Learn with Sonia

Build the skills architecture and design school expects you to develop

Whether you’re preparing for architecture school, building your drawing skills, working on your portfolio or trying to communicate your design ideas more clearly, you’ll find free resources, ebooks and self-paced courses here to help you learn step by step.

 
 
 

What do you want to learn?

Architecture Drawing

Perspective
Floor plans
Line weight
Architectural sketching
Lettering
Rendering
People & Scale

Explore drawing resources

Portfolios

University applications
Portfolio structure
Presentation
Layout
Communicating design thinking

Explore portfolio resources

Architecture School

Preparing for first year
Studio skills
Tutorials
Crits
Design process
Communication

Explore architecture school resources

 
 

Start for free

 
 
 

COURSES, EBOOKS & GUIDES

based on 15+ years of teaching Interior Design & Architecture

 

Drawing Foundations

Shop | Courses, Resources & Art
People and Furniture in Plan View - A Practical Guide for Architecture Drawings
People and Furniture in Plan View - A Practical Guide for Architecture Drawings
$19.00

If your floor plans look empty, flat, or hard to read, this guide will fix that. Learn how to draw people and furniture in plan, so your layouts communicate scale, movement, and real life - exactly what tutors look for in first-year projects and portfolios.

This guide is for:

  • Architecture & interior students drawing floor plans

  • Portfolio applicants

  • Anyone whose plans look empty or unclear

By the end, you’ll be able to:

  • Draw people correctly in plan view

  • Place furniture at the right scale

  • Make your plans easier to read instantly

  • Communicate space clearly in portfolio layouts

Taught to hundreds of university students

When teaching architecture and interior design students, I noticed that many struggled with floor plans, not because of layout, but because their drawings lacked people, furniture, and a sense of scale.

This ebook was created to clearly explain how to draw people and furniture in plan view so your drawings communicate space, proportion, and intention more effectively.

What’s Included

  • A downloadable PDF ebook

  • Clear hand-drawn examples

  • Simple explanations of scale and proportion

  • Practical references you can use while drawing

USE THIS WITH THE FLOOR PLAN COURSE

This ebook is the perfect companion to the Learn to Draw a Floor Plan by Hand course. First learn the method, then add people & furniture with confidence.

Less than one set of fineliners, a skill you’ll use in every project.

Read more →
 
 

Portfolio

Shop | Courses, Resources & Art
Art & Design Portfolio Preparation Course - For Architecture & Design Applicants
Art & Design Portfolio Preparation Course - For Architecture & Design Applicants
$97.00

Stop guessing what tutors want. Build a clear, confident portfolio that gets you accepted.

✔ Know what universities are really looking for

✔ Stop guessing what to include

✔ Submit a portfolio that feels intentional and professional

Learn from a Chartered Architect & Former University Lecturer

Over 15 years of teaching and reviewing portfolios for university admissions. I’ve helped thousands of students understand:

  • What tutors actually look for

  • How to structure their work

  • How to present ideas with confidence

This course is for you if:

  • You’re applying to architecture, interior architecture, or design

  • You have work, but don’t know if it’s “good enough”

  • You don’t know what tutors actually want to see

  • You feel overwhelmed by what to include

  • You want to submit with confidence, not guesswork

What This Course Helps You Do

  • Understand what universities and tutors look for in a portfolio

  • Select and organise your work clearly

  • Present drawings, sketches, and projects with confidence

  • Explain your ideas and creative process

  • Submit a portfolio that reflects how you think, not just what you made

Why I Created This Course

After teaching and reviewing portfolios for hundreds of students as a university lecturer, I saw how many talented applicants felt overwhelmed and unsure about what admissions teams actually wanted.

This course was created to remove confusion, provide structure, and help students feel confident and prepared when submitting their portfolios.

What’s Included

  • Short, structured video lessons

  • A clear portfolio framework you can follow step by step

  • Real examples from successful student portfolios

  • Lifetime access so you can revisit anytime

Build a clear, confident portfolio that shows how you think - not just what you made.

“I finally understood what my portfolio was missing.” - Architecture Applicant 2025

You don’t need more time - you need a clear structure. This is exactly what this course gives you.

