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....
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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....
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Ola Michael, Quizas te quieres el "Designer Starter Kit" en espanol. If yes, please send...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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 ...
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My name is Pablo and I'm interested in improving my art skills....
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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...
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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...
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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

Martijn Van de Wiel is an Industrial Design teacher at the Eindhoven University of Technology – I was pleased to be invited as a guest to converse with him and his sketching class.

We did a Skype call in Singapore – Netherlands and had a great time sharing some points about Product Design and Photoshop.

This course is about the value of sketching and digital tools in the creative process.

Martijn Sketching class in the Netherlands – Industrial design, 2nd year

Quick introduction

Martijn is the creator of the popular Facebook page: Design sketching and the founder of Sketchdrive.

Sketchdrive is a web application that connects Design teachers with students online.
Martijn gave me a special account for a day for me to share some extra comments and corrections to his students’ works.

Using Sketchdrive was definitely a great experience!

TIP

“Explore various field of Designand apply for internship abroad !“

 

Otaku-SonyPreparing a mood board for my master’s degree – Otaku, Japan. (I was inspired by my internship in Japan)

Martijn started by asking me about my background.

In a couple of words, my two main passion in life is Industrial Design and Travelling. From my student time, I did what I could to merge both – by exploring the different fields of design such as Fashion, cars, footwear… in different countries in Los Angeles, Japan, Germany…


Question 1

How to get prepared for rendering
light and shadow on a bend surface?

Design Sketching class Martijn a
Q/A session with Industrial design students

TIP

“If you wonder how light and shadow works,
bend a piece of paper.”

  • Imagine your object in 3D drawn with wireframes. That will help you to see your drawing in volume. Draw some key points with light pen pressure.
  • To help you visualize the light effect: bend a piece of paper and observe the light reflection on it – how it diffuses on it. The light reflection will change depending on the angle.
  • Take inspiration from your daily life objects. It’s easy, it costs nothing and it’s accurate. Surprisingly, a simple piece of paper itself is rich in information.

Light reflection on curved paper - plain

Step 1- Take a piece of paper.

Light reflection on curved paper

Step 2- Bend the paper to see the light reflection on it. Explore different angles.


Question 2

What is your favorite process to sketch and render?

Design Sketching class Martijn b
Q/A session with Industrial design students
  • First of all, my strength is not much into markers rendering. My strength is more in digital.
  • I start drawing by hand sketch or Sketchbook Pro. I love this software because of its beautiful and fluid lines.
  • I choose to do the rendering in Illustrator or Photoshop depending on the project.
  • I can also mix both software: using Illustrator to retrace the drawing, then using Photoshop for the rendering.

Question 3

To draw reflection, do you have a pattern in mind or do you “guess” the effect?

TIP

“Observe your daily surrounding.”

Double curve surface

  • I think more we practice more it becomes natural to see the right things.
  • Taking existing objects around ourselves is a good start. Instead of guessing, look at similar things around you first. You could find there your wanted effect.eg. A razor, a book, a phone… anything.
  • We actually understand the logic of it quite fast.
    Observe carefully, and you will give appropriate effect to your rendering.eg. Depending on the surface, the light reflection is different if it’s mat or shine.

Question 4
How to project a text on a surface?

unnamed
How to include a text in a rectangle frame

Step 1: Include your text or logo in a rectangle frame
Rectangle frame for logo

Step 2: Draw the shape of the object you want to apply your text on. Eg. a cylinder.
A very quick cylinder

Step 3: Draw the rectangle on that surface
A very quick cylinder with the recangle frame on it

Step 4: Create a grid on both Frame rectangle and cylinder
Grid on the recangle on both Frame and cylinder

Step 5: Use the intersection points of the grid as a reference to reporting your text/logo points. Then connect the dots.

Note: More points your grid has, more precise your logo will be.


Question 5

Is it the same for a double-curved surface?
eg: the surface of a car.

Me:

  • Yes, it’s about the same.

Martijn:

  • There is a tool in Photoshop: the ”warp tool”.

Me:

  • Imagine that your logo is going to spread, “like a fisheye somehow”.
  • The more we practice, the more our brains will get used to it and become natural.

    Warp tool on paper illustration


Question 6

Do you use 3D software like Rhino or Solidworks?

Earbuds-3D-modeling-in-Rhino-by-Kyle-Houchens
Earbuds-3D-modeling-in-Rhino-by-Kyle-Houchens
  • No. I decided to not focus on 3D software even though I recommend students to do so. “So, that’s my bad”. It was my personal choice knowing that in the footwear industry we don’t use any.
  • However, I did have colleagues and classmates that was very good at both sketching and 3D software. (They all start to sketch before going to 3D)

Question 7

How do you compensate for that ?

