Unlocking the Secrets of Traditional Design – DVD Review
When it comes to woodworking, I often feel like I am working my way backwards. I was proficient with a tablesaw before I picked up my first handsaw. I knew my way around a drum sander before learning how to use a smoothing plane. And perhaps most disturbingly, I was creating and building my own furniture before I knew anything about design. Heck, who am I kidding? I still know nothing about design! I know what I think looks good and I follow a few basic rules, but more often than not I simply go with my gut. And given the number of new hobbyists entering the craft every day, I know I am not the only one in this position. So its with great pleasure that I can whole-heartedly recommend “Unlocking the Secrets of Traditional Design”, featuring George Walker and presented by Lie-Nielsen.
Now I’ll be honest, I haven’t delved too deeply into the world of traditional design simply because it bores the hell out of me. If you are not a Guild member, you missed a silly little skit of me falling asleep while my Design School teacher (Nicole) recited the Golden Ratio out to 10 decimal places. It was all in good fun, but that satire was rooted in truth. Most design conversations I have observed or been a part of usually don’t go much further than basic proportions and the Golden Ratio. And that, my friends, is why this DVD stands apart as a bright and shining beacon in a sea of sleep-inducing design talk. It simply gives me a basic set of tools that I can immediately put to use in my own work.
I have to admit though, the DVD didn’t have me at hello. Here was the interaction between George’s words and my brain:
George (walking out of old colonial meeting house): “What a great old building!”
My Brain: “Hey look at that nondescript boring white building.”
George: “I’d love to meet the people who built this.”
My Brain: “Here we go….. another guy talking about architecture, pilasters, buttresses and corbels………”
George: “The same principles that helped create this colonial meeting house can be applied to a table or a sideboard or a dresser.”
My Brain: “OK, you’ve captured my interest. Well played Walker…..well played! Now teach me something useful man!
And teach me he did! George did a tremendous job of outlining what he considers to be the fundamentals of good design, and how we can apply those to our furniture using simple whole number ratios. He even designs a piece of furniture right at his drafting table, in two different styles, all while justifying and explaining each and every choice. At some points, it gets a little deep and that just means I’ll be watching it again. But that may be one of the most amazing things about this DVD: I actually DO want to watch it again! I know I missed a few things so I am about to rev up my laptop for another go ’round.
Walker’s explanations and advice are incredibly useful and easy to understand. And as if that weren’t enough, the visuals, graphics and videography are second to none! This is a DVD that sets the bar very high in both quality and content. Kudos to the Lie-Nielsen crew who did all the behind the scenes work.
“Unlocking the Secrets of Traditional Design” doesn’t just throw terminology in my face and make me run away wondering why I wasted my time studying biology for 4 years when I should have been in design school. It breaks a few simple concepts down into usable chunks that I can actually apply to my woodworking. Such a simple concept, yet something I have yet to experience in my limited exposure to the world of design. And THAT, is worth way more than the price of the DVD. This is a must-have for woodworkers looking to design their own furniture. And if you are working your way “backwards” in your woodworking education, like me, I highly suggest checking out this title.
FYI:
George Walker is now writing a regular column for Popular Woodworking and is featured on the cover of the Feb. 2010 issue. You will also want to check out his blog, Design Matters. For a more detailed description of this DVD, check out Chris Schwarz’s Review. And if you are interested in buying this DVD, you can do so here.
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Marc
Thanks for your review. It is a real recommendation when you start off not immediately attracted by something and you end up liking it! I wish we had smartflix here, though. There are so many DVDs I want to look at, and so little time/cash…
Jeremy
Marc, I echo your comments. This DVD is great and his DVD on moldings is also fantastic. In the mouldings DVD he breaks down the basic shapes and talks about porportions and rules about what shape mouldings should go where.
Both of these DVD’s should be watched before anyone designs their first piece of furniture.
It looks like Amazon.com is out of the DVD’s. Since I’ve got enough stuff to keep me busy for a millennium, I’ll just wait until they get it back in stock so you get the credit :)
Thanks man. Appreciate that. I actually just recently noticed that LN starting putting some of their stuff in Amazon. Not sure how long they’ve been doing that. But I am wondering if for some reason they pulled it down. Seems they are in stock on their site:
http://www.lie-nielsen.com/catalog.php?grp=1320
Excellent review, thanks Marc!
I agree that design is something that just doesn’t have enough resources in easy chunks for people who don’t necessarily have a lot of innate talent with it. (Me, with my technical background).
I’ll definitely have to check this DVD out!
Marc, going with your gut is a not bad thing. That is what designers do. True, there are some guidelines – NOT rules – to follow at times, but for the most part you create what feels right. Design is not a science, it is an art. Art is about the emotional reaction that an object brings out, and not mathematical ratios. Design takes that art, and applies it to something functional, to whatever level you want. Trust that gut of yours.
I will place my order today. It would be nice to know what I am doing rather than play the hit or miss game with my designs. I am also glad to see Popular Woodworking has added a design column. I think design might be the next big thing in woodworking.
Thanks for the heads up! I’ll be picking this up and back reading his blog.
We’ve all seen beautiful furniture and we’ve all seen hideous furniture. The difference between the two is not accidental. Successful design builds on proven practical and esthetic principles, and the variation within those parameters is the creative aspect. Over the past several thousand years, every conceivable design has probably been tried. The good ones become classics and the bad ones are discarded and forgotten. Most of the good ones have specific aspects in common.
Music is another art form. Creativity in music is also done within a framework of what is known to work. Outside of that framework, music is merely noise.
DD
I just finished reading George Walker’s new Popular Woodworking article called ‘Good Eye’ (maybe he’s Australian) :)
I would highly recommend the article as an introduction to where he is going with his new column. He does start with a simple example on ratios. I don’t think ratios can be eliminated but he takes an alternative approach on the topic of rules versus creativity. He also gives his web address in the article and says there are more design tips there.
Interestingly he uses music as an analogy in part of the article as Dan has referred to above.
Dang dang dang, you are killing me here, adding another to my list of things to buy. First is Handplane Essentials by Chris Schwarz, then comes Tommy MacDonald’s DVD set for the toolbox (I would suggest this for anyone-it’s not about the project it’s about his vast knowledge, tips, and tricks done in a way that only Tommy can pull off, then David’s Bandsawing Veneers, The Art of Fine Tools by Sandor Nagyszalanczy, and now this!!! Great review-honest and informative just like I always expect from you Marc.
Nate