Read practical tips, creative stories & resources for students, architects & designers - from career advice to hand drawing, sketching & studio life.
Back from Iceland, and what an amazing summer, I'm ready to get back into the studio and start working towards...Dare I say it, Christmas? This year, I'm stepping up my game, challenging my confidence, and getting my work out there at local craft fairs.
Read MoreLife as a design student can be intense. Deadlines, presentations, reports, retakes, and the dreaded “computer crash at 2 am” moment. Add in calls from family when you have no time to talk, living on a budget, and you might wonder: why do we put ourselves through it?
Read MoreWelcome to my studio, aka home-office but I'm guessing that's what many people are rocking. Today I'm taking you through my studio setup and offering up my 5 top tips to help you in creating yours. Art, design, and crafting can [and does] take over our homes, and whilst this can be amazing, it can also drive others insane. My Dad used to threaten to 'clean' with a black plastic bag.
Read MoreOver the last few weeks, I have been creating a series of hand-drawn renderings for my Design Communications class. I always believe it is best to show students my work rather than pulling examples from Google, as it is proof that I can actually do what I am teaching, and it builds their trust.
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 MoreAbout Sonia Nicolson
Sonia Nicolson is a British Chartered Architect (ARB) and Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA). As an Architect and Creative Educator based in Iceland, she helps students and designers build confidence in hand drawing, design, and portfolio skills.
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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
Former Academic Director, Raffles Design Institute (India)
Academic Representative, British Council (Design Education)
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 along on Instagram @SoniaNicolson
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