Read more →
Editable Architecture Portfolio Template (Canva) for Students & University Applicants
Editable Architecture Portfolio Template (Canva) for Students & University Applicants
$29.00

This editable architecture portfolio template for students helps you present your work in a clear, professional layout using Canva. Designed for university applications in architecture, interior architecture, and design, it gives you a structured portfolio format so your drawings, projects, and ideas are easy for tutors to understand - without spending weeks designing pages from scratch.

✔ Used by architecture & interior design applicants

✔ Works in the free version of Canva

✔ Structure tutors can read in seconds

This template is designed for:

  • You have the work, but don’t know how to lay it out

  • Your pages look messy or inconsistent

  • You’re applying to architecture, interior architecture, or design

  • You want your portfolio to look professional - fast

What This Template Helps You Do

  • Make your work easy for tutors to understand

  • Create a consistent, calm visual flow

  • Let your drawings and ideas stand out

  • Feel confident submitting your portfolio

Why I Created This Template

As a university lecturer, I reviewed hundreds of student portfolios and saw strong projects being rejected because the layouts were unclear. I created this Canva template to give students a clear, flexible structure so their work can speak for itself, without spending hours designing pages from scratch.

What’s Included

  • 50+ page portfolio structure

  • Title pages, project pages, text/image layouts

  • Drag-and-drop system you can reuse for every project

Less than the cost of printing one portfolio - use it for your entire degree.

Read more →
 

NEED PERSONALISED HELP?

Stuck on your university project?
Book a 1:1 Architecture Tutorial

Need help navigating architecture school or your next step?
Explore 1:1 Mentoring

Want expert eyes on your portfolio?
Book a Portfolio Confidence Review™

 
 

Architecture school essentials

The drawing tools and books I actually recommend as a former Lecturer

Drawing kit

  • Grip pencil with leads & a technical drawing pencil

  • Fine-liners & technical pens for linework

  • Grey, blue, brown, yellow Copic markers for shadows & depth

  • Different sketchbooks for studio and travel

  • Watercolour paints, scrap paper, brushes, white pen

  • Essential tools (scale ruler, scalpel, measuring tape, metal ruler, cutting board, different glues, tracing paper, etc.)

Books

A short list of books that shaped how I think, teach, and design - ideal for building a strong creative foundation and design mindset.

Reading design magazines and journals helps you think like a designer beyond the studio. You’ll see how ideas become built projects, learn the language of critique, and understand what makes design meaningful. This is exactly how I teach students to develop strong portfolio ideas.

Architecture & Interiors:

  • Frame - contemporary interiors and spatial design innovation

  • Wallpaper - global design, architecture, and art trends

  • Architectural Review - essays and critical writing on the built environment

Design & Culture:

  • ELLE Décor - interiors, materials, and trend insights

  • ICON - design, technology, and cultural commentary

  • Disegno - in-depth analysis of contemporary design issues

Useful websites/Journals

 
 

FAQ

Are these resources really free?

Yes. All free resources are designed to help you get started and understand the foundations before deciding what to learn next.

Which free resource should I start with?

Start with the resource that matches your current challenge, whether that’s perspective, drawing basics, or portfolio preparation.

Do I need special tools or software?

No. Most resources can be used with simple pens, paper, and basic drawing tools.

What should I do after downloading a free resource?

Use it, then move on to a more structured course or guide if you want deeper learning and support. Each resource includes suggestions for what to learn next.

Are these suitable for beginners?

Yes. All resources are designed to be accessible, even if you’re starting from scratch.

 

Choosing The Right Course

Which course should I start with?

If you’re new, start with a foundational drawing resource such as my Floor Plan Course or Perspective eBook. If you already have experience, choose the resource that fills your specific gap.

Are the courses self-paced?

Yes. All courses and ebooks are self-paced, so you can learn around your life and studies.

How long do I have access?

You receive lifetime access to digital courses and downloads.

Do your courses help with architecture portfolios?

Yes. Many courses directly support portfolio development by improving drawing clarity and architectural understanding.

Are these suitable for architecture students and graduates?

Yes. The content supports students at different stages, from applicants and first-year students to graduates wanting to strengthen fundamentals.

 

Pro Tip: Save inspiring projects and articles in a digital archive or Pinterest board to reference for your portfolio or future design briefs.

 
 

Start Anywhere, But Start

You don’t need to know everything before you begin. Start with the skill you need now, practise it, and build from there.