Since I am late into this discussion I can add to the philosophies of everyone else. MY Basis: As I understand it Years Ago in the days of master Craftsman (not talking about a Sears line here) and apprenticeship, Design was something that was taught. My teachers always said If you can't draw it you probably can't build it. They had a point. Although it is nice to just buy a plan and build with everything figured out, there are a few things missing, Like Why this joint is this way and not that. Anyway Design was taught buy having them copy out of previous masters plan books. As the student advanced he modified the plan, if it worked it was added to the plan book or the modifications were written in, etc. Finally he got to the point that he knew what was what and drafted his own plan completely. So is it like painting by numbers? Maybe, but as a kid did you have great color concept? probably not. You had to start somewhere. Did the picture come out. Hopefully yes. Thats the philisophical part. The practical part: I agree with Ben Sider on the drafting part. If I had never been to college and learned drafting, carpentry, or cabinet making (a little bit) Then I would probably not even know where to start in my drafting. Sometimes plans are easiser, even now. They help me see various styles and joints and procedures taht I would never had known about. Newbies need to start somewhere. However A guy who has read books and done projects for a year, and asks "I need a plan for a book shelf 3x6 set of shelves" Maybe shouldn't be using those tools in the first place. He problably hasn't learned anything. If he says "I want the plans to Norms bookshelves he did last week made out of Maple" he has a point and wants a certain style. Some guys are lazy wanting gracious people like JOAT to do their work for them. Some are just ignorant. Some don't deserve even the "hobbiest" label. If you won't read, what are you doing here anyway. If you are too cheap to buy a $20 book on design, drafting etc. or spend $$ for a class then find a new hobby. Its gonna cost you huge $$$$$$$$$ in the future anyway. Might as well spend the first few $$ on training. Second Point: some can do the "plans I don't need no stinkin plans" and come up with a master piece. However most people start with a plan of some sort. Remember I said even Master craftsmen had plans. How detailed, is another story. For me it's a skill I have developed. I can now draw basic dimensions and make a descent project. A few years ago forget it. Three. Plans are made to be modified. I cann't think of the last plan I did to the T. Everyone comes out different than the intended. Usually do to my ineptitude, but one of my most recent projects I made a modification 'cuse A. I hated the style. B. if anyone had ever dragged it accross the floor the whole thing would have ripped apart. Conclusion: Shunning your own plans is stupid, shunning other plans is stupid, refusing to learn is idiocracy. off my box for now.