“Sketching is the base of everything”

3D Yantram
3D Yantram – From sketch to 3D
  • I compensate by improving my sketching skills.
  • Sketching allows you to get an instant “drawing conversation” with a client or colleague – with sketches, you can make multiple proposals fast – and readjust on the spot. A 3D software can’t possibly do as fast and spontaneous.

Counterexample: 

Philips is a brand I admire. One day, a head hunter invited me to meet them for a position as a Product designer to join the R&D. Each designer there handles a project from initial sketch to product rendering. They need to have sharp skills in both. Unfortunately, I didn’t fit the profile.

If you master 3D software, you will definitely open more doors for your career.

However, please do not neglect your sketching learning. That’s the base of everything.


Question 8

In the footwear industry, does 3D software isn’t common?

Sneaker sketch - theDesign Sketchbook
Quick sketch of an Adidas sneaker, Chung Chou-Tac
  • People who use 3D software in the footwear industry are actually engineers.
    eg. for creating an outsole, we need to open mold. For that, the engineering team will create the outsole in 3D from our 2D documents. It’s teamwork.

Note: I tried some 3D software specialized in footwear. To me, this software is not good enough yet for designers. Even if there was a promising function to draw directly on the 3D last. The 3D tools were like one of the very first generations of 3ds max.

However, the pattern making function works well for the technical team.


Question 9

Do you draw on top of 3d printed files?

TIP

“To communicate your ideas, don’t hesitate to be creative”

Me:

  • I didn’t experience that myself, but yes we can print out some screenshot from the 3D software and redraw on it.  It’s possible.

Martijn:

  • I actually had this experience myself with an engineer. He asked me “What curve do you need ?” And he gave me a pen. So I traced the curve on the screen, and the engineer makes it match directly on the 3D software.

Me:

  • That reminds me of a situation when I was in Japan for my internship for Daihatsu, in the car industry.
  • Each intern designer was working with 1 or 2 specialists of the Clay model. But the modeling team didn’t speak English or very little – at that time I didn’t know anything about Japanese!
  • We speak with the lesser number of words (more words = more confusion)
  • So we speak with hands showing the curves we wanted and added some sound to express the acceleration of the curves such as “Voom”. It was like 2 kids talking to each other. But it works!

Question 10

Do designers use 3D software at Daihatsu?daihatsu-pico-concept

Daihatsu Pico Concept – In Japan culture, they love small and practical cars – They say compact car.

  • The design team starts a project providing sketches.
  • We had a team of engineer to handle 3D.
  • For example, we created a wheel rim by sketch. Then a team created it in 3D.
  • After checking, the file was sent to the laser printer.

Question 11

Do you think 2D sketching is more creative than working in 3D?

Photoshop Sony Glove Research
Hand and glove study – Master degree Otaku, Japan – Chung Chou-Tac
  • I am tempted to say yes.
  • Nowadays 3D software is still not that user friendly for people who don’t know how to sketch.
  • We need to compensate with other tools such as Poser, ZBrush which allow us to start with the existing model that we can modify.
  • Again if we got something in mind that has no reference to existing things, we may face a harder time creating them.

Question 12

Can you tell us more about your workflow?

TIP

“Draw on paper to better share your ideas.”

Adidas shoe sketch blue lead
Adidas sketch I made in less than 20 minutes on a draft paper. (Blue lead mechanical pencil)
  • I guess a question you may wonder is it better to start on paper or digital?
  • I like to start on paper (especially for teamwork).
  • You can draw anywhere, and brainstorm anytime. You don’t have to worry about saving the file, opening it, looking for it… to retrieve your ideas.
  • Paper is great for sharing ideas with people:
    I remember a documentary about Pixar’s. Anything created on the computer is printed to be reviewed by the team. The drawing was not anymore “virtual”. Printed, it became a reality.
  • The way we flip pictures from an Ipad screen and paper are completely different. You spend more time appreciating design on paper.

Question 13

How do you manage your portfolio?

TIP 

“Start early, and get ready to share your sketches to the outside world.”

portfolio

  • I have an article on the blog where you can get information about it:
    How to turn your portfolio in a Marketing weapon
  • When I was a student we learned to prepare our portfolio early. I remember how difficult it was to make a portfolio while our sketches were still super clumsy. We wonder how it would be possible to show such drawings to professionals… If our drawings didn’t deserve to be shown, how could we apply for an internship ?
  • We had to face reality. It was actually a good thing and forces us to be down to earth. It gave us an “outside reality” to our drawings – getting out of our “student bubble”.
  • So we were motivated to improve our skills, as we knew already that they would be shared with the outside world. It was not any more simple sketches made at school – but an investment for our career.

