ARCHITECTURE SCHOOL - BEFORE, DURING & BEYOND
teaching the things architecture school assumes you already know
Architect & former University Lecturer helping future and current architecture, interior architecture and interior design students prepare for university, build confidence and navigate architecture school.
Hi, I’m Sonia. I’m an Architect, former University Lecturer, mentor and the artist behind the Reykjavik Sketcher.
Over the last 20 years, I’ve taught 8,000+ architecture and design students, reviewed portfolios, led BA degree programmes and helped aspiring architects build confidence in their architectural drawing and creative skills.
But I wasn’t always confident myself. I know what it’s like to feel behind, doubt your abilities and wonder if you’re good enough. I wasn’t the student everyone expected to become an architect, yet I went on to receive a scholarship to study in Japan, qualify as a British Chartered Architect, taught internationally at university level, and now mentor students around the world.
That's why I'm passionate about helping students bridge the gap between school and architecture education - building the skills, confidence and understanding they need to succeed. I believe drawing isn’t talent - it’s a skill. With the right guidance, anyone can learn to think visually, communicate their ideas, build a strong portfolio and gain confidence in their creativity.
So whether you’re preparing an architecture portfolio, learning perspective drawing, improving your hand drawing skills or reconnecting with architecture after a break, I’m here to help you take the next step with confidence.
As seen in
Trusted by 8,000+ students and creatives across 30+ countries.
Student Success
We’ve helped thousands of students and designers successfully build their skills, portfolios and businesses.
WHERE ARE YOU RIGHT NOW?
I'm Thinking About Architecture or Design School
Architecture, interior architecture or interior design? Get help understanding the path, preparing your portfolio and getting ready for university.
I'm starting or studying architecture/design
Build the drawing and design skills that architecture school expects, understand studio life and get expert support when you're stuck.
I'm preparing for what comes next
Strengthen your portfolio and prepare for internships, postgraduate study and your first role in practice.
Work with me
Professional Architecture Portfolio Feedback Before You Submit
Not sure if your architecture portfolio is ready?
Whether you're applying to architecture school, preparing a postgraduate application or looking for your first architecture job, knowing what to include, what to improve and what to leave out can feel overwhelming.
I'm Sonia Nicolson, a Chartered Architect and former University Lecturer with over 15 years of experience teaching, mentoring and reviewing architecture students' work.
My Portfolio Confidence Review™ gives you honest, constructive and personalised feedback so you can see what's working, identify what needs improving and know exactly what to focus on next.
This isn't about changing your work into someone else's style. It's about helping you communicate your strongest work with confidence.
Choose Your Review
Portfolio Confidence Review™ — $195
Perfect if you'd like expert feedback on your portfolio before submitting it.
You'll receive:
A personalised recorded video review of your portfolio
Professional feedback on your project selection, drawings, layout and presentation
Clear, prioritised recommendations for improvement
Practical next steps you can work through at your own pace
Delivery within five working days of receiving your portfolio and supporting information
Portfolio Confidence Review™ + Follow-Up — $295
For students who'd also like the opportunity to discuss their feedback with me personally.
You'll receive everything included in the standard review, plus:
A private 30-minute Zoom follow-up
The opportunity to ask questions about your review
Personalised guidance on the changes you're considering
Help prioritising your improvements before submission
I recommend watching your recorded review and beginning to work through the feedback before our call, so we can use our time together effectively.
How It Works
1. Book your review. Choose your package and complete your purchase.
2. Send your portfolio. I'll email you to request your portfolio as a single PDF, along with a few details about your application or goals.
3. Receive your feedback. Within five working days of receiving your materials, I'll send you a personalised recorded video review.
4. Strengthen your portfolio. Work through your recommendations. If you've purchased the follow-up package, we'll also arrange your private Zoom call.
Your portfolio doesn't need to be perfect before you send it. That's what the review is for.
Choose your package below and book your review.
Expert feedback on your architecture project from a Chartered Architect and former University Lecturer.
Sometimes you don’t need another YouTube tutorial, another Pinterest board or another night staring at your drawings.
You need someone experienced to look at your work with you and help you figure out what to do next.
My 1:1 Architecture Tutorials are private online sessions designed to give you focused, practical feedback on the work you’re doing right now.
Bring your drawings, plans, sketches, models, presentation boards or even a half-developed idea, and we’ll work through it together - just like we would in a university tutorial.
With over 15 years of experience teaching architecture and design students, I’ve helped thousands of students develop their ideas, improve their drawings and communicate their projects more clearly.
You don’t need to have everything figured out before we meet.
That’s the point of the tutorial.
