What type of ecosystem are you developing around your products?

As woodworkers and woodworking entrepreneurs sketching is the base activity for all your designs so this activity comes very natural to you. It’s easy to understand the environment that your design came from because you’re actively pulling in all the influential elements that inspired it.

But once you actually make the piece, is it as easy for you to see the environment that you can build around that piece?

Sorry about the shaky cam. One handed cell phone videography isn’t always steady.

I got this idea from Chris Brogan a few months ago and wanted to see how it worked in the realm of creating the type of projects and products that you would in your business.

Hopefully, this will really help you visualize all the different place and avenues that your work can exist and how it all can tie back to your home base. Becoming aware of these kinds of product ecosystems will not only improve your marketing but it will obviously improve your business.

What’s your take on all of this? Let’s take it to the comments.

When I was in school, I would always hear one of my instructors talk about finding your voice within your work.

Every time I heard it I would flinch.

“What is she talking about,” I would say to myself.

“That’s pointless. I just want to make furniture.”

I knew who I was (or so I thought). I also knew that I wanted to make beautiful furniture, so why was I being bombarded with artsy-fartsy talk about a voice?

I initially rejected the idea of having something to say with my work. It seemed too artistic of an approach. I wasn’t that kind of guy. I just wanted to make nice things.

Fast forward to now, and I’m sitting here writing an article to help you find your “voice” in woodworking. So, what does that tell you?

What is your “voice?”

What do I mean when I use the word “voice?”  In simple terms, it refers to your individual style as a maker and the message you want to communicate with that style. See the key word? Individual. This is important. You’ll see why in a bit.

In the physical sense, we each have a unique voice. The way I speak is different from the way you speak (Don’t even get me started on singing voices. I’ve cleared rooms with my lack of).

When I was a radio DJ, people knew it was me on air because my voice was distinct from the other DJs and vice-versa. It’s part of your unique make up.

The same is true of furniture making. It’s you designing, making, and finishing your work. It’s your own. The materials, proportions, joinery, function, and final finish are governed by you. You build the pieces that interest you. You design from the influences that inspire you. Each piece is unique to you as an…here’s that word…individual.

We all have something to say.

Whether you’re aware of it or not, you do have something you’re trying to communicate with your furniture. You have a message and you’re trying to tell people about that message with each piece you build. Believe me, you do.

I was the biggest skeptic of this idea in the beginning, but as I matured and challenged myself in woodworking, I began to realize that my purpose and reasons for making furniture were part of the message I wanted people to receive through my work.

The reasons you’re a woodworker and maker of fine furniture – those are at the core of the message you’re trying to tell people. Whether it’s the superior quality of hand made furniture, or the quiet elegance of design, there is a message that your work is sending.

That’s why you build the way you do. That’s why you choose the finishes that you do. That’s even why you choose to use the tools that you do. It’s all a reflection of what you believe building hand made furniture should be for you and what the experience of hand made furniture should be to others.

The secret to finding your voice.

It’s simple, really. The secret is to just give yourself permission to have a voice in the first place. That may sound strange until you consider how long you’ve held yourself back from this. Maybe you don’t believe you’re advanced enough in woodworking, or that this is only for professionals. If you’re a woodworker, then you have a voice. Time to allow yourself to have it.

Once you give yourself permission, take time to learn about you as a woodworker and what your inspirations are. Then work at incorporating those inspirations into your woodworking.  Dig deep and discover the message you want others to receive through your work.

Also, realize this is an ongoing process. As you grow and mature in the craft so does your message. You may change directions several times with your work. Your influences and inspirations might change as you do. Allow these changes to be part of the journey. It’s a natural part of any growth .

We all have a voice and a message. Communicating it will inevitably lead to greater fulfillment and freedom in your work.

Have you found your voice in woodworking? What are you communicating with your work?

How would you like to design furniture that sells? Find out how in the Woodworking Can Pay The Bills E-course.

Woodworkers have a mixed blessing.

Ideas can come from anywhere and at anytime, but sometimes there seems no end to the inspiration that fills your mind. It can be a bit overwhelming at times.

So, how do you capture these bursts of woodworking illumination? The best way to flesh out your ideas is to simply sketch them.

A lot of woodworkers are intimidated at the idea of keeping a sketchbook.

What we’re talking about here are simple quick sketches to just get the basic idea down on paper, not a masterpiece of illustration.

