Roasting Your Furniture Designs (Gently)

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Today I'm helping out Joe. He designed and built a Hall Table which he thought looked too chunky at the top. After hearing where he struggled, I came up with a few design tweaks which included, making the proportions a bit lower and longer, Adding visual lightness to the top by adding a chamfer, and adding visual weight to the bottom by adding a shelf. Finally I revealed my new design to Joe to hear his thoughts.
#woodworking #furnitureDesign #Sketchup
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[@devone3024]

Chris, thanks again for your help! I really enjoyed talking with you to get a better understanding of your design process. Looking forward to building version 2.0 in the near future.

[@nigelmtb]

Very nice work there Joe!

[@arnoldc1724]

Beautiful design. What wood did you use?

[@devone3024]

@@arnoldc1724 Thanks! The case and legs are made from cherry and the drawer fronts are maple. I finished everything using maker brand co simple finish.

[@devone3024]

@@nigelmtb Thank you!

[@LoganLovell]

This is a really cool design! I'm at a similar point with a build of mine and this really helped me break down what needed some changes. Props to you for being willing to put your work out there and take constructive criticism.

[@Jamesfrancosdog]

“What I like to do is keep eliminating or changing those things that feel wrong until what I’m left with feels right” This is SOLID life advice in general 👌🏼

[@bretticus4]

this series needs to become a channel mainstay. great production values, great execution on a concept, great opportunity to see the design process in execution (with its flaws!). home run, chris.

[@TimberBiscuitWoodworks]

This was great! I think that was a nice well-balanced critique and re-design. And I have to say that there’s a lot of seasoned woodworkers out there that would be quite happy with Joe’s original design so great job Joe! For only a year in you’re off to a great start!

[@devone3024]

Thanks for the encouragement!

[@TimberBiscuitWoodworks]

@@devone3024 no problem! I think you’re off to a fantastic start in woodworking. Way to dive right in!

[@dannielfriedrichsen7226]

YES. Please continue this type of video. I often find myself thinking "that ain't right" part way through, or even multiple times, part way through a project. I also have often plowed ahead even though it ain't right. Understanding your design process is maybe the most important part of your project videos. Thanks.

[@TorresWorkshop]

This is something I was looking for. More on the thought process on the designing of a piece. Which a lot of people don't talk about. Great series. Might have to submit something soon.

[@SirGabealot]

Lolol I thought the big reveal was going to be "and I already built it - I'm at your front door with the table now". I enjoyed this format though, it's very insightful to your design process. Would love to see a Shaun one too!

[@BarreiraLuis]

Me too

[@alexaben6849]

Nice Chris. Love that you pick up this kind of content again. Like the early days... you really have a good eye for proportions. That's one of the biggest things I stuggle with as a beginner woodworker... Love it!

[@RosalyX0]

This is a great idea for a series! I always struggle with designing new furniture and this is really helpful!

[@patrickmckinley6679]

Hi 👋 Rosaly, can I please speak to you for a moment?

[@andyiliff7793]

Chris, this is a great idea for a series. I absolutely love the way you design/sketch designs. Are you using Illustrator or is this in SketchUp? I just absolutely love the aesthetic of the industrial design sketch look. It is something that I want to get better at. Are there any courses/resources that you'd recommend to try and learn some skills to achieve the level of finish that you get on your design sketches? I hope this series continues. I think that you'll get a ton of "entries"👍

[@bartsons]

I would love to know aswell!

[@andrewjetter7351]

I seem to remember him saying a while back that he uses Procreate for the sketched designs.

[@Tomeccho]

As soon as I saw the initial redesign, I was saying, "float it!" out loud because I knew that would make the top feel less weighty. Glad Chris heard me. Somehow, after watching him design and create for so long, I kind of knew he would lol

[@mohedaicebear]

Man I love these videos. My favorite aspect of Chris' woodworking is his design. I hope you keep this series even if it's little shorter then most of your vids

[@ericsturgulewski2399]

Love this format!! Thought I had seen most videos on your channel but must have missed this one. I think I've graduated from concentrating on build method to concentrating more on design. Looking forward to more of these. Thanks, Chris!