TIP

“Wanna get noticed ? Create a special project for them !”

  • Put the best project at the beginning. Best means most accurate to the company you apply for.
  • If you love so much a company, and you really want to get the position, don’t hesitate to create a project for them. They will appreciate it.

Question 14

Which shortcut to take to learn Photoshop?

TIP

“Learn together to improve faster.”

  • When I started, there were some tutorials about Photoshop, but NOT about Product design. So I learned by trying and experimenting.
  • A Computer graphic magazine helped me at the start. It was Computer Arts.
  • You guys are about 40 people. You are all trying to figure out the right techniques. It’s a strength to share among yourselves. It’s like a Mastermind. Take advantage of this, together you will learn faster.

Question 15

You shared this morning a lot of feedback on students’ works. It’s fantastic. (I used Sketchdrive.com to give comments and correction)

Are there any general mistakes that you apply to more people?

TIP

“Look at a table and draw it upside down.”

Gilman square table
Gilman Square Coffee table
  • I would say the right application of perspective, the centerline…
  • But especially the ability to see things in transparency.
  • For example, if you see a table in front of you, as a product designer, you should be able to decompose that table in 3D shapes and redraw it Upside down.
  • Drawing anything at any angle is the ultimate objective that we can have.

TIP

“Learn human proportion to get a correct proportion
for your transportation product.”

Human proportion
Human proportion and poses study

Me:

  • Drawing a product is one thing. It’s also important to spend some time learning how to draw people with the correct proportion.
  • The student project was about creating a new Cargo Water Scooter. Some people were not drawing people in scale, so it affected the design of the scooter proportion itself.
  • If you really have a hard time, pose yourself in different positions and ask your friend to take you in pictures!

Me:

  • There is also the “reflection coming from below”.

Martijn:

    • The bounce light.

TIP

“The bounce light makes a lot of difference to your rendering.”

Bounce light

Me:

  • It’s the light that reflects the ground to your object below.
  • When I discovered this, it changed a lot of things! It’s really nothing. you spend just 30 seconds more on it and your render becomes so much more smooth.
  • Another thing is to add some thin ray of light, of tiny edges of your products. Your render will look more realistic. But try to do not to abuse them.
  • Remember that less is more. When I was a beginner I put in too many shadows, lights..  because I didn’t understand the light, where it comes from…

Martijn:

Do you have any questions for us?

Me:

Why did you choose to be a Product designer?

Student with a blue T-shirts.

  • I just want to be creative, and enhance my skills. So that’s perfect. I have been doing an artist for a while. I have been in product design because it’s more applied. I would love to see my design in real.

Student with a grey shirt:

  • I would say it’s about creating and overcoming obstacles.
  • Doing that all, trying the process of giving emotion to the product.
  • There is a job such as engineering that is very challenging technically but that doesn’t have this emotion. I feel it doesn’t have this artist part in it.

“Product design is not only about technical, but about emotion.”


Studebaker Avanti, preliminary sketch. “We know that logic alone does not sell automobiles, so its immediate appeal is emotional.” Said Raymond Loewy

Me:

  • I fully agree with this. Everything is emotional.
  • We are not creating for robots, but humans. All decisions we make – driven by logic or not, are made by emotion.
  • There is more and more diversity of people.
  • As a Product designer, we have to be empathic and think of what they need. This is the added value that we can give as a designer is to think about psychology and sociology.

Martijn:

  • Thank you and see you.

Me:

  • See yah!

Thank you Martijn for inviting me to this conversation. I hope it was helpful to your students.

Wish you guys all the best!

If you guys have some more questions, feel free to let a message in the comment box below or send me an email at choutac@thedesignsketchbook.com. If I can help, I will. 😉

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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6 comments

Leave a comment or question

  • wuuuuauuuu tu nous caches plein de petite toi!
    Ca c’est un super article!

    Great great great. thats a really interesting way to interact

  • Chou-Tac, this is great! You actually typed out our whole conversation! Thx again for sharing your insights and experience with us!

    • Yeah, it took me a bit of time to type it, eheh. I believe this conversation is valuable for many young designers.
      I was honoured to be invited at your class to share with you guys !

      • Chou-Tac, Thank you! This is a great article of QnA for many budding designers to pick points from. I’m a great fan of Martijn and his videos on sketching. It would be great honour and my pleasure to work with either of you.

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