The good news is you don’t have to be an artist or have gone through years of technical drawing and drafting courses to have a sketchbook full of your brilliant masterpieces.

Here’s a few quick and easy tips for improving your skills and gain the confidence to fill volumes of sketchbooks!

Can’t draw? Get over it.

This is the crucial first step. It doesn’t matter whether you have “drawing abilities” or not. These sketches are for you and you alone if you choose. Do you have ideas? Do you have the desire to make these ideas a reality? Do you have a pencil and paper? If you answered yes to all of these then you have the ability to draw your furniture concepts.

Sketch Everything

Think of sketching as simple furniture brainstorming. In other words, you simply put out any and every idea that comes to mind. Instead of doing this verbally, however, you are putting it down on paper in the form of a simple drawing. When an idea hits you, sketch it! Don’t contemplate whether it’s a good idea or not. Remember, this is furniture brainstorming. If you stop to analyze each idea, you’ll be second guessing yourself all day long. Wait until after you’ve drawn these ideas to evaluate whether they will work. It doesn’t matter how outlandish your ideas might seem, put it on paper first. You might be surprised in the end.

Make Your Sketchbook a Project File

It’s a good idea to save all of your past sketches, whether in a sketchbook or some type of file. First of all, this allows you to go back and see how far you’ve come in your designs and drawing abilities. Second, this becomes and instant reference for project ideas. I know in my case, I’ve rediscovered ideas and used elements that I had long forgotten about.

Keep Sketching

The last tip is most important. No matter what, don’t ever stop sketching your inspirations. Make it a regular practice to sit quietly and flesh out your ideas into your sketchbook.  This simple act alone will do more for your design ability than you could ever imagine, plus you’ll really come to enjoy this precious time. Keep sketching. You’ll be glad you did.

The process of turning your ideas into 2D reality doesn’t have to be complicated or intimating. If you follow these simple tips and make it a regular practice you’ll turn sketch work into one of your most treasured activities.

Do you struggle with putting inspiration to sketchbook? What’s the biggest problem you face?

How would you like to design furniture that sells? Find out how in the Woodworking Can Pay The Bills E-course.

No, I’m not trying to resurrect  your suppressed memories of torturous piano lessons. I’m bringing this into a realm you’re much more enthusiastic and passionate about; your woodworking.

Even though it was traumatic, the scales you practiced in piano (or whatever musical instrument you had to endure) had a purpose. They were designed to improve your skill and bring confidence in your ability. The same can be true in woodworking. You’re going to use different scales and dimensions to help you improve your designs and give you greater confidence as a designer and maker.

1/4 Scale

When you are satisfied with the overall design, it’s time to move from a thumbnail sketch to a scale drawing. A scale drawing is just a simple rendering of the overall form and important details drawn to proportionate scale. This is easiest to do with one of those triangular architect rules. It has various scale measurements on each side and each end.

I prefer to start with a ¼” scale drawing. This helps me to work out proportion and scale in greater ways. I can really begin to see how each part relates to the others.  This also gives me a chance to correct dimensions of the piece as well as the individual parts.

This gives you one more chance to go back to the original sketches and make any design changes before moving forward.

Full Scale for Full Effect

Once you have a ¼” scale rendering, it’s time to move on to a full scale drawing. I know this can seem a little redundant, and admittedly, it can be somewhat of a formality, but it can also really be a time saver in the long run.

A full scale drawing is simply all the views, or “elevations” of the piece and any special details drawn to exact size and dimension.  If there were any questions about proportion in the previous renderings, they will be answered here. Getting a look at the piece in full scale can really help you see any flaws in the overall design. This is also a chance to work out the details for elements like complex joinery, delicate molding profiles, and any carvings or embellishments.

I have to confess that I do not always use this step for the whole piece. If there are complicated joints and angles that I plan on using, I will do a full size drawing of these elements. It is, however, a good practice to get into early on in your design work. I typically generate my full size drawings on a simple antique drafting board with a basic drafting T-square and yard stick.

A Whole New Dimension

Once all of the details and measurements are worked out, it’s time to add a whole new dimension to your design. If you want to see what all the parts look like from every angle, then a scale model is in order. Whether it’s 1/4 scale or full size, a 3D model can really help work out some bugs.

A scale model is simply a quick three-dimensional reference tool for the real thing. All you need are materials like scrap wood, plywood, cardboard, framing lumber, screws, and even duct tape! I really enjoy this stage of design because you can essentially construct a piece of furniture in a matter of an hour or two.

