YOUR DESIGN COACH

Chou-Tac

Your Messages & Questions

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...
To the ones who didn't get the book, i tried with some diferent mail accounts and i only c...
I’m a Production Engineer, I need to be required basic drawing skills....
Hi, I'm Michelle from the US and I am unsure what direction to take when it comes to studi...
Thank you, Great method's; and very professional....
i love sketching but never was good at it....
Have tried to get the workbook several times but not received it via email. Can you please...
Hi, I'm Daniel. I'd like to design sneakers also but I don't know where to start. I've see...
i dont think there are a lot of design studios in turkey...
Hi there, This is Summer from the XP-Pen team, I am reaching out for a cooperation cha...
I am studying Design and Technology teaching at University and I need to learn how to draw...
Hello, from the US. I've always loved drawing and doodling as a kid. Drawing allowed me to...
To improve in drawing...
it is a fentastic book...
I love drawing and because I love drawing I want to improve on my drawing....

Categories

The designer starter kit chou tac chung
Sneaker sketch book chou tac chung

We are “creative dreamers”, we dream awake.
But we live in the real world, and as professionals industrial designers, our job is to create a better world, a better reality for people. It’s our mission as designers.
We meet challenges every day, and as a student, it gets tough sometimes.
Today, I give you 10 Tips for Industrial Design Students Who Want to Be Successful.

tips to keep up as a design student
tips for industrial design students who want to be successful

10 Tips for Industrial Design Students Who Want to Be Successful

  1. Keep faith. Fail and grow.
  2. Target the top 10% of your school
  3. Don’t study for a job, but a passion
  4. Study (Or do internships) abroad
  5. Invest in yourself
  6. Get rid of your eye bag
  7. Don’t be a perfectionist
  8. Believe in yourself
  9. Don’t blame others
  10. Compete with the outside world, and team up with your pairs.

2 things you should know first

STRESS = LOVE

This is for all passionate Industrial Design Students.

It’s tough to become a designer. There are so many things to learn!

That’s ok if you feel stressed or worried.

Why?

Because if you feel that way, it means that goal you have to become a Designer matters to you.

Otherwise, that would be insignificant.

Do you see what I mean?


DESIGNERS DREAM IN THE REAL WORLD

I wish I had someone to guide me many years ago – especially in moments of doubt.

This is why I wanna share with you 10 Tips to keep your motivation high long-term by boosting your core belief as a creative person.

First of all, I would like to congratulate Riju Karunakaran!
He has just been admitted to a Design School to study Product design – and asked me how to get better mentally prepared to study Industrial Design.

Riju Motivation Design School work[4]

I’ve listed a number of difficulties or situations you may face during your new design school journey.


10 Tips for Industrial Design Students to Keep up!

1- Keep the faith, fail, keep going, and grow…

There is 2 category of people. 

  • Category A: Focus short-term on the immediate pain of learning and get discouraged fast.
  • Category B: Focus long-term on all the new stuff you will be able to do and draw with the newly acquired knowledge!

Which category are you in?

  • The 1st category thinks “too much”.
  • They get too analytical. They love wondering if their learning method is the best.
    If what they produce is good enough, if there are better ways to learn…and so on.
  • They want to prevent the pain of wasting their time and effort. There is nothing wrong with it.
    But these often paralyze students and push them into infinite procrastination.

The 2nd category is positive and passion-driven.

They understand that the global system is not perfect.
They are open to grabbing all the new principles and details along the learning journey.

That category of student is more resilient and will do whatever it takes to succeed.

Did you know?

There is a correlation between “The students who fail the most and who complain the most…”.
If one day you catch yourself complaining more than you can achieve, ask yourself in which category you belong at that moment. So you could make the switch.

Don’t let the instant obstacles you face blur your goal to become a great designer!


2- Target being among the top 10% of your Design school.

A good number of students get average marks and study for the sake of passing their diploma. Depending on your school, an average level is enough to pass your exam. But it may not be enough to get your dream designer position after graduation.

Why?

Because professionals don’t look at your marks, but your portfolio. The profile who tend to succeed the most is the ones who are self-driven and have a vision of themselves. It’s ok if you don’t have it at the start. Work toward it and you will gain confidence.

Don’t go to school to get good marks and a degree.
Think further! Target becoming the greatest level of you, and get the dream job you want!

Be in the top 10%!

Don’t be average, target being in the top 10%!
Let yourself be animated by your inner passion for Design.

This will push you to higher levels. The marks will follow.
If you see that your level is higher than average, take some time to help your pairs and lift them up!

Get excited about going to your design school!

