_mass@PaletteStudioCo on Instagram It showcased amazing works of pro, beginner or passionate of footwear design – drawing with the Sketchbook Palette. What is there so special in ? Palette offers 130+ pages of shoe template per sketchbook. (A set of common shoe templates of low cut, high cut sneakers…) We can drop in ...
When we first join a design school, we receive an art material list. After a visiting any art shop, you realize how the material is costly and that our budget may be quite limited as a student designer. We can't possibly buy everything from the list. But we are so excited to start school in great conditions that we tend to be non-reasonable and buy a lot more than we need. Let's do a tour ...
Time is precious and no one can stretch it. How about converting your transportation time to a productive session ? I remember after class, I was drawing in the subway going home. And my classmate asked me: - Hey you never stop drawing ? - Humm yeah I do… ?! That question surprised me because it occurred natural to me to draw even if we just left the class. I didn’t do it because I ...
Wondering if Photoshop is essential for designers? It is the industry standard, offering fast color changes, detailed rendering, efficient layer management, and powerful selection tools. Master Photoshop to communicate your ideas clearly and create impressive presentations. Ready to elevate your design skills? Start exploring Photoshop’s benefits now! ...
Nymul has just sent me a question. I share here with you hoping to help more people. Send me your question in the comments or email at choutac@thedesignsketchbook.com. I will be glad to answer you and share the answer to all of you. Question from Nymul “Hi Chou-Tac,I am studying footwear engineering. I also want to be a designer.Can you give me some advice?” A footwear designer is an artist and a product designer. He ...
To constantly improve at Design Sketching, we know that Practice is the key. But M. Procrastination like to call us one time in a while. It may be a sign that we need a break. It’s ok. No harm. Just don’t rest with him too long.* We all know how we feel comfortable watching movies on TV on the sofa with our dear M. Procrastination instead of practicing our sketching skills. *If we don’t pay ...
Anything can happen! The interview itself could be short, or could stretch on for upwards of three hours. It could involve an office and call for professional formal attire, or it could take place casually on a café terrace. You could be invited to take a plane to another country for a day for just a 30 minute interview (I remember how I flew from Paris to Nuremberg for my first interview for Adidas, I ...
the Designer Starter Kit es la guía perfecta para aprender sketching de diseño desde cero. Con consejos claros y técnicas paso a paso, este eBook en español te inspira a mejorar tus habilidades de dibujo industrial. Regístrate y recibe la guía que cambiará tu manera de diseñar. ¡No te lo pierdas! ...
We all know about Brainstorming.I was thinking about using this creative drawing session with the “Doodle-Storm” technique.Try, and send me yours by email at choutac@thedesignsketchbook.com! It’s a real pleasure to get absorbed by the “Doodle-Storm” session – Drawing some free form of an Earphone.I didn’t give myself a time limit (I had the whole night in front of me). Timestamps 00:26 I am sketching on Sketchbook Pro00:32 Many Designers love that software00:37 It’s light, and ...
Today, a tutorial on How to draw arrows using 1 and 2-point perspective. With practice, you will be able to take some shortcuts and draw arrows without tracing the whole set of: Horizon line, vanishing points and converging lines. Take this video as a basic exercise that will train you to draw in 3D space. Let me know your comments, and see you guys for the next TIP of the day! Related article: How to ...
In product Design we like to use arrows to express a movement, a path, an acceleration. It’s not only made to designate certain elements of a product. Today, I will show you how to decompose an arrow in simple shapes, and making sure to draw it with a good proportion and symmetry. The trick is super simple. But you need to know it, for later being able to draw the arrows in perspective (How to ...
In design sketching, it’s essential to know how to represent ideas fast, especially during the preliminary phase of research of a project. We are not yet looking for “sexy drawings”. We want to allocate more time at thinking, and multiply the number of sketches. Less time we spend for one sketch, more sketches we’ll be able to produce. So instead of drawing with realistic shadows (time consuming), we use the contour lines to express the ...
Explore how teamwork enhances creativity through a concept art collaboration between Chou-Tac and Adrien Wira. Combining hand sketches with digital Photoshop techniques, they create compelling designs and share valuable creative insights. Ready to boost your design skills? Learn the collaborative process today! ...
Struggling with smooth curves? Practice drawing C-curves using a simple step-by-step method that ensures accuracy and fluidity. This fundamental skill will help you break down complex shapes and improve your overall sketching speed. Ready to create effortlessly? Start practicing your C-curves today! ...
For a student, buying the Wacom Cintiq is most of the time a dream. It was so expensive. Let me tell you more about the alternative Wacom product I used to have. However, note that it seems to be tricky to find a retailer if you don’t live in Japan. The Wacom tablet I get cheaper than a Cintiq Below, is a picture of my previous Wacom screen tablet, the Wacom DTI 520 that I ...
Finding Your Perfect Spot: The Secret to Enjoying Urban Sketching It was around 2 PM, and I was excited to find a spot to sketch.I headed to the Jetty for its stunning view of the sea. But I didn’t quite prepare for the scorching Penang sun—over 30°C blazing high above with nowhere to hide. I kept walking because the view was irresistible, but after a while, the heat made me realize sketching there for long ...