[@cdinusha1]

This format is great, really breaks down the thought process which is great for learning. I'd be keen to see more of the same style :)

[@thomasnichols7788]

I really like this format a lot! I have been designing and building furniture as a hobby for 30 years and now get to play all the time in retirement. My close friends know I like it when we review a piece and they come up with alternative design ideas and, as you noted, honor the original plan. You should never close your mind to alternative design features. Keep it up.

[@ClaireRousseau]

Oooh, this is a really fun idea for a series!! I'd love to see more like this.

[@Coxywood]

Great video! First time I’ve seen a video like this that gives such thoughtful insights into the design process. Also well done to Joe for something that looks well made in his first year of woodworking.

[@devone3024]

Thanks Mark!

[@luizcastro3543]

@@devone3024 Great work, Joe!

[@shinobitree5711]

Love this kind of video! Hope there’s more of these.

[@DIYHGP]

Chris this format is super. You need to continue this process because we have so many build videos with people building stuff without any real design thought going into them. your insight and Shaun’s will be quite helpful for amateurs and professionals alike. I shot a video on this design feature with Shaun several years ago.

[@joekoscielniak8576]

You, sir, are an incredible designer. Your eye for balance and form is elegant. Floating the top draw main part from the top cross piece right under it added a uniquely stylish uber modern mid-century look. Bravo!

[@chrispagnotta9487]

I love this series! I struggle with designing what I want so seeing your input on already thought out pieces is really helpful for creative momentum. Please keep it up!

[@bgivens24]

Chris, this is awesome! Personally, I feel like design is the most difficult part of furniture making. You're an excellent designer and it's great to hear more insight about your approach. Keep making more of these!

[@Rosakru]

Well done Chris. This is a very well made video critiquing but solving a design issue. Excellent.

[@deadbungeejumper]

Cool new direction with content. First time I’ve seen anyone do this!

[@egbluesuede1220]

never seen anything like this. Fantastic and a respectful way to teach design.

[@IggyJackson]

I like this type of content a lot. Really gives you some different ways to think about things when you're stuck in a design rut. Keep up the good work

[@daltrywoodworks8811]

I really like this format. Design is something I struggle with the most. Appreciate the video 👍🏻

[@Martin-yl5zb]

Great video format Chris!! I learned a lot following your thought process. Thanks!!

[@GabeSchultz1]

Awesome video - love your insight on all the details of this piece.

[@harrisonj123]

SOoooooooo glad you're doing this again.

[@cemontalvo12]

This is a great format and super helpful for my own design thought process. Thanks. Also - some of the most recognizable Disney characters were created by designers with Aphantasia. Super interesting.

[@joshuatharpe9397]

Great series. It helped me think about the design process and HOPEFULLY make better decisions in the future.

[@SpectreGamers]

Honesty time... I follow probably over 100 woodworking/craftsman/furniture/design based channels on youtube alone. This content right here, this is what I've been looking for. Its fun watching different people make (and lets be brutal here) endless black walnut furniture pieces, almost so many that I'm amazed there is any walnut left on the planet at this point! But as fun and as interesting and inspiring as that can be, one of the things all these channels lack is a really proper look into the design and ideation process. This content is exactly what I, and I imagine others, have been looking for and its great that it comes from a channel I enjoy also. So please keep these up and if you can maybe add some more ideation process into your other videos too so we can see more of how you go from imagination to reality.

[@adrianb894]

Love this format. Would love to see more of it.

[@Redhot_Buckshot]

I love this dude. Your perspective of furniture is truly amazing.

[@CoachKotseba]

Excellent! I'd love to see/hear more details about why the other design is better and perhaps see intermediate designs and why they were rejected

[@TheJbrogs]

This is an awesome series idea. Excited for more critiques and design tips in the future!