All of us soon or later will slow down during the journey.
You will need the courage to overcome it and that’s ok.

A good way to get back on track fast is to remember how excited you were when you received a call or a letter from your school that you were admitted. Your seat at that school is not granted. You fought to get the right to study there. Make your learning in that school meaningful.

Keep in mind these 2 words of success: Passion and Persistence.


3- Don’t study for a job, but for a passion.

A design school is an environment that has nothing compared to any “classic” school of business, engineering, accountancy… and so on. To make it simple, a designer doesn’t aim to work a specific shift from 8 am to 6 pm.

A designer is 24 hours connected to his surrounding from what he sees, feels, hears, eat…
His source of inspiration can come from anywhere.

I receive messages from Engineering students who get somehow bored.
They feel they took the wrong university path. I can feel your passion when you talk about Design.

If you choose Design, there is a chance that it will be part of your daily lifestyle.

Take photos

Take a camera with you and shot anything that inspires you.
Start to build an image database.
You may keep a copy in the cloud for safety reasons. 

Eliminate Toxic Social Media

Cut down on your social media and emails during the day.
Check it one or two times a day will do. Even if you are bored.

“Do NOT depend on your phone to get distracted.”
Instead, use your imagination. Enjoy looking at people around you.

Look at how they live, stand talk to each other, and interactions they have.
Remember that a designer is an Observer.
Take some paper and sketch them. Please, “feel the REAL world that vibrates around you instead of looking down at your phone.” 

4- Industrial Design Student should study or do an internship abroad

I believe a designer gains in potential if he travels.
His imagination will be “richer” being fed by diversity.

What is true in a certain culture may not be in another.
If you can, ask your school if they have partnerships with foreign universities.
The foreign school fees should be free.

eg: For my personal case, my major is Product design (Studied at Creapole-ESDI in Paris), and I took the opportunity to fly to Los Angeles and learn Fashion design for the summer at FIDM (Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising), while my friends were having a holiday.

That experience enriched me in so many points: the language barrier, autonomy, responsibility, safety, and foreign culture understanding… this trip where I had so much fun is still part of me today.


5- Invest in yourself

You won’t meet your friends, girl/boyfriend or family as often as before. The best is you inform them about this situation to get their understanding (which is different from approval). If the people you love to support you, your chance of success will rise. You will miss them, and vice versa. But they will cheer you up to reach your goal.

TIP

Share with your surroundings what you do. Inform them that you will need to need a lot of time for yourself, and you are sorry if you may appear selfish.

You won’t be able to allocate as much time as before to your relatives and friends.
However, if there is anything important you will be there to support them as well as they support you.


6- Get rid of your eye bag.

On top of your weekly planning, you will have to allocate a big number of hours for your homework. Get ready to reduce your number of sleeping hours. I still remember finishing my homework after a whole night of rush, printing the boards, pasting them delicately on the foam board, cutting them, and bringing them on the subway – doing the rehearsal of my speech in my head and getting ready to be present the same day.

TIP

Such a thing will happen to you a couple of times per year (or month ?).
I don’t recommend you guys work that way every time if you don’t wanna meet the burnout.

Even if it’s a great experience to work under pressure, keep it for special cases.
The hint is simply being organized and respecting the “luxury” time your teachers will give you.

As a student we tend to do everything last minute – and mistakes love to appear when your attention is low and your time rushed. Try to do not to make it a habit, you will sleep better.


7- Don’t be a perfectionist

“I only want to show it when it’s perfect

For whom are perfectionists – It’s a dangerous skill.
You have a high expectations of your work, but you may not be able to finish your project on time.

The worst thing that could happen to a professional is to not show up on the Day of the client presentation.
If your time is limited, learn how to make concessions, and look for ways to get things done good and fast instead of spending too much time on details.

TIP

At the start, you may not have the skills to have the greatest sketches.
But you will learn to deliver on time with professional boards and presentations.

Remember that the most important is to convey your message with a board that looks professional – ON TIME.

Accept your weakness, and work on them along with your next projects. But YOU have to deliver on time.

At school, you are the only one concerned. In real life, many people depend on your work.


Intensive and overwhelming

You will start learning a big amount of new stuff – from your class on technology, ergonomics, sociology, trend… and of course sketching. Your brain will be overwhelmed.

Some days will be tougher than others.
And when we get overwhelmed, we tend to give up easily.

TIP

Keep going and keep making mistakes. Accept that making mistakes is part of the learning process. Your curve of progression will go up and down, but if you look at the big picture, your effort will pay off and that curve will globally naturally go to its peak.