Is This Right for You?
A 1:1 tutorial is ideal if you’re:
Studying Architecture, Interior Design or a related creative course
Stuck on a current design project
Unsure how to develop your idea
Struggling to translate your ideas into drawings
Trying to understand or respond to tutor feedback
Preparing for a crit, review or submission
Unsure what drawings you actually need
Struggling with plans, sections, elevations or perspective
Worried that your presentation isn’t communicating your project clearly
Looking for a second opinion before you submit your work
You don’t need a finished project.
Bring what you have, tell me where you’re stuck, and we’ll start there.
What We Can Work On
Every tutorial is completely tailored to your project and what you need help with.
We might look at:
Design development
Plans, sections and elevations
Perspective drawing
Architectural sketching
Drawing composition and line weight
Presentation drawings
Layout and visual communication
Developing a design concept
Communicating your ideas more clearly
Responding to tutor or crit feedback
Preparing for an upcoming review or submission
Deciding what to work on next
This isn’t about me redesigning your project for you.
It’s about helping you see your project more clearly, ask better questions and make stronger design decisions yourself.
What You’ll Leave With
After your tutorial, you should have:
Clear, practical feedback on your work
A better understanding of what is and isn’t working
Specific ideas for how to develop your project
Priorities for what to work on next
Greater confidence in the decisions you’re making
Most importantly, I want you to finish the session knowing: “Right. I know what I need to do now.”
How It Works
1. Book your tutorial
Choose a time that works for you.
2. Send me your work
Before we meet, you’ll be able to send your drawings, sketches, plans, presentation boards or anything else you’d like me to look at.
It doesn’t need to be polished or finished.
3. Meet online
We’ll spend 45 minutes together reviewing your project, talking through where you’re stuck and working out your next steps.
4. Get back to your project
You’ll leave with clear priorities and practical actions you can start working on straight away.
Book Your 1:1 Architecture Tutorial
45 minute private online tutorial
Perfect if you need focused, expert feedback on a current architecture or design project.
Bring the messy drawings. Bring the half-formed idea. Bring the tutor feedback you don’t understand.
We’ll work through it together.
There’s more where that came from…
What people say after working with me
"Working with Sonia in our 1:1 coaching sessions has been a game-changer for me! What sets her apart is her ability to make each session feel tailored and inspiring. She took the time to understand my goals and provided insightful feedback and personalized guidance that significantly improved my skills. Not only did I learn invaluable techniques, but I also gained confidence in my abilities as an artist. If you want to unlock your creative potential, I can't recommend her coaching enough!" - Rebecca, Artist & Designer
“She has a lot of great ideas about how to put together and present your portfolio, and I appreciate her upbeat and encouraging tone.” - Rachel, Portfolio Preparation Student
“Throughout my University Degree, Sonia always supported my style of working and ideas, no matter how crazy they were. She always knew the right things to say to motivate and inspire you.” - Will De Liefde-Foote, Designer
“This class exceeded my expectations!” - Jinda, Interior Design Class Student
“I enjoyed this class. Sonia took time to explain each step. The instructions were clear, easy to follow along” - Tamara, Interior Design Class Student
“We decided to use the Virtual Architect to help us move forward with clarity before starting our home renovation. Sonia was incredibly easy to work with - clear, professional and responsive. Her presentation was extremely helpful for us to visualize different layout options of our home so we could confidently choose a direction for our renovation. The additional creative design ideas were great for inspiration. We would highly recommend this service!” - Mr & Mrs Hawkins, Clients
Drawing isn't talent. It's a skill.
Most architecture students think they're "bad at drawing" - the truth? Drawing is a skill that can be learned.
After teaching thousands of architecture and design students, I've seen firsthand that confidence grows through practice, not natural talent. My mission is to make interior and architecture drawing accessible, practical and enjoyable for everyone.
Stop copying perspective tutorials. Start understanding why the lines go where they go.
If you can follow a perspective tutorial while you're watching it, but struggle to recreate the drawing on your own, you're not alone.
Perspective can feel complicated when you've been shown what to draw without being taught why you're drawing it.
“...allowed it to finally click.”- Kayla, Architecture Student, USA
“Something I had struggled with felt much more manageable.” - Kshaf, BA (Hons) Architecture, UK
“The explanations are simple and easy to understand...the exercises helped me practise and understand perspective more clearly.” - Vinesh Mistry, India
This book breaks perspective down into a clear, visual, step-by-step system so you can understand the rules, practise them, and start constructing perspective drawings for yourself.
Perspective is a system you can learn.
Drawing is a skill, not a talent.
