Confident Concepts

A workshop in 3D hand drawn concept realisation and presentation.

Confident Concepts is a hands-on workshop designed to help interior designers develop, visualise and present their concepts quickly and confidently through hand-drawn techniques and perspective.

EVENT PROGRAMME
A one-day intensive workshop designed to help interior designers develop free-hand sketching as a practical and dynamic tool for concept development. Led by Charles Leon and Lester Bennett, both past presidents of the BIID, this intimate, hands-on course brings together decades of professional experience and a shared passion for sketching as an essential part of the creative process.

The day will focus on using overlay techniques and free-hand sketching to translate three-dimensional spatial thinking into clear and confident two-dimensional visual communication. Through demonstrations, guided exercises and individual support, participants will explore how sketching can be used to test, develop and communicate concepts quickly and effectively.

The morning session will begin with a discussion of attendees’ floor plans and initial concepts, followed by live demonstrations from Charles and Lester exploring hand-drawn approaches to visualisation, both on paper and digitally. Participants will then begin developing their own concepts using overlay sketching techniques.

In the afternoon, attendees will build their concepts further into three-dimensional sketch perspectives, with one-to-one guidance throughout, working towards a final developed sketch by the end of the day. 

WHAT TO EXPECT
Expect an immersive and intensive day of creative exploration, focused on concept generation and development through free-hand sketching and overlay techniques. This workshop is not about the full design process, but about learning how to think visually, communicate ideas quickly and confidently, and develop a stronger design narrative from the earliest stages of a project.

You’ll be encouraged to push ideas further, drilling deeper into a brief and using sketching as a tool to develop robust, well-considered concepts that go beyond surface-level solutions. The focus is on developing a process that can support presentations, client communication, contractor communication and internal design development alike.

Attendees will:

• Take part in engaging exercises designed to build confidence in sketching.
• Learn techniques to quickly record spaces and forms with clarity.
• Explore perspective, composition and tonal studies.
• Practise in an inspiring setting with expert guidance throughout.

WHAT YOU WILL LEAVE WITH
You’ll leave with a fresh and faster approach to concept design, using overlay sketching as a thinking and development tool that sits alongside, and often ahead of, CAD. More than simply learning a technique, you’ll develop greater confidence in your ability to sketch ideas spontaneously, communicate concepts clearly and visualise spaces quickly and effectively.

By the end of the workshop, you’ll have developed your own sketch plans, details and perspectives, along with practical methods for translating ideas from plan into three-dimensional visual form. You’ll also develop a more structured approach to observing and simplifying what you see, giving you a practical foundation for using sketching as part of your everyday design process.

You’ll leave with a workbook of exercises for continued development, as well as sketches and techniques that can be immediately applied to your interior design work.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND
This course is designed for interior designers at all stages of their careers who want to strengthen their concept development, sketching and visual communication skills. Attendees should already feel comfortable with the fundamentals of design and space planning, as the workshop focuses on concept exploration and visualisation rather than the design process itself.

Whether you are early in your career and looking to build confidence, or an experienced designer wanting to refine and accelerate your creative workflow, the day is structured to provide meaningful individual guidance and practical insight.

Students and emerging designers will benefit from developing a confident foundation in hand-drawn visualisation, while experienced designers can refine their existing skills and explore ways to integrate sketching more effectively into their creative workflow.

WHAT TO BRING
Attendees are encouraged to bring the floor plan issued in advance, with your concept layout plan drafted in, and to familiarise yourself with the project brief ahead of the workshop.

Please bring your favourite pens or pencils - the tools you already feel comfortable using. A set of marker pens is also useful for differentiating areas within your sketches. Layout paper, consumables and a range of additional materials for experimentation will be provided throughout the day. iPads with Procreate, or a similar digital drawing app, are also welcome.

Come ready to draw, explore ideas freely and discover a more confident and intuitive approach to sketching and concept development.

ABOUT THE TUTORS

LESTER BENNETT
Lester Bennett is a highly respected interior designer with a career spanning over four decades with many awards. A former President of the British Institute of Interior Design (BIID), Lester has played a key role in shaping professional design standards in the UK. With a background that has focused largely on bespoke residential and residential development, but has also encompassed product, retail, commercial and industrial design, he brings a deep understanding of spatial design, perspective, and architectural sketching. His ability to simplify complex drawing techniques makes him a sought-after mentor for designers looking to improve their sketching skills.

 

CHARLES LEON
Charles Leon is an award-winning interior designer, educator, author, and Past President of the British Institute of Interior Design (BIID), with over 30 years of experience in the industry. As the founder of Leon Black Design, Charles has worked on high-profile projects ranging from luxury hotels to high-end residential interiors. He is a passionate advocate for creative thinking through drawing, frequently lecturing on design, creativity, and visual communication. His expertise in freehand sketching and conceptual development makes him an engaging and insightful tutor, helping designers build confidence in their hand-drawn ideas. Charles has published various sketch journals which you can view and purchase through his website: www.charlesleon.uk/book here.

VENUE PARTNER
Mirage is an Italian manufacturer specialising in high-quality porcelain stoneware surfaces for residential, commercial and public spaces. Combining Italian design with technical expertise, Mirage produces solutions for flooring, wall coverings, outdoor applications, ventilated façades and raised flooring systems. The company has an established international presence, serving customers in more than 160 countries, and has been part of Gruppo Concorde, one of Italy’s leading ceramic manufacturing groups, since 2004. 

Mirage Project Point is a creative co-working space and a venue designed to browse ceramic materials, select colour combinations, discuss projects, create mockups, and find new custom technical solutions. The area is equipped and available for presenting and discussing projects, organising seminars, workshops and meetings.

Additional Information

Refreshments and a light lunch will be kindly provided by our venue partner, Mirage. Attendees will also have the opportunity to explore the studio during lunch and discover more about the brand.

Limited spaces are available, so we recommend booking early to secure your place.

If this event is fully booked, please join the waiting list. If you are no longer able to attend, please inform the office as soon as possible so that we can offer your place to someone else.

The advertised price does not include VAT. 

This event is in-person and is equivalent to 6 hours of structured CPD. 

BIID member rate is open to Registered Interior Designers, Associate members, Provisional Associate members, Student members, Affiliate members, Retired members, Dual International members, and Registered Design Practice employees. Go to the BIID Member Area / Student Member Area to secure your promo code and add it at the Eventbrite Checkout. This is a member benefit. Please do not share the code with non-members. 

If you have any queries, please email the office at events@biid.org.uk or call 020 7628 0255.

By booking a ticket to this event you are agreeing to the BIID event terms and conditions

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