8- Believe in yourself

 Complexe Japan map
Complex map of Japan subway.

You may feel lost and see other students do better than you. Discouraged, you seem going nowhere. You think you are not made for that discipline and wanna give up. If you feel in that situation, try to see WHY that situation affects you so much:

  • Are you wondering how you’re gonna tell your parents you wanna quit?
  • Are you wondering what people will think about you if you give up?
  • Or are you feeling sad because you feel you can’t achieve your dream?

TIP

If the answer is the last one, then please keep the faith and fight for it. Remember that:

“Every artist was first an amateur.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson

You can only succeed if you believe in it. Get back to the game, and continue to fail. It’s ok, why? Because every day you grow a bit more. There will be a moment when you will know enough and get exponential growth.


9- Don’t blame others.

Blaming others

At the start, we may keep failing and tend to be discouraged.
The school fee is expensive and our expectation is super high.
And it becomes “easy” to blame the school, the teachers, and the non-inspirational room we rent… for our failure. But remember that a school doesn’t know any magic trick – most of the results will come from you. “Take the school like a guidance, a coach.”

A quick reminder from a previous article is to make sure to do enough research about the school you apply to.
It’s not because that school is expensive that means it’s a good place to learn. It may just be a great scam. (Don’t be impressed by a school having the latest computers and technologies.

What counts most is your teacher’s knowledge and ability to cheer you up).

TIP
Keep your ears alert.
Remember what your teachers say.
Some of the precious stuff I learned has been told once only.


10- Compete with the outside world, and team up with your pairs.

The outside world is constantly in competition. However, make your school a place of sharing and fair competition to study in a safe environment.


Conclusion: How do we cope with obstacles?

By preparing our mindset, and molding it as a courageous Design warrior!

Remember, there is no better than oneself to defend our own dreams and make them become reality.

If you have decided to join a Design School and become an Industrial Design student, get ready to become sleepless. ; )

You will face new challenges and obstacles you might not even expect.

Your daily routine will totally change for an exciting Design journey!
And that is great!

If you want to achieve a new goal, you have to change who you were before.

“It’s only those who do nothing that makes no mistakes, I suppose.”
– Joseph Conrad


TIP

Make your pairs your partners – and your fair competitors. You guys will grow much faster working hand in hand. Trying to challenge your pair, you will discover new things before the others, and be glad to share with them, and vice versa.

If you are also a student in a Design school, share with us your difficulties and your solution in the comments below! 🙂


PS: “Hi Chou-Tac,

Just to thank you. I obtained my diploma in space design BTS.
Your training will allow me to go further!
@+”

Abdoulaye sow obtain bts space design

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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12 comments

Leave a comment or question

  • hi, really liked the article and its just what I needed.
    I am a third year design student and the problem I face very often is that sometimes I get sad and feel like why we need so many innovations which we know are not going to last forever. I know this is a continuous learning proccess but sometimes I just feel like we are just adding up to the heap useless products.For example we have an assignment to design a flashlight, but whats the point? all of use our phones today! What should I do to keep my self from overthinking and not feel like im designing something useless?

    • Hello Keerthana,

      As you are in school, each course has its own purpose.

      I believe the flashlight is a sketching exercise to train your perspective and cylinders.

      By choosing a common product, your teacher might expect you to train on these skills.

      A good motivation factor is to look at : What am I going to learn from this. Instead of: What am I losing by doing this. Sometime our expectation is high. But to progress, we gonna accept that no system is perfect. And take all the good things we can from it. 🙂

      My school also were far to be perfect. I could have chosen complaint all day. Instead I choose GRATITUDE.

      About innovation. True that there might have a lot of new “useless” product coming on the market.

      However, once again, the world keep evolving and getting better. To do so, it needs failure and iteration.

      If you don’t wanna feel designing something useless, always create having your users in mind FIRST. Then you define their needs, problems you be able to solve. Look at their VALUES. Look at what is MEANINGFUL to them. So you can improve their life, and best of it, creating a product that is also eco conscious if you can.

      There is no unique answer for your problem.
      However, I hope it helps at least a little. 🙂

      Cheers,
      Chou-Tac

      PS: You may look for flashlight where a phone is not the best usage.
      Maybe for Police force, Forest, Firefighters, explorers, spy 😛 … ? And so on. 🙂

  • Very nice article,I got lot from this as even I have entered into a design clg and still a first year. I face problems while drawing objects in perspective, I know perspective but implementing them to draw objects I get them wrong, is there any help I can get for it?

