Struggling with the blank page? Discover the 4-step Random Product Technique to boost your creativity and start drawing anything better by combining real-world details and imaginative shapes.

Hey Sketchers!
Ever sit down with your sketchbook and just stare at the blank page, not knowing what to draw?
Trust me, I’ve been there plenty of times as a student but also professional designer.

That’s why I want to share a fun trick that really helped me loosen up and get creative when I needed: the Random Product Technique. It’s super simple, and you can do it anywhere—even if you’re just doodling for fun!

Why Try the Random Product Technique?

Sketching with the Random product design technique

Sometimes, the hardest part is just getting started.

We all want to draw cool stuff, but our minds go blank or we worry our ideas aren’t good enough. This little exercise helps you break through that block, and it’s actually a great way to improve your sketching skills at the same time.

Here is a quick overview of the 4 steps.

How to draw in 4 steps (Overview)

Here’s How It Works (4 Easy Steps):

1. Draw Random Shapes
Just grab your pen and start drawing a few random shapes on your page.
Don’t overthink it—let your hand go wild! Draw some random blobs… whatever pops into your head.

2. Add Contour Lines
Now, give those shapes some volume. Add contour lines to show how they curve in space. It’s like wrapping rubber bands around your shapes to make them look 3D. Remember to use the Ghost drawing to draw with more precision.

3. Add More Contour Lines
Go over your shapes again and add a few more lines.
This helps your sketch look more solid, almost like you’re sculpting it on paper.

4. Add Fun Details
Here’s the best part: look around you for inspiration.
Maybe you see a cool button on your mouse, a funky groove on your remote, or a logo on your headphones. Add those little details to your shapes.

Don’t worry about making sense—just have fun and see what happens!

See also  How to Start Sketching on 'CONCEPTS' app (Beginner Tips for Designers)

Why This Works

Give It a Try!

Next time you’re stuck, grab a few objects from your desk or kitchen. Check out their shapes and details, then mix and match them in your sketch. The more you do this, the easier it’ll be to come up with new ideas on the fly.

And if you want some inspiration, look up designers like Marc Newson or Karim Rashid—they’re masters at turning simple shapes into awesome products.

Marc Newson with “organic” chair design
Karim Rashid Furniture

Want more tips? Download my free Designer Starter Kit.
It’s packed with exercises to help you master perspective, lines, and basic shapes.

Let me know how it goes! And remember—just have fun with it.
The best ideas often come when you’re not trying too hard. :)

Assignment of the day

Take a few objects around you such as phone, mp3 players, mouse, camera, kitchenware…Observe all the details from different angles and practice the “Random product” challenge.

Details example
Details example a

Observe the details – such as grooves, buttons, icons, thickness… then drag & drop them in your sketches.

There are a lot of shapes to explore there.
Remember to take reference from the real world.
Do not only take from other artist artworks. Always go back to the source.

If you want to make your first steps in drawing, I invite you to download the Designer Starter Kit to start learning with the basics of perspective step-by-step.

The Designer Starter Kit exercises in 6 videos:

  1. How to draw straight lines
  2. How to draw a perfect square
  3. How to draw awesome circles
  4. How to sharpen your sense of proportion
  5. How to draw a cube with 1 point perspective
  6. How to draw a cube with 2 points perspective
See also  Why you Should Learn Drawing by Making Mistakes

Once again, these videos are linked to the Designer Starter Kit. Get it for FREE!

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7 comments

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Hello! I'm Chou-Tac, a Product Designer from France.

If the sketching methods I’ve acquired aid me in my life and in my industrial design career, I believe that they can also help you reach your dream goal as a student or professional designer.

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

Chou-Tac

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  • Gurupreet: “Hi, I come from India and I am 20 years old. I am an freelance artist and I use to…Jun 30, 22:14
  • Jatin Verma: “I come from India. I want to learn sketching in general, 1.India, 30 2. Studying graphic design and Sketching 3.…Jun 30, 14:19
  • Jatin: “I come from India. I want to learn sketching in general, 1.India, 30 2. Studying graphic design and Sketching 3.…Jun 30, 14:11
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  • Fausto Blanco: “I’m an stell erection and construction estimator, my field is estimate. Labor and material quantities for big warehouse buildings, also…Jun 28, 09:14
  • NISHTHA HARSH NIRMAL: “I come from India. I want to learn sketching in general, but product sketching career-wise. I discovered this through PinterestJun 27, 14:32
  • Nishtha: “I need this book as im an aspiring designer. I love to sketch. I discovered this blog through pinterest.Jun 27, 10:57
  • Joh: “Brisbane, 37 Looking for a new hobby :) googled contour lines!Jun 26, 13:31
  • Chou-Tac: “Hi Adrian, We are in 2025, and I am re-reading my article. :) The example I gave here: Some applicants…Jun 25, 18:33
  • Chou-Tac: “Hi Hana, Sure you will! You got all the content you need in the blog. :)) For the shoe design,…Jun 25, 17:02
  • Chou-Tac: “Hey Haitam, The first step is to study perspective. From CAD, you already got a great grasp on it. You…Jun 25, 16:59
  • Iwan: “Indonesian, 30 Hobby From Youtube ThankssJun 25, 12:56
  • India: “1. Australia, 20 2. Studying interior design and architecture 3. While researching for an assessment – I am researching for…Jun 24, 11:06
  • Haitam KHLIFI TAGHZOUTI: “Dear, First i want to say thanks for creating and sharing with us wonderful informations anout sketching. I am Haitam…Jun 24, 03:17
  • Vanessa: “France , 42 To improve my skills. A link on a blog (don’t remember the name)Jun 23, 22:11
  • Z: “Pakistan/ 18 Wanna polish the skill Chat gpt suggested itJun 23, 18:58
  • J: “Can’t wait toJun 23, 01:30
  • L: “1. Somerset UK. 30 2. Improve skills 3. Searching on the webJun 22, 18:03
  • Bernardo applegate lopez: “1- Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, México 2- passion & expression. Share my ideas with the world 3- through a designers feed…Jun 22, 13:34
  • lucky 101 apk: “This tutorial is incredibly helpful! I always struggled with perspective drawing, but your step-by-step approach makes it so much clearer.…Jun 22, 09:43
  • Faisal Atta: “1). I come from London, UK 2). I want to improve to my sketching skills 3). YouTube search – perspective…Jun 20, 14:04
  • Faisal Atta: “1). I come from London, UK 2). I want to improve to my sketching skills 3). From YouTube – perspective…Jun 20, 12:57
  • Hana: “Hello, I’m 39 from Czech Republic. I studied design but burned out and I haven’t designed or drew anything in…Jun 19, 21:41
  • IDIOTS: “im from Myanmar / age 21 / im attending technology university / im also doing digital sculpting as a freelance…Jun 19, 21:39
  • IDIOTS: “im from Myanmar / age 21 / im attending technology university / im also doing digital sculpting as a freelance…Jun 19, 21:38
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