ATN SKETCH TO RENDER WORKSHOP

The workshop will be hosted live on zoom on the weekend 31st Jan/1st Feb 3pm-7pm GMT time.

Sketch to Render is an immersive, hands-on workshop for architects and designers who want to combine digital sketching and generative AI to develop, test, and communicate design ideas more effectively.

The workshop introduces a clear, repeatable workflow that starts with structured digital sketches and progresses through to high-quality rendered visuals and animations using AI tools. Participants work from a shared base file and move together through a series of guided exercises that reflect real-world architectural design scenarios.

Rather than treating AI as a black box, the course focuses on how and when to use AI in the design process. You’ll learn how different AI platforms interpret sketches, why outputs vary, and how to guide results using references, prompts, and graphic control, all while maintaining authorship and design intent.

This is not about replacing sketching or intuition. It’s about sketching out loud, using AI as a visual collaborator to explore ideas faster, iterate confidently, and communicate concepts with clarity.

When is it?

The workshop will be hosted live on zoom on the weekend 31st Jan/1st Feb. 3pm-7pm GMT time. The workshop will be recorded and accessible after the live workshop.

What you’ll learn

By the end of the workshop, you will have:

A strong foundation in vector-based digital sketching techniques for architectural workflows

Hands-on experience sketching with a tablet and stylus, working over external content to test ideas and create clear architectural illustrations

The ability to use generative AI tools to transform sketches into visuals across multiple styles and outputs

A flexible, transferable workflow that can be applied to concept design, option testing, visual exploration, and client communication

The focus is on speed, clarity, and control — skills that remain valuable regardless of how AI tools evolve.

Who this workshop is for

Architects and designers at beginner to intermediate level with AI

Practices looking to speed up early-stage design and visual communication

Designers who want a tool-agnostic workflow rather than platform-specific hacks

No prior AI expertise is required, but basic familiarity with digital sketching is recommended.

THE TUTOR - RADU AXINTE

BIO

Radu is an architect and accomplished digital sketch artist specialising in the integration of freehand drawing, digital workflows, and AI-assisted visualisation.

Renowned for his clear and engaging teaching style, Radu helps designers simplify technical tools while strengthening their sketching and communication skills. His approach prioritises clarity, authorship, and control, ensuring AI enhances design thinking rather than obscures it.

Radu has delivered workshops and training for leading architecture and engineering practices and academic institutions in London, including RIBA Incubator, University of Westminster, Buro Happold, Arup, and Heatherwick Studio.

COURSE OVERVIEW

The workshop will be delivered:

Live online via video conferencing
Day 1 - 31st January - 3pm-7pm GMT
Day 2 - 1st Febuary - 3pm-7pm GMT

All live sessions are supported by on-demand video content, allowing participants to revisit lessons and workflows after enrolment.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

A laptop capable of running design software
Adobe Photoshop installed
A tablet with stylus and basic familiarity with digital sketching
Concepts app installed and set up (setup guide provided)
Visoid account (setup guide provided)
Google Gemini or Gemini Pro account

Part 1 — Foundations

Introduction and workflow overview
Prerequisites, setup, and shared course files
Digital sketching fundamentals
- Drawing to scale
- Vector-based sketching
- Grids, drawing aids, and layer management
- Colour and graphic styles
Core AI principles
- How AI interprets sketches
- Strengths and limitations of different platforms
- Common use cases and failure points
Preparation for advanced workflows