Design suggestions to make your jobs have balance and consistency. The very first 1,000 people to click the link will get a full year of Premium subscription to Woodworkers Guild of America for just $1.49:
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Creating without an official background can be difficult, however this video explores the concept of subtracting to make it better Through the creation of a basic wood end grain cutting board, I explore how lessening design aspects can cause more impactful and practical woodworking pieces. Drawing from my background in graphic style, I demonstrate the value of eliminating unnecessary components to boost visual balance and coherence. Excellent design is about purpose and simplicity, whether in woodworking or every day life.
Cutting Board Book:
Subtract Poster:
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I have made a couple block planes. Thanks for your content!
I design software and fighting feature creep is a constant battle. It takes so much work to make something that is “simple” and “easy to use.” It typically involves saying no to a lot of ideas.
Great analogy with software – I’ve been fighting similar battles for years. Gold plating is a real issue. I’ve been laughed at for keeping my software designs simple, but they work and get the job done. Saying “no” is crucial.
honestly more people need to say no all the time, it would help with a lot of socio-cultural issues we’re seeing these days. my grandparents were very good at saying no and they lived through some extremely hard times
as a content manager for a tech company, same. I’m constantly adding / writing / including TOO MUCH stuff! whether it’s a technical document, a new page on the website, a message to customers, writing copy, and on and on. it’s always a battle to do only what needs to be done and no more in a given context.
Thanks for this. I went to school for graphic design and video editing and was never able to do anything with it. Recently got interested in woodworking but finding a lot of YouTube woodworkers hard to follow for one reason or another. Just signed up with the woodworkers guild due to your promotion and we’ll see how it goes! 👍
Your designs have gotten better and better every year and those pearls of wisdom make it clear why!
I noticed the reduction in background music in your recent videos, it’s either absent or very discreet. Is that a conscious application of your “subtract to make it better” approach? Becase if so, it’s definitely working. It makes your videos more appealing, easier to follow and much, much more enjoyable to watch. I’m tired of generic southern country rock riffs or royalty free pop with chipmunk vocals.
I know you said you’re going to be making the videos you want to make. But i just want to say that part of the magic of your videos is the banner between you and Daniel. We haven’t heard that in a while, and i must say i knida miss that😢
Love it. Reminds me of one of my favorite photography quotes about the same thing: “Pick a tree in the forest, and tell the story of the forest from the tree.”
I was a chef long before I was a woodworker and it’s always been end grain.
Still always honing.
You are much more than a woodworker. So inspiring. I feel like I just had a therapy session! Keep it going.
When learning engineering, my mentor always said, “simpler is better”. One of the best lessons I had from him.
“Subtract “ will be my word of the day
I am seeing more and more content creators in this space giving attention to design, and I am here for it. Thank you, and more please.
Less is better than more. Graphic design is a perfect degree for woodworking – a lot of practical insight comes from it. There’s a lot of psychology that also comes into play with how we visualize items, information and the world around us in general. I like keeping my woodworking as simple as possible – many YT’ers make their projects way over the top, when a simpler design would’ve worked just fine.
Perfection is not when there is nothing to add but when there is nothing to remove
Yes, chef! I was thinking of that episode as soon as you started talking about subtracting and then boom! There’s the clip. Love the inlay on this one.
This is what I really want from YouTube. Thank you. Master-class level work here, David.
Watching YouTube’s recent morph has been alarming – makers I love to watch are producing fewer and fewer videos. Your willingness to follow your heart instead of the algorithm’s raw numbers while still keeping videos coming is paying off for your viewers. Your art continues to get better and better, and the way you share it from the heart is soooo good.
Thanks again!
Such a valuable video and message for most of us schmoes who like tools and woodworking and giving stuff to our spouses and have no idea about design
When I was learning to edit film and video, I had a boss who was an amazing editor. His mantra was “if something doesn’t work, take something away”.
I was afraid with the new style videos that REM may have been a casualty. So glad to see it 😀👍
This is a good one, Dave. Had a blast filming and it’s amazing the way you put everything together like this.
Thank you good sir!!