If you do a full scale model, cut all the parts to size and join them with pocket screws, nails, or whatever suits you. The idea is to build a close representation of the finished piece. This is a great time to work out the process for executing complicated joinery or shaping complex curved parts. You can clearly see how each part works or doesn’t work within the context of the whole.

I have gotten to this stage in the design several times and realized, only then, that I needed to go back to square one and adjust some sizes and proportions, or add or remove some details. Believe me, better to discover these things now than when you’re building the actual piece.

It’s actually a lot of fun to build, and it gives other people an opportunity to give some valuable input as well, since they can observe the object with all sides and design elements right in front of them.

While all of these steps may not be necessary to go from pencil sketch to  finished piece, each one can and should have its place in the vernacular of any woodworker who is actively designing their own pieces.

So, don’t forget to practice those scales next time the opportunity presents itself. I promise you it will not be as torturous as those childhood piano lessons were!

Have you employed scale drawing or models in your design process? What’s been holding you back if you haven’t?

How would you like to design furniture that sells? Find out how in the Woodworking Can Pay The Bills E-course.

It’s easy to get caught up in the world of jigs, fixtures, templates, etc. Basically, we have a tool for every little process we can imagine. While these do serve a purpose, sometimes the best tools to move us from good to amazing are right in front of us.

This is true when it comes to designing your furniture. There are tools to help automate the process and make it easier, but when it comes to the quality of your designs there exists no greater tools than these three below.

Function

That’s right, function. The intended function of a piece will help determine it’s size, shape, features, and even what materials to make it from.

Standard sets of measurements exist for just about every furniture type out there. These are set by, you guessed it, the function of the piece. Are you making an end table? Is this a cabinet to display a precious collection?

Whatever the anticipated function, your designs can be guided by understanding what you want this piece to accomplish.

Proportion

This is, by far, one of the greatest tools a designer can have at their disposal. The Greeks and Romans had this tool, and Nature displays it prevalently. Proportion is essential in achieving a balance  and harmony between the overall piece and the parts that comprise it. Whole articles have been authored on this one subject, so forgive me if I’m too brief in my attempted explanation.

So, how does one figure the proportion of something? Well, leave it to those genius Greeks to solve that for you. The Golden Ratio (sometimes called the Golden Mean or Golden Rectangle) is a simple formula that allows you to take one known measurement and then find all the remaining measurements of the relating sides or parts.

It may sound complicated, but it’s actually very simple. The numerical value of the The Golden Ratio is 1.618.

Let’s say you are making a table, and you know that the top has to be 28″ in width. What would be a pleasing length for the top? Simply take 28″ and multiply it by 1.618. You get 45.304.

Now you know that the top would be proportioned if you make it around 45″ long. If you know the longer measurement, then simply divide by 1.618 to get the shorter measurement.

Realize that this isn’t a concrete rule to follow. This formula simply gives us guidelines to help suggest measurements that are pleasing to the eye and are in proper relation to each other.

I use this to figure table top sizes, dimensions for doors, the panels within the doors, even the frame parts of the doors can all be calculated. Drawers, legs, cabinet depths, these all can be found using the Golden Ratio. Get familiar with this tool and discover what golden opportunities it affords.

Intuition

“The best tool is the eye. Train the eye. The eye guides your hands to achieve the form. If the eye says it’s right, it is right.”

- Tage Frid

Tage Frid taught my teacher back in the late forties and early fifties. He instilled this principal of intuition in each of his students. As a result, my teacher passed this on to me.

In fact, I would hear him say almost this exact phrase to all of us at one point or another. His purpose was to help us develop that sense of balance and proportion to the point that it became almost like a second nature. This intuition affords a sense of liberation and freedom as you work. It allows the eye to guide the whole process.

Sometimes, even when all the numbers add up, and everything seems to scale on paper, things still don’t seem quit right. Your intuition can quietly and accurately inform you when something seems balanced and when something seems terribly out of proportion to another part.

In the end, after it’s all said and done, does the piece seem right? Does it seem balanced? If not, then what is it that is unbalanced? Go ahead. Change the drawing. Alter the design based on this intuition. Now, step back and look at it again.

