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....
I am from Mackay, Queensland, Australia. I really want to learn how to sketch to improve m...
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....
I am from india.i want to learn sketching products....
I am from the midlands in England...
I come from the Brazil and I’m looking forward to expanding my skillset!...
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...

Categories

The designer starter kit chou tac chung
Sneaker sketch book chou tac chung
Peter pan banner believing in dream
To be happy, you got to visualize your dream and make it happened !

1st January 2019,

I realised something. 

Too many people want something “NOW” so bad –
they don’t even wanna look for “HOW” to get it. : / 

Do they really want it ?

I don’t know.

What I know is that Dreaming doing nothing
will soon or later bring deep frustration. : (

Dreaming alone made 2017 the same as 2018…

And today, I wanna help you make the change
for you to be proud of your Super year 2019 ! 

“Vision without action is a daydream, action without vision is a nightmare.”
– Japanese proverb

How you to stop procrastinating and make your designer dream happened!

TIP 1:

“Dreaming is awesome but can be dangerous”
Do not let your dreams paralyse you.

Why so ?

Because dreaming let your brain feel emotionnally
happy in an imaginary world of success – where you are The Hero ! 

You spend hours creating scenarios of glory and feel excited about it !

You dream you can sketch, work for the best industries, open your own design studio, draw whatever you have in mind… be famous and become the next Philippe Starck !

You dream so much that you won’t dare leaving your dream, your imaginary crown.
You won’t dare facing the world of reality, where you could fail.

This is why you do nothing to learn about design or how to sketch… despite of loving it.

Your famous sentence is : “Tomorow I start.”

For your first tip : You have to stop lying to yourself. You can do it. So start !

You are born with 2 arms, 10 fingers. So don’t waste it remaining paralysed in that “dream loop” that keep you far away from any action and real success.

Do you prefer to see other people succeed, or being one of them ? 🙂

 

TIP 2

The “Intelligent Procrastination” to avoid.

Do you buy many books ? Spend hours looking at the latest graphic tablet ? Watch infinite number of tutorials ? Look for the perfect pen to start ? Buy huge numbers of art supplies ?

BUT…

Never really take the time on what REALLY MATTER : To Sit, Focus and Draw

It is great to feel inspired by what other artist and designer do and the tool they use.

Nowadays information is so huge that it become a distraction. There is no filter.

Within our era of social media,
we don’t have any chance to get bored that our finger
are swapping Instagram pictures as fast as Lucky Luke looking for so called inspiration.

But how many of them did you forgot after less 10 minutes ?

 

There is time for looking for inspiration in any media of your choice : books, movies, social media, street…

But it is only worth if you also take the first pen you can see and draw.

 

There is no magic or innate talent.

To succeed you need: Method, practice and dedication.

Without focus or direction, you are just “kicking the wind”.

 

While in the previous TIP, you did nothing but dreaming.

In this TIP 2, with the “Intelligent procrastination” you are doing too many things blindly with no plan !

It makes you believe you are getting busy.

But are you doing anything really useful ?

When was the last time you made something that show real progress ?

 

For this TIP 2: Stop consuming endless information.

You won’t be able to absorb all of them anyway.

I recommend you to take a few inspiration you love, and start to sketch with them.

Consume less will allow you to produce more without being overwhealed.

Also, stop buying endless art supplies that your pen case can’t contain anymore. I recommend you to focus on 2 simple things : printing paper and a ballpoint pen.

 

TIP 3

Believe in your childhood dream.
They are the most precious things you have.

As a child, you loved drawing.

You did without fear of failure and enjoying it so much !

But now when you grew up.

You think as an adult you should only do great stuff.
And you don’t dare showing anything pretending to be shy.

You start procrastinating pushing away your creative pleasure in a cave.

Witthout notice,

many will become Christopher Robbin from Winnie the Pooh.

You shut down your genuine kid behaviour.
Then struggle to enjoy your adult life fully
and spontaneously swapping a “responsible life” for passion.

For this TIP 3: I would like you to remember that if you can’t sketch.
It is simply because no one taught you before.

Precious more your child dreams than your adults.
Take it easy and enjoy self-derision.

 

Christopher robbin winnie the pooh
When adult problems take over your dreams christopher robbin winnie the pooh

 

TIP 4 : Don’t let your “Adults problems” mislead you.

As an adult, you let your fear of failure taking commands of your thoughts.
They lead you to abandon your childhood hopes, dreams and surprises.

How many of you dream of becoming an artist or a designer
but end becoming (a non ethusiast) engineer, or (a frustrated) 3D artist and complain ?

How many of you wish to :

  • Sketch all day your crazy ideas from imagination !
  • Showing your drawings to the world !
  • Waking up every morning for the designer job you love !

But end studying or working in engineering or any other corporate domains.

In this TIP 4, I would recommend you to seriously think twice about your passion.
Put on the balance your Love you passion as a living versus Working as a living.

Please note that working in French is “Travailler”, that initially meant : Torture.

 

Tip 5: Do not swap your dream for a “safe exit”. You’ll be sad.

