AIA UK Student Workshop Builds Core Drawing and Representation Skills

AIA UK hosted its first Student Workshop on 18 October 2025 as an online event. The session strengthened manual drawing and digital representation skills for Part 1 architecture students. Many attendees also planned to join the upcoming Student Charrette, so the workshop offered early preparation and skill building.

Jamar Rock, Assoc AIA, Graphics Chair of AIA UK, opened the session with a focused talk on digital representation. He outlined his work in architectural graphics and showed examples that highlighted clarity, hierarchy and precision. He then offered guidance on portfolio layout. He stressed consistent structure, clear labelling and strong narrative flow. Students asked questions about page composition and the use of diagrams to explain design decisions.

Lulu Yang, Assoc AIA, JEDI Chair of AIA UK, followed with a session on manual sketching. She introduced her approach to observational drawing and explained how quick studies help you understand proportion, shade and character. She completed a short live demo using a still image. Students observed the process step by step and produced their own sketches during the exercise.

The workshop created an environment where students could test ideas, ask questions and receive direct feedback from practitioners. The combination of digital and manual methods gave participants a balanced set of tools for design communication. Many students said the session increased their confidence before the Charrette.

AIA UK plans to continue these workshops to support early career designers and strengthen communication skills across the student community.

Written by Paolo Mendoza, Assoc AIA