A FOUR-MONTH DESIGN PROGRAMME

You’ve watched the videos, you’ve tried the layouts. But you can’t quite commit — because the cost of getting it wrong is so high.

With decisions that cost thousands and shape how your family lives, hesitation feels safer than a wrong move. But every delay costs time, money and momentum. There’s a better way to make confident design decisions — and it starts with thinking like an architect.

Testimonial …

“I’m so glad I came across this course. We’re already underway, demolishing some structural elements of the property we bought in November. The timing couldn’t be better - I have just enough space to design things properly with your guidance.

Thanks for such a great course!”
— Zuzanne

WHAT THE FOUR-MONTH PROGRAMME GIVES YOU

The Design Like an Architect programme will help you to:

01

Break Through Indecision and Analysis Paralysis

So you can make confident decisions, saving you from costly second-guessing and design regret

02

Get Past The Ordinary and Into The Innovative

So you can finally get that ‘spark’ you see on design videos — the elegant solution you know is there but can’t quite reach

03

Uncover The Hidden Value In Your Property

So you can maximise what your building can become, to make the very best of what you have

WHAT YOU’LL HAVE BY THE END

More than a design — the process that produced it

Most homeowners make layout decisions that cost them thousands to undo. This programme gives you the architectural thinking to get it right the first time so you don’t waste money, space or potential.

TANGIBLE OUTCOME

A layout you can confidently spend thousands building.

Not a mood board or a list of ideas — an architecturally considered spatial layout, developed properly from analysis through to a final design. One you can use to brief professionals, or continue developing yourself. Your own design for your own project.

CREATIVE BREAKTHROUGH

The spark you’ve been watching for — applied to your building

My architectural approach to finding elegant solutions in your own space. Not copying, not guessing — a structured way to see possibilities you couldn’t see before, using the same creative problem-solving framework I bring to each of my projects.

LASTING PROCESS

A decision-making framework you own permanently

The analytical and creative tools I use at the start of every project. Once you have them, every layout decision becomes clearer — not just on this building, but on any space you ever work with. You’ll understand not just what to decide, but why.

THE PROGRAMME

Four months. Your space. Your pace.

Design Like an Architect runs over four months, giving you the time to work through the process properly — analysing your building, developing your design concept, and refining it through to a resolved layout — while staying supported throughout.

01

The learning pathway

A structured series of bite-sized lessons, built to be implemented as you watch — from measuring and analysing your space to understand its potential, all the way to developing a resolved 2D layout. You work on your own project throughout, so every lesson lands in the context of a real property.

02

Personal feedback from me

Throughout the programme you can submit questions and receive personal responses from me in recorded video — detailed, focused feedback on your specific project and where you are in the process. You get my eyes on your work whenever you need it.

03

The Design Studio community

A private community of people working through the same process at the same time. Share work-in-progress, ask questions between feedback sessions, and get input from fellow students as well as from me. Designing your own space can be an isolated process — this is the antidote to that.

By hand or digitally - the process works either way.

Design Like an Architect is taught primarily from a hand-drawing perspective, but the process translates fully into digital tools if you prefer to work in software. Either way, the thinking is the same — and the thinking is what changes everything.

BEFORE YOU REGISTER YOUR INTEREST

Is the Design Like an Architect programme right for you?

This programme is limited to 10 people per intake so I can give focused, individual feedback. Before you register, it’s worth taking a moment to check it’s the right fit.

THIS IS FOR YOU IF

You have a specific property you want to redesign — your own home, or a building you have easy, regular access to and can measure properly

You want to approach the design the way an architect would: understanding your space thoroughly before making any decisions, and knowing why each decision is the right one

You’re not looking for the quickest or cheapest route — you’re ambitious about the outcome and want something genuinely considered

You want to be in the creative driving seat of your own project, not hand the design over to someone else

Your project is about internal reconfiguration — rethinking how the existing space works

IT’S PROBABLY NOT THE RIGHT FIT IF

You don’t yet have a property you can get into regularly, measure, and get properly familiar with

You’re looking for 1:1 design services, professional architectural advice, or someone to produce your design for you

You’re a service-provider planning to use the course materials with your own clients or on third-party projects

APPLICATION ONLY | 10 PLACES PER INTAKE

Register your interest in joining the next intake

If the above sounds like the right fit, leave your details below. I’ll send you the full programme details and next steps. This is an application only programme and I accept 10 places per intake

MARCH 2026 INTAKE NOW FULL

NOW ENROLLING FOR THE 15th APRIL — 8 SPACES REMAINING

GET THE FULL DETAILS TO APPLY FOR THE NEXT INTAKE
I'M INTERESTED BUT NOT READY YET

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What people are saying …

  • "I truly appreciate the work you've put into this."

    “I’m two weeks into your DLAA course and just wanted to say thank you. The course is really well structured, and I love the short, easy-to-follow videos and the workbooks. Your planning is spot on, and the way you’ve adapted the content for a diverse, international audience feels very thoughtful. I truly appreciate the work you’ve put into this.”

  • “I absolutely love this course.”

    “I absolutely love this course - I am learning so much! I am working hard to make the most of it. I fully expect I will continue using the tools I’m learning well into the future.”

  • "Incredibly creative and comprehensive"

    “The course provides an incredibly creative and comprehensive approach to the development of new buildings or the redesign of existing ones. There is great potential to form a community of interesting people from different parts of the world who share a common commitment.”

  • “Excellent teaching.”

    “Module 3 has amazing information and showing examples is a great way to teach - me especially - probably everyone! I appreciate that you show one layout that demonstrated issues that could be addressed with both of these types of concepts. Excellent teaching tool.”

  • “What wonderful work you have done!”

    “Hello dear Gemma, I’ve ended with a lot of enthusiasm watching all the videos. What wonderful work you have done! I am now designing and redesigning the floorplan of my house.”

  • "All amazing!"

    “The content and the way Gemma presents the material, explains concepts, and answers questions are all amazing - do not change a thing!”

  • "It's helping me uncover some hidden capabilities."

    “I am absolutely learning how to think and design like an Architect! While the content and the frameworks provided through the course feel very new and different, they also resonate deeply. I feel like the course is helping me uncover some hidden capabilities that I am excited to practice.”

  • "I am now capable of making decisions in relation to my budget."

    “The course helps you have a very clear idea about your home. You understand the assets and the limitations; you get the tools to see the qualities and make good realistic transformations. It is also very supportive from the aspect of costs. I am now capable of making decisions in relation to my budget.”

  • "You are a great teacher"

    “I have loved having the opportunity to get to know you and to see some glimpses of how you think and work. You are a great teacher and I really appreciate the time and effort that has gone into putting this course together.”

  • "I feel really well supported and nourished with all the learning."

    “I feel really well supported and nourished with all the learning. Thank you - all this is a lot of work, but I realise with all the tools you are giving us I am developing wings so that creativity and joy can fly!”

  • "Such a great course!"

    “I’m so glad I came across this course. We’re already underway, demolishing some structural elements of the property we bought in November. The timing couldn’t be better - I have just enough space to design things properly with your guidance.

    Thanks for such a great course!”

Ready to stop circling — and start designing with purpose?

GET THE FULL DETAILS TO APPLY FOR THE NEXT INTAKE

APPLICATION ONLY | 10 PLACES PER INTAKE