As you’re shaping that compound curved table leg, put aside the templates and just begin to shape it by eye. Carefully take in all the angles visually and let the eye guide the process. Now, hold it up to one of the finished legs. All it takes is a little time and trust. Train the eye. It’s the best tool we have. It guides the intuition.

These tools have always been at your disposal. They’ve worked for humanity for centuries. Yet, even today people can be reluctant to rely on them. Maybe it’s the fact that they require more trust of your own abilities.

However, once you begin to take these tools and implement them for yourself, you’ll find greater freedom within your woodworking than you had before.

Have you had success using these three resources? What tools do you employ in the design process?

How would you like to design furniture that sells? Find out how in the Woodworking Can Pay The Bills E-course.

Sometimes the hardest part of furniture making is the design process. Especially if you’re running a woodworking business.

When I was on the path  of self-taught woodworking, I would haphazardly go through what I thought were the steps of designing furniture. I would make a few rough sketches on scrap paper with some measurements (mostly guessed at) scribbled beside them. That was it.

To no one’s surprise, I always found myself short of lumber, unsure of the next step, and spending at least twice as long as I had planned on the piece.

It wasn’t until someone guided me through an actual process of design, that I saw how it can save time, keep material waste to a minimum, and be a truly fulfilling experience.

I’ve broken this process down into a few easy and actionable steps that can quickly turn furniture design into your favorite activity. Along with each step, there is a suggested action to help get you started.

Be Inspired

Without inspiration, then you have no basis for your designs. So, this is the first step. Find what inspires you. It could be other furniture maker’s work, architecture, nature … whatever catches your interest.

Go out and discover what gets the creative woodworking juices flowing in your mind. Walk around your town or city. Search magazines and books. Look at other websites and do an image search. I keep a picture file on my laptop full of pieces or elements that inspire me. Every time I come across a photo online, I simply save it to this file for future reference. No matter where or how you search, the important thing is to go out and find what inspires you.

Action: Go out for a walk or drive around town with your camera. Every time you see something that catches your interest, shoot it. See something that sparks some ideas and inspiration? Shoot it. It doesn’t matter how absurd it may seem. Just take a picture.  Then, go back and look through those photos and begin to ask why these things inspired you.

Sketch Your Ideas

Now that you’ve found what inspires you, it seems like ideas are hitting you at light speed. Now’s the time to record those ideas before they’re lost. The best way to do this is to regularly sit down and sketch these bursts of inspiration.

I know, I know. You’re not an “artist,” you don’t have a technical drawing background, or (insert any of the other lame excuses here). It doesn’t matter how good you are at drawing. What matters is doing it! These don’t have to be mini masterpieces. They are simply quick thumbnail sketches to help you visualize the overall concept of your design ideas.

All you need is a sketchbook and a pencil. I prefer a spiral bound sketchbook because it lays perfectly flat, and I use a mechanical pencil simply because it keeps a crisp line while sketching.

Action: Set aside 10 minutes this evening. Get your sketchbook, or some loose sheets of paper and a pencil. Sit in a quiet place and just start sketching any idea that’s in your mind. Simply draw a basic form of the piece. Start with a front view. Don’t worry about shading, texture, or any details.

Just do a few quick sketches of what the piece would look like from the front. Now try different views, like side or top views. Again, these don’t have to be technical and to scale. Just draw.

Scale Your Drawings

You’ve taken time to fill a few pages of your sketchbook with all of your inspired ideas. Now what? How do you take your collection of sketches and turn them into working plans? Use scale drawings.

I can tell you from experience that trying to work from just thumbnail drawings alone will produce more work and wasted time for you. This next step may be new to some of you, but it’s a real time saver in the long run. Scale drawings allow you to see how all parts relates to each other and the piece as a whole.

Scale drawings are simply full scale renderings shrunk down to a smaller size, if you will. Full scale means just that – actual size. Half scale means 1/2” = 1”. Quarter scale is 1/4” = 1”. It goes on down from there. You get the idea.

Take a look at graph paper. It’s a grid of 1/4” squares. Each 1/4” square represents 1”. Using scale make it much easier to draw larger pieces on smaller paper but still get a good idea of proportion and detail. So for every inch of measurement on your piece, measure it out on paper as 1/4”. That’s the basics of scale drawing.

One of the best tools I’ve found for doing this is a triangular plastic architect’s scale rule. Each side has a different scale on it. I regularly use 1/4” and 1/8” scales. Simply measure using the side that has the scale you want to use.