[@marting.7564]

Good work Joe and Chris. Keep up the good work and keep creating & inspiring.

[@Dokter_Duke]

I'm already a fan of your other videos but this one was completely new... Great content/format... very unique. I want more!

[@boardtodeathwoodshop9400]

Definitely continue this series. Super interesting.

[@ryderscustomcreations3665]

I like this style of video. Design is your strong suit so leaning into it makes sense.

[@HyperactiveNeuron]

This is a great new segment. I would seriously like to see more like this.

[@takeniteasyfriend]

Really like this new side of your channel. Looking forward to more design evals 👍

[@woodmakethecut5973]

Love this! One of the things that I really learned since the first day I watched your videos is proportions. Yes, we all can make angles, bevel cuts or anything that adds flare to a project, but without proper proportions, it turns out visually awkward. Less is more can only be great if the few details of a project meshes with each other. Looking forward to more of this Chris! :)

[@AshwinBelle]

The one-minute version of this video that you just posted today (12/03) led me to finally watch this video. Great content, I really wish the views (#s) support your idea of making more such content where you help evolve and improve others' ideas! Walking through the process of design with you narrating/critiquing along with beautiful drawings is great for learning and a pleasure to watch!

[@flyingman09101984]

Amazing series idea. Looking forward to the next ones! ❤️

[@andyheffling5000]

More of these please. This is excellent.

[@neisendesign]

love this kind of content, looking forward to the next one!

[@keXen]

I relay liked this format. Nice to get a view into the thought process.

[@kizermergenschroer5096]

Great video and love to see you discussing design.

[@Pop_Gordo]

I love these videos. I think objectively speaking, you and Shaun have the best designs on woodworking KZbin. I know that this video might not appeal to the fans that like the crayon table or the Nintendo Switch build but I think your core fans appreciate this kind of content because it’s the whole process

[@MidnightMaker]

Wow, dude! You came up with a really difficult concept and you pulled it off. Nicely done.

[@Hakuwoodworks]

I think that this format was an excellent idea. I think that many of us struggle to find the "it" factor sometimes, and you have a great eye to be able to give just the right suggestion!

[@chadswanson2295]

Great concept for content! And great approach to design!

[@benjaminstrobel3622]

I love this idea for a series!

[@RedBudRed]

This was great man. Like seeing the process. 👊🏻

[@moneymakingmikeg.9555]

Very Cool Chris!!! Something different from the norm but, a lot of info. & cool to see your thought process in some redesigning. Hoping all is well guys, Dirty Jersey out!!

[@christianphillipsadams4738]

Really like this, interesting to see how you refined the design

[@kyleromine1477]

Yes!!! Loved this video. Super helpful. We need more of this!! I would have you edit my designs…. But all my stuff is basically just rectangles… haha

[@wilsonmatos6734]

I really like this concept for a video. The design process has been the hardest part of woodworking for me.

[@andfunkable]

Great video format, thanks!

[@GangstaKirby3]

This looks a lot like industrial design. Was great seeing your thought process on it and would like to see more like this

[@joshevenson7604]

This is a great format - keep it up!

[@RoxaneJ14]

This concept is real cool !

[@davidcchambers]

Love design thinking. More please.

[@johncordell8661]

I’d love to see a video on how you go about designing and creating the aesthetic on the iPad.

[@douglasbogdanoff7741]

Great idea. Really enjoyed the video.

[@thiswillwork18]

Love this series!

[@TheWoodPastor]

I love it. I think you need my bad design on there. I have many.

[@IVD-Spec]

Great video, should turn it into a reoccurring series!

[@dye187]

Great content! Would love to see more.

[@SuperOxygenTV]

I love your way out design-which doesn't seem SO way out. I would say you made it more sophisticated! With that said-wonder how you would mount the base to the box? Figure 8 fastners? Or would you drill right into the base itself?

