Read practical tips, creative stories & resources for students, architects & designers - from career advice to hand drawing, sketching & studio life.
Back when I was pregnant with Angus, and in preparation for maternity leave and life with two children, I took some time to plan how I wanted my business to work and grow as my family grew, and my focus understandably got challenged.
Read MoreLooking to earn extra income from your creative skills? Here are 10 side hustles for designers and architects, from teaching online to selling digital products, plus how to turn them into a sustainable business through coaching.
Read MoreYour online presence is your new first impression. In this updated 2025 guide, learn how to audit, refresh, and protect what people find when they Google you, and make it work for your creative career or business.
Read MoreI’m sharing my thoughts on turning 40 and opening up about life in my 30s and what I want to achieve in my 40s as a Wife, Mum, and Entrepreneur.
Read MoreSelf-employed or not, you are your most valuable asset. Your business, your ideas and your progress depend on your energy, focus and wellbeing – which is why learning to take care of yourself is not a luxury, it’s essential.
Read MoreSince moving to Iceland 4 years ago now, I have worked for myself. Working for myself is an easy phrase to type or say but the action of making it happen and being successful, as in profitable, is a different story.
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, Interior Architecture & Design, and design education. As a Senior Lecturer, she has taught and mentored over 8,000 students worldwide and now helps aspiring architecture and interior design students develop confidence in hand drawing, visual communication, and portfolio preparation.
Through her courses, ebooks, and mentoring, Sonia specialises in making complex design skills clear, practical, and accessible - especially for students preparing for college, university, applications, or a career in the built environment.
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 & former University Lecturer helping you get in, stand out and feel confident in architecture school.
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)
Helping architecture students & women in design build confidence through hand drawing.
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