While aiming to instill confidence in appreciating, criticising and selecting sources of inspiration, Derek questions why we may find one turning attractive and another ugly.

He looks closely at design elements, sketching, proportion, pattern, decoration and colour; with instructive diagrams and photographs that will guide the reader to a better understanding of design. Readers are encouraged to question and fine-tune this understanding and experiment with ways of applying the approaches of other designers to their own work. Each chapter starts with a photographic example of what Derek sees as good design in a medium other than woodturning.