You keep wondering how would be your life :

If only you could become the designer you dreamed of before university or even when you were student in your design school.

But you thought you couldn’t make a living from your own sketches. So you decided to specialize in 3D, or study advanced engeneering or any other “safe job”.

With the safe exit, you build someone else’s ideas. Not your dream.

Till today you can’t sketch or express your own ideas visually to any of your colleagues, clients or manager. That’s super frustrating. It feels like being mute. 

For this TIP 5, I would recommend you to believe in yourself. Your self ability to acquire skills. If other people did, you can do it too !

If you are passionante, to me the “safe option” defined by your parents, your friends, the society is the dangerous one.

As a passionnate people you are a different species.
(this is why you may often feel misunderstood)

You do not only need fresh water and food to live. You wanna be happy and you find it in your expression of creativity.

Reality just head follow your dreams how to become a designer

 

TIP 6: Don’t feel guilty. That’s normal.
(I actually went through it.)

Most of you just didn’t know the map to become a designer
and were never taught to draw even in your design school.

So you had to find a safer map : such as 3D modeling to cover you lack of sketching skills or join the “traditional corporate” society like engineering.

They are safe itinerary, predicatable but can end into a dead end boring routine.

You procrastinated too long. But it is ok. Now is always better than tomorrow.

Plus, remember that procrastinating is not about Lazyness.
It is about putting the focus on the wrong place.

That is exactly the mistake I did that made me waste more than 3 years of university.

Like you, I didn’t knew any one in the design industry. I had no network. I come from a small town named Troyes famous for the wooden houses from middle-age.

I didn’t believe in myself. I couldn’t sketch even though I wanted to become a designer. Why me ? Others are so much better. Who am I to dare applying for a design school ?

I was all wrong.

Fed by by cliché and unverified data
and excuses I used to cover my weakness, my fear.

Instead of focusing all my energy into my design goal, I oriented my way to a business university.

I went to study Business and marketing for 2 years. Boring…

I wanted to get a degree in the corporate life and have a situation like many of my friends and surroundings. I felt I should get a job where we wear a tie, symbol of having a situation.

But after graduated, I still had no confident to work.

So I moved closed to Paris to study an other year of IT near Versailles. Super boring…

It was so far away I had to move into a lost town named Auffargis.

I had to wake up everyday at 5.45am, get dressed in my freezing room then go out and walk in the dark night for 30 mn toward the train station for a 30 min ride and take an other bus that get stuck in the traffic jam for an other half an hour.

All that every single day…

Of course, the same happened again in the inverse way at the end of each day too…

I realized it took me so much effort to entertain myself for 3 years on things I didn’t truly enjoy.

It was boring, but I still could complete them.

And I didn’t sketch much at that time. : /
I did a few in the margin of my boring lessons.

Most important,
I am still amazed on how much effort I could put into schools I didn’t like.

And it made me wondering how much energy
I could produce for something I love !

That late spark finally made me face the reality.

I couldn’t spend any other year of “nonsense” study that didn’t excite me.

So I discussed with my family.

And together decided I would give up my 3-year diploma to restart from zero and enroll in a design school.

My parents actually never really knew what a design school is about.

But they saw how much I loved it.
And they encouraged me despite of our lack of finance.

I could go to work and bring money in.

But my parents prefer I build something meaningful
that would make me happy for life as a living.

I was 22.

Since I never regretted it to follow my dream that bring me to join Adidas in Germany as a footwear designer, Daihatsu in Japan drawing cars , studying fashion design in Los Angeles at FIDM, and plenty of other great experiences around the world !

And I wish you to also give your best. So great stuff will come to you.

Some people call this the law of attraction.
And it workds only if you put yourself in the Action mode. 🙂

To me, becoming adult is not about shutting down your dreams. But having the courage to make them happened.

Even if you don’t have the full map yet, if you got the right focus, the vision that excites you. You will soon or later reach your goal.

I am not saying it is gonna be easy.

But it is for sure worth it.

 

TIP 7: The first step matter the most.

Remember that the first step is the one that most people avoid.

As soon as you do the first step, you will be “better than” the majority !

No matter your first step is right or wrong – you started to learn something toward your goal. 

For this new year 2019, 
I wish you to be be driven by your dreams.
I wish you to avoid distraction and focus on: Taking action toward your Goal.

Remember the reason WHY you live and what makes you feel excited.

These emotion are often the right compass to hapiness and fulfimment.

We Only Live Once.

Keep walking. Running. Jumping ! Falling ! But Stand up !

Walk again head up high and humble to keep becoming a better version of yourself from a year to an other.

 

Like a Pokemon, give youself a chance for evolution !
You gonna surprise yourself of what you can do with your new skills !

Read, learn, practice and you’ll dare making fundamental changes to your life for durable happiness.

I wish you to start and succeed all the projects that trully matters to you.

Happy New Year 2019 !!

 

Cheers,
Chou-Tac

PS: Make sure to download your copy of the Designer Starter Kit here ! 
I also do have a design sketching course. However the registration are now closed, as I am taking care of the actual members. However, I am happy yo invite you to join the waiting list to make sure to be first informed of the next opening 2019!

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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