  • As a 2d/3d selftaught artist I’d like to encourage future designers with my story.For design education I didn’t have money when I was teenager,so this stayed for me just as a hobbie.I had to finish some school even I didn’t like it,but it had some connection with my passion for cars,so I finished secondary school for car mechanic.School lasted 3 years and I saw I’m not for it and there is no passion for me like for design I have.When I finished that school I promissed to myself that I will continue with chasing my real dreams.When you finish school you must find a job and work,so I worked mostly on seasonal agricultural heavy works.I wasn’t very confident back then,so most of the people didn’t encouraged me in my design path and some of them still don’t.My passion for design moved me and I was very persistent and determined to continue with my mission.Yes without school it was very hard,back then I didn’t have internet,there was no books about design in my country.Sometimes there were some documentaries on tv about design,or b&w car design illustrations in car magazines.These were my only sources for inspiration and car show too.Back then there were popular pastels,markers and airbrush.So I bought me,a layout,some kind of markers,pastels and started to imitate what I saw and thought designers do.For me it was very fun,even it was bad,but for me I was the best.Today I know I had no clue what I was doing,when I watch on youtube and blogs like this.This analog mania didn’t last to long,cause without proper education there was no progress in my work.Without knowing fundamentals like perspective,proportion,form,etc,my drawings looked awful even I had original ideas.Without proper guidance,I was lost.Then I thought I could be better in presenting my ideas,if I buy me a computer and start to create 3d models.So it was new and even harder challenge for me.Fortunately I could buy a book about 3d modeling,so I progressed much faster.From the other hand I wanted to know a lot,then I had gaps in my knowledge.I wanted to learn,modeling,rendering,particles,animation,so I spreaded out a lot and I lost a lot of years.When I bought me internet connection and opennned my mind ,I learned I must focus on one branch first and master it.So I focused myself on 3d modeling with some rendering and lighting technics.Then I decided to try with another 3d software,because they constantly updated it and I was curious.It was and still is blender 3d software,everything what I learned from 3ds max I tried to use in blender3d 2.35 version was then.In blender there is one a must learn rule,one hand on mouse and second on keyboard shortcuts,this rule created sped in my workflow.It took me a lot to memorize all of this,but today I’m creating my 3d models and sell them on online 3d markets.Thanks to my 3d modeling skills,I also could invest in graphic tablet and CAD software moi3d,which I’ve got from my clients instead of money.My CAD software is somewhat like rhinoceros lite version.I used rhinoceros 3d,when I worked as graphic and industrial packaging designer for one year.When I saw that different aproach of creating very accurate and beautiful 3d forms with NURBS modeling,I promissed to myself I will buy something like this someday,so I told to my client to buy me moi3d software.And yes I had polygonal and cad skills,but there was no progress in my designs.After learning all of the 3d modeling stuff,I decided to start to learn sketching with graphic tablet and to learn my favorite sketching software Sketchbook pro.I like realistic 3d models,but I always admired to 2d illustrations created by industrial designers with markers,photoshop or with sketchbook pro software.It took me about a month to learn to watch at screen and to pull my digital pen on my desk.It was fun,there was some progress,but something was missing.So I went to youtube to check it out some videos about industrial design sketching,then I found idcreatures,Scott Robertson,Sycra and other video tutorials from many great concept artists.I saw what was missing in my skills,and that was design and art fundamentals.I started to learn that with open mind,because when I was to confident and listened to myself there was no progress a lot.I learned that on very hard way.
    I think design students are blessed because they’ve got the chance to study about what they are passioned about.So when ever you think about quiting your dream journey,remember what you can loose by quiting it.From the other hand today I’m more mature now,I have more experience good and bad,so maybe when I was teenager and had the opportunity to study design maybe those perspective drawings and all the analog stuff would be borring for me too.When I was younger I also had more nerves for smaller details,today I’m passioned more when creating main body forms,otherwise I tend to procrastinate.On this blog I found the reasons for my procrastination.I learned a lot from youtube videos,payed tutorials,but I’m here on this blog to learn even more because design is my greatest passion.Never stop learning and practicing your design skills.Learn new software skills,if you get in to routined job or you need to refresh your creativity.I believe there will be always something new to learn about design,which will always spark your imagination,even when you getting old.

    • Hello Koleos,

      I enjoy your motivation, and keep going even though you know the path is not has smooth as we could wish – and no matter what other people say.

      All the best for your Design journey 🙂
      Thank you very much for sharing your experience.

      See you !
      Cheers,
      Chou-Tac

  • I can’t state enough how investing will have massive returns. Buy a strong PC/laptop and pirate the hell out of all the software and video tutorials you can get your hands on!

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