Action: Take your thumbnail sketches and turn them into a 1/4” scale drawing. For every inch of measurement use 1/4” instead. After finishing a front view, take some time to see if all the parts are in relation to each other. Does it look balanced?

Full Size Mock-Ups

Making a full size model isn’t always necessary, but it is a good practice to get into, and it really is a lot of fun! I use full size mock-ups when I need to see how certain parts work with each other and to get a feel for the proportion of the piece as a whole.

Making a full scale model doesn’t need to be the same process you would use to build the actual piece. Pocket screws, nails, and duct tape have all been employed as “joinery” with my models. Glamorous isn’t it?

Scrap lumber, cardboard, plywood, foam insulation, paper, and even pallets are great materials for making full scale models. Again, it’s the overall form we’re trying to see here. You can literally have a free-standing piece ready in just an hour or two. This is the perfect opportunity to work on certain design elements that you may not be sure of, or try different styles of legs for a table, etc. It’s easy to interchange parts – just unscrew them!

You may not find yourself using full scale models for every piece you make, but when you do, you’ll be amazed at how much this helps improve your design.

Bonus Tip: A full size mock-up will ALWAYS be an impressive move when designing for clients.

Action: Take your scale drawings and make them come alive! Using basic materials and methods, make a full size mock up of your piece. Enjoy it. It’s really a good time.

Once it’s finished, take a look at each element of the piece. Does it work well with all the others? Is there anything you can change? Now’s the time to do it.

What I’ve given you here is an outline of my design process and what works for me. These steps are a general guideline for developing an effective and fulfilling design strategy to ensure your success.

Take it, adapt it to your needs, use it, make it your own. When you do, let me know how it’s working. What would you change and why?

How would you like to design furniture that sells? Find out how in the Woodworking Can Pay The Bills E-course.

Sometimes you find yourself completely stuck when it comes time to design a new piece. It’s as if all the creative inspiration has seemingly run out.

Is that even possible?

We tend to view creativity as some sort of resource that flows from the maker freely and endlessly. Well, not exactly. You see, creativity can run as dry as a well in a mid-summer drought.

So, what do you do when this happens? Where do you go to replenish the supply? Like many things in life, you must start at the beginning. Go back to the source of your inspiration.

Here are three simple, yet powerful actions you can take right now to regain that elusive inspiration.

Look

Observation is the first and most powerful step to obtaining inspiration. Architecture, interior design, nature…all of these and many more sources are out there in this amazing world. Everywhere you go be open and aware to the observation of everything around you. Pay close attention to the most overlooked details. Look closely at the building’s roof line. Stop and study the intricacies of a single leaf.

As you observe the things in front of you, do not neglect the things that came before: the past. Ancient temples, mountain ranges, works of art that have survived the centuries. There is  much that we in the present can learn from the past. Are you paying attention? Are you looking?

Listen

Sometimes our work can be inspired simply by what we hear. Whether it’s the moving story of one person’s life, or the melody of a bird’s morning sonnet, there is great inspiration to be heard! I have seen paintings and pottery designed around the sound of water. I have read poetry fueled by the passion of another person’s communication. Words and sounds can trigger an emotional inspiration that could never be duplicated otherwise. Stop. Listen. Do you hear it?

Feel

This is the key element that allows us to transition our inspiration into our work. It’s simply not enough to know that you like something. If you are going to communicate this thing of inspiration to others, you must know WHY you like it. This is the first and last lesson of design. Know WHAT you like and WHY you like it.

What is it about that ancient Greek vase that holds your fascination? Why do you stand in awe of a mighty oak stretching to the sky? How are you going to put  the simple lines of this Japanese Tea House into your sculpture?

As you look and listen, don’t forget to study, question, and feel the responses to these sources of inspiration. If you hold an emotional connection to these sources than others will have the same connection to your work. It’s that connection that is so treasured by people. Give it to them by feeling the connection yourself. Why? How? Where? These questions and more will help you understand your sources of inspiration. Can you feel it already?

We all need to revisit the sources of our inspiration from time to time, as well as constantly being open to new ones. You never know where, who, or what these sources will be. Take time to replenish. Take time to look, listen, and feel.

Design is one essential foundation to creating your successful woodworking business. To learn the other essentials, check out the Woodworking Can Pay Your Bills E-course.

How do you gain inspiration for your designs? What do you do when there seems to be a lack of inspiration?