[@ethanbarkman9248]

This content is incredibly helpful and surprisingly entertaining.

[@michaelmiller5177]

Really nice design changes.

[@jkzamien]

Cool video idea. Looking forward to more.

[@JohnFnLopez]

Dude! This is an amazing video! I think you found good right here.

[@pauldent3059]

As soon as I saw it I said to myself it needs a bottom shelf to help balance the design, then in my mind I pictured nearly exactly what your final drawing looked like, I think I've been watching too much of your channels.😊

[@konigjaja806]

What a great video! Is there any way to get ahold of the proportions (or measurments) that you chose?

[@michaelackerman9261]

Chris, I dig this add-on to the channel! I'll likely submit a piece to you at some point, and I'll make sure it's sufficiently meaty haha

[@brendonmyburgh]

I totally agree with @Andy Iliff's idea for a series. I come up with ideas that may look great to me and essentially is a modern/contemporary piece and visually aesthetic to me, however running another set of eyes over it always creates room for improvement right ?. Its by no means there to diss the original idea, but making it better - I dig this

[@tonyvandijk4339]

More of this please!

[@deadlikeme-520]

This is my favorite video of yours! If you do any more of these i have a few pieces I would love feedback on. Will trade shoes for advice.

[@markalton4610]

I really want to do this. I own a business right now that cant keep me busy in the winter.

[@kevincasey2947]

I think your ability to present topics intelligently is outstanding. I think if you were to incorporate the concepts of proportionality, (like odd vs even whole numbers or the Golden Rule as example) in addition to what designs feel like and their comic association to relatable images would be beneficial. This hall table as example, the legs were viewed from the end perspective but ignored in critique. The leg design critique included a tapered front elevation change that looked good, but the graphics lacked a simple proportional ratio understanding as to why. The legs went straight down to the floor in the side elevation view, but the graphics could have shown the legs splayed out from the top frame to floor in an odd number ratio as example, just to see what that change looked like. For imagery, kind of like spindled giraffe legs with the feet touching the floor just slightly contained within a plan view footprint. This would have added stability, but proportionally, would it have looked good? With straight legs in the side elevation view, I thought the piece looked like it could easily be shaken just by opening the drawers, or if they contained any weight or if a child reached up and grabbed at it, it could fall over forward away from the wall.

[@cnut4563a]

This whole idea is great

[@williammaxwell1919]

me, I'd consider redesigning the legs and keeping the top, such as a U on it's side with zig-zag /snake "foot" to the bottom to provide stability

[@maartenbaas2308]

Very nice. Like this kind of content

[@markknight5836]

Chris enjoyed the work here. Random one love the shirts would you mind sharing the brand and where I could pick some up. Thanks Mark

[@ModernBuilds]

🔥🔥

[@ModernBuilds]

Floating box is cool!!

[@Helldog136]

Really nice video format. Do you plan on making this table in a video later or are you just "fixing designs"?

[@Tubby_Watches]

This is an incredible idea for a series. Way to reach out the us young guns about design. Often the hardest part of woodworking I'm finding out, haha

[@SpencleyDesignCo]

Im so pumped that these "design talk" videos are back!

[@DirkieB]

Oh that's a really nice video!

[@cteran08]

Awesome breakdown of your creative process. What software do you use to sketch digitally?

[@JeffMarxWoodworking]

Chris: I really like this series format. I would love for you to critique one of my pieces. I feel like I design pieces so I can build them rather than you building so you can design - or something like that.

[@6skull6kid6]

What software do you use to sketch your designs?

[@brianbiltz9891]

Nice tweaks Chris. The original if made longer, would look more in place behind a sofa.

[@Codeyellow]

I love this!

[@horatiobeaker]

Chris, this is great. I believe that I missed it somehow, but what design software do you utilize or recommend? I'm using Apple computers.

[@beutobeutlich731]

Sehr geiles Format 👌