Want to improve your sketching fast? Get inspired by concept artists like Darren Quach and learn how to absorb their creative energy. This article shares actionable tips for product designers to spark creativity, build a personal style, and transform inspiration into original ideas. Dive in and start your drawing journey today! ...
Want to create stunning color palettes for your product sketches? This article shares easy tricks used by designers to spot color combinations in real life—from street fashion to packaging. Find inspiration, improve your workflow, and let your creativity shine. Dive in and start sketching with confidence! ...
The “10,000 hours of practice” rule, popularized by Malcolm Gladwell, claims you need 10,000 hours to master a skill-but new research shows this isn’t the full story. While Gladwell highlights deliberate, focused practice, mastery isn’t just about logging hours; it’s about how you practice and the unique path you take ...
If you’re an aspiring product designer looking to sketch with confidence, this guide shares practical steps to move from rough ideas to polished concepts. You’ll learn how to build a steady sketching workflow, stay motivated, and turn quick drawings into meaningful design decisions. Dive in and start sketching like a pro ...
Have you ever felt awkward to draw something when people are looking above your shoulder? It happens that a sketcher suddenly can’t draw anything. Trying to sketch new things, he’s paralyzed and draws nothing; thinking that his sketch may be judged by people. TIP#33 No Failure, No Progress Similar to "No Pain, No Gain",When you meet a difficulty, face it. It is part of the learning process. You might not always solve it easily, it ...
Let me recommend some art books that I personally enjoy: the products of the publishing company Taschen. Taschen publishing started in the eighties as the brainchild of an 18-year-old comic shop owner, Benedikt Taschen. Since then, Taschen has become a staple of art books. Its publications cover painting, sculpture, photography, and fashion alongside, of course, product design. Taschen’s publications are meant to be accessible. Their prices are affordable and the majority sell for between $10 ...
Today, we talk about art material to add in your drawing tools as an artist or designer.After sketching The Grand Budapest Hotel in the plane with a Twin Marker, I wanted to practice an other great tool: The mechanical pencil with color lead. With that, you will draw better croquis! Mechanical Pencil 0.7mm Greater croquis with a color lead Color leads naturally give some warm effect to your croquis. As you know, I love drawing ...
I was taking the plane to Singapore for a 13-hour journey. Usually, I only take long distance flight at night. You can just fall asleep and wake up “fresh” ready to start a new day. But, that time round, the departure time was at noon. Fully awake, guess what I did to get busy ? Sketching. I remembered an artist who liked to draw Quick sketch watching movies. He mastered that art so well that ...
When I saw the Samsung Note Pro 12.2, I couldn’t resist drawing something on it. (See at the bottom of this page)The tablet carries a customized version of Sketchbook pro. TIP 21 | To get a digital tablet, do not believe the specs My first tablet was a Graphire Wacom tablet. The pen was 512 sensitivity pressure. It was already working so well. Nowadays, the latest digital pens and digital tablets showcase in 2048 sensitivity ...
Being a designer means spending your entire life learning from the things around you. Observe, analyze, and imagine as often as you can in order to better understand your environment. And above all, put your ideas down as sketches. Whether in snow, wind, or the middle of a storm, I draw anywhere: at my home, in a park, on a paper cup at Starbucks…. In the spirit of this sort of practice, I’m going to ...
Want your sketches to jump off the page? Master line weight variation—the secret tool designers use to emphasize form, depth, and light. With just subtle pressure changes, you’ll create sketches that speak louder than words. Ready to impress your audience with every stroke? Start refining your lines today! ...
Want to draw like Michelangelo? It’s not just about hands-on practice—it’s about thinking with your brain. Analyze anatomy, plan your strokes, and develop an intuitive artistic strategy that makes each line count. Unlock your creative power and boost your progress. Ready to draw smarter? Let your journey start now! ...
Want to capture sporty elegance in your fashion sketches? Follow this quick 4-step tutorial to draw a Nike tennis outfit from body movement to final Photoshop touches. Discover how simple lines and layers bring your designs alive with energy and style. Ready to elevate your fashion art? Let’s draw! ...
What if copying isn’t just copying? Dive into the secret of great artists: they steal inspiration, transform it, and create something uniquely their own. Embrace your peers as allies, learn from diverse styles, and accelerate your artistic evolution. Ready to steal brilliance? Start your creative journey today! ...
Ready to unlock the full potential of your ballpoint pen? Dive into expert tips on selecting the right pen, mastering pressure control, and sketching anywhere, anytime. Embrace the permanent, bold, and inspiring art of ballpoint drawing. Transform your sketches into creative treasures. Start your journey now! ...
Want to transform your sketches from clumsy to captivating? Discover how confident lines and mastering pencil pressure create clean, lively drawings full of emotion and style. Dive into this guide for designers seeking to elevate their sketching game. Ready to draw like a pro? Start your journey now! ...
Is your drawing posture holding you back? Explore how adopting good habits can reduce fatigue, sharpen your lines, and supercharge your sketching flow. Dive into practical tips to make great posture your automatic habit and watch your art soar. Ready to transform your drawing routine? Start now! ...
