Learn
Advice
The easiest way to learn how to do something is to do it for yourself. The best way to improve at something is through mindful practice paired with honest critique.
General creative advice:
Learn how to draw
Have a beginner’s mindset
Read as widely as possible
Think about design
Talk about design
Learn about process
Learn about material
Seek out mentors wherever you can
Make stuff. Seek feedback. Make more stuff. Seek more feedback
Critique your own work. Critique other art and craft
Book Recommendations
Luke is an avid reader.
The following books have helped shape Luke’s ethos, enhanced his skills, and improved his creative capabilities. He hopes they are also a source of inspiration for you.
Creative Philosophy
Art & Fear: Observations on the Perils (and Rewards) of Artmaking
By David Bayles and Ted Orland
Creating is hard - essential reading for early career artists as it has great insights into the challenges every creative person faces.
Shop Class as Soulcraft: An Inquiry Into the Value of Work
By Matthew Crawford
This book will help you understand why skilled manual labour in inherently rewarding.
Wabi-sabi for Artists, Designers, Poets & Philosophers
By Leonard Koren
Understanding how and why imperfection can be beautiful.
Why We Make Things and Why It Matters. The Education of a Craftsman.
By Peter Korn
The rewards and merits of skilled manual labour as told through the lens of an American Woodworker.
Creative Act: A Way of Being
By Rick Rubin
A must read regardless of what creative field you work in. Thought provoking, considered, wise - everything is in here.
The Storm of Creativity
By Kyna Leski
Intelligent insights into creativity and the design process.
Creativity: A Short & Cheerful Guide
By John Cleese
Easy to read and succinct. A great starting point for anyone interested in understanding creativity.
How to be an Artist
By Jerry Saltz
To the point and insightful advice. A must read for early career artists.
Designers and Makers
Dieter Rams: As Little Design As Possible
By Sophie Lovell
A comprehensive, giant and beautiful book about Dieter Rams, his life, his work and his remarkable legacy.
Hans J. Wegner: Just One Good Chair
By Christian Holmsted Olesen
A comprehensive, big book on the chair master, Wegner.
George Ingham. Designer Maker.
By Pru Ingham
Its all here - a comprehensive book, full of colour images and design sketches.
Supernatural: The Work of Ross Lovegrove
By Ross Lovegrove
A rare talent, truly creative and this book is an overview of this work to 2004.
Woodwork, Structures and Design Theory
Elements of Design: Rowena Reed Kostellow and the Structure of Visual Relationships
By Gail Greet Hannah
This book is amazing. It will help you think about and develop three dimensional forms and how they relate in space.
Building Structures
By Malcolm Millais
Great reference for anyone building physical stuff.
Understanding Wood Finishing
By Bob Flexner
Such an important part of working with wood.
The Nature and Art of Workmanship
By David Pye
An interesting read that has aged pretty well. It explores the meaning of skilled work, design and manufacturing.
Sketching
Rapid Viz: A New Method for the Rapid Visualization of Ideas
By Kurt Hanks
A fantastic book for someone starting out or new to drawing and visualising.
How to Draw: Drawing and Sketching Objects and Environments
By Scott Robertson and Thomas Bertling
Comprehensive and thorough guide to drawing in perspective.
Sketching. Drawing Techniques for Product Designers
By Roselien Steur and Koos Eissen
Clear guide to drawing from initial idea through of polished renderings.
Design Sketching
By Erik Olofsson and Klara Sjölén
Comprehensive and clear instruction into design sketching.
General Philosophy, Self Improvement & Other
How to Think Like a Roman Emperor: The Stoic Philosophy of Marcus Aurelius
By Donald Robertson
A great introduction in Stoicism and emotional resilience and how it might be applied today.
Atomic Habits
By James Clear
Fantastic book about habits and how they impact your day to day, and ultimately everything you do.
Deep Work
By Cal Newport
Clear and concise book regarding how to be more productive.
Legacy
By James Kerr
Succinct and clear view into the culture of the All Blacks - one of the most successful, professional sports teams.
The Making of Star Wars
By J. W. Rinzler
Comprehensive and insightful. This publication covers nearly every aspect of how they brought the once fledgling story to the big screen.
The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness, and Healing in a Toxic Culture
By Gabor Maté
A thoughtful and insightful view into behaviour, body-mind connection and trauma.