Read practical tips, creative stories & resources for students, architects & designers - from career advice to hand drawing, sketching & studio life.
Life as a design student is intense, exciting and transformative. In this personal message I share my journey through architecture school and 10 essential tips to help students and graduates navigate their next chapter with confidence.
Read MoreWelcome to my studio, a small but hardworking corner of our living room. In this post I’m sharing a behind-the-scenes look at my setup and five practical tips to help you create a calm, functional workspace for your own creative work at home.
Read MoreA practical guide to architectural ink rendering, sharing tools, paper choices, and step-by-step tips for creating hand-rendered interior drawings with marker pens.
Read MoreVolunteering in Ecuador with Architecture Sans Frontières changed the way I saw design. Through participatory workshops in Quito’s informal settlements, I learned that architecture isn’t just about buildings - it’s about people, community, and the power of collaboration.
Read MoreI have been working with my rendering ink markers in preparation for teaching my students how to render their floor plans and perspectives with inks, watercolours, and pencils.
Read MoreWhen the recession ended my job in architecture, I never imagined it would lead me to India. What began as a short-term teaching contract became one of the most transformative chapters of my life. In Bangalore, I helped build a design school from the ground up, discovered my love for education, and learned that my real work wasn’t just designing spaces - it was helping others design their own creative paths.
Read MoreSonia Nicolson is a British Chartered Architect (ARB) and Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA), with 15+ years of international experience in architecture and design education. She has taught and mentored over 8,000 students worldwide and now helps architecture and interior design students build confidence in hand drawing, visual communication, and portfolio development.
Start your journey on the Start Here page.
New to my blog? Begin with these reader favourites on studying architecture, portfolios, and learning to draw.
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Architect & former University Lecturer turned Entrepreneur. I help female Entrepreneurs successfully Design & Build their Creative Businesses in Interior Design, Architecture & Urban Sketching.
Architect & Creative Educator helping you design and build your career and creative business in Interior Design, Architecture and Urban Sketching.
ARB - British Chartered Architect
FHEA - Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
Senior Lecturer, Arts University Bournemouth (UK)
Academic Representative, British Council (Design Education)
Academic Director, Raffles Design Institute (India)
Teaching architecture through hand drawing, sketching, and architectural thinking, and creating original artwork and commissions from the same practice.
Join me behind the scenes - sketching Reykjavik, studio life, and creative tutorials. Follow on Instagram @SoniaNicolson
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