About the Founder
From applicant to mentor
I understand the architecture application process because I lived it. I know how difficult it can be to pursue architecture when you have the ambition but not the network. That is why I am building the support, guidance and community I wish had existed, empowering students from underrepresented and widening participation backgrounds to navigate the journey from Part 0 to Part 1 with confidence, clarity and opportunity.
BA(Hons) Architecture Graduate,
ARB/RIBA Accredited Part 1
My Background
I recently graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture from one of the UK's leading schools. Throughout my studies, I experienced firsthand the challenges of studio culture, crit presentations, and the constant evolution of design thinking.
Before university, I was in the exact position many of my mentees find themselves today: passionate about architecture but unsure how to communicate that passion through a portfolio and application. I had no family connections to the profession, no insider guidance, and limited access to resources.
What I did have was determination and a willingness to seek out every opportunity to learn. I spent months independently researching the application process, analysing successful portfolios, and refining my own work until I crafted an application that secured offers from my top-choice universities.
The Applicant
Navigating the unfamiliar world of architecture applications with no guidance or connections.
The Student
Beginning and navigating undergraduate years of architectural education, studio culture, and design development.
First Mentorship
Informally helping younger students pave their routes into Architecture, discovering the impact of shared experience.
The Graduate
Completing my architecture degree with a deeper understanding of what the journey requires.
The Mentor
Formalising my mentorship programme to help more students access the guidance I wished I had.
Why I Mentor
During my final year, a younger student reached out for advice on building their portfolio and navigating the architecture application process. That conversation reminded me how overwhelming the journey can feel when you have the ambition but not the guidance, network or confidence to know where to begin.
I began mentoring informally and quickly realised how valuable access to lived experience could be. Students shared that speaking with someone who had recently been through the process made pursuing Architecture and other STEM disciplines feel more achievable. Those conversations reinforced the importance of accessible guidance and inspired me to establish this Outreach Programme.
Applying to architecture school should not depend on having industry connections or insider knowledge. Our mission is to widen participation by making the application process more transparent, accessible and supportive, ensuring that every aspiring architect has the opportunity to pursue their ambitions regardless of their background or existing network.
Architecture Education Insights
- 01Portfolio skills and ability to showcase strengths matter more than drawing ability
- 02Interviews assess curiosity, not only prior knowledge
- 03Personal projects often outweigh formal qualifications
- 04Every school values different qualities
- 05Architecture is learned, not innate
Mentorship Philosophy
Guidance, not answers
Our approach to mentorship is collaborative rather than prescriptive. We do not believe in telling students what to put in their portfolio or how to answer interview questions. Instead, we work with students to help them discover their own voice and perspective.
Architecture education values independent thinking. The best preparation for university is learning to articulate your own ideas confidently. Our role is to create the space for that development, ask the right questions, and provide honest productive feedback.
Every student we work with is different. Some need help structuring their portfolio narrative. Others need confidence before interviews. Some need reassurance that their non-traditional background is actually a strength. We adapt our approaches to what each individual needs most and provide tailored solutions and steps.