Roger’s Creative Comeback: Sketching After a 3D-Only Boss

Introduction

Hello it’s Chou-Tac,
Today, I’m excited to introduce Roger, an experienced product designer with a unique perspective on the creative process. What sets Roger apart is his journey working for a previous employer who didn’t value ideation sketches-instead, they pushed straight to 3D modeling.

This challenge inspired Roger to join Sketch Like The Pros, reigniting his passion for sketching and helping him rediscover the power of quick ideation and visual storytelling in design.

Discover how Roger elevates product design through expertise and continuous learning.

Meet Roger, Experienced Product Designer

Hi there, I’m Roger from Portugal.
I’m 36, and I’m a Product Designer for 13 years now.
I’m an ongoing student of Chou-Tac’s SKETCH LIKE THE PROS course. And it’s been a great experience.

My Early Design Education and Challenges

Back then, as a student of Product Design during my college years, I didn’t have Design sketching class.
We had drawing classes for 3 years.
But they were human figure and anatomy related, using more artistic media like pastels, acrylics, charcoal, or graphite.

The Shift to 3D and Losing My Sketching Habit

When I graduated and started my internship, the company directors were not interested in ideation sketches. They wanted only ideas in 3D using 3D and rendering software.

Unfortunately, most companies at that time, at least here in Portugal, thought that way.
So I started to practice less and less my sketching skill.

Rediscovering Sketching as a Freelancer

When I decided to become a freelancer, I felt very rusty.
And I couldn’t translate into paper the ideas I had flowing in my head.

The type of drawing I have learned in college wasn’t exactly what I needed for Product Design.
Because it took just too much time to accomplish. And with so many ideas flying around in my mind, I started building a huge frustration for not being able to sketch them at the same speed rate.

It seemed like I didn’t know how to draw, although I was good at figure drawing.
But product design sketching is different.

Joining Sketch Like The Pros

So when I found out Chou-Tac’s Sketchbook blog,
I started following it religiously, because it focuses precisely on what I needed to develop my sketching skills.

When Chou-Tac launched Sketch Like The Pros, I didn’t hesitate.
And believe me, you won’t either.

The Course Structure: For Beginners and Professionals

Whether you’re a beginner or a professional in design, like me, struggling with your sketching skills, you learn everything from the basics to much more complex skills – in an extremely well-structured course.

I’ve taken mine at my own pace.
And just after a few lessons, I saw the differences in my sketches.

The Value of Personalized Feedback

If you choose the 1 on 1 VIP membership, you’ll have a big bonus.
Chou-Tac’s insight and correction on your sketches.

His personalized feedback is great,
focusing on small details that would make a big difference in your sketching skills.

Motivation and Confidence

And one thing I personally like is that Chou-Tac is a guy with a nice sense of humor that always finds a way to keep you motivated and in a good mood.

I used to have fears in sharing my sketches, in sketching in front of other people.
But now, I have much more confidence in myself and my sketches.

The Importance of Sketching in Design

Remember, sketching fundamentally designs.
If you can’t put down your ideas on paper, you might tend to forget them and eventually lose them.
Sketching is a universal language that people from different cultures and countries understand.
So what better way to explain than show your ideas through a sketch.

Happy Sketching everyone.

Cheers!

– Roger, Portugal | Freelance Product Designer