Design Museum Academy Adult 2-day course

The Drawing Gym

In this two-day adult course, learn to visualise and communicate your ideas graphically by exploring different freehand drawing tools and systems. Boost your observational and analytical skills, learn about visual notetaking and sketching, and explore diagramming, visual storytelling, and mapping techniques.

What to expect

This two-day course provides a foundation in visual communication techniques, exploring the possibilities of freehand drawing through different design exercises. Aimed at all levels, from beginners or students seeking a career in design, to design graduates or professionals seeking to improve their freehand sketching skills.

DAY 1
Explore isometric drawing techniques to represent 3D objects and make analytical 2D and 3D sketches. You will work with the human figure proportions and with chairs in the museum’s collection and then produce elevations at 1:20 scale. You will also learn sketch noting and other observational techniques, drawing from the museum’s permanent collection.

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DAY 2
Explore how to capture and communicate ideas imaginatively, learn about clarity and hierarchy in visual representations. Experiment with time narratives in visual storytelling, and produce your own time-based diagram. You'll also use visual notetaking and novel observation techniques to examine behaviour patterns around the museum, which you will then translate into a map of your investigations. At the end of this session, you'll have a collection of freehand drawings showing your thinking process throughout the course.

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Key learnings

  • Observational skills and visual notetaking

  • Isometric and scale drawing techniques

  • Diagramming techniques and iterative design sketching

  • Visual storytelling techniques

  • The sketchbook as a creative tool

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Please note:

  • All participants will have free access to The Drawing Gym’s online Foundation course resources, including exercises and worksheets for the duration of this course.

  • This workshop is for adults (18+).

  • Capacity is limited, we recommend booking early to avoid disappointment.

  • All equipment, materials and light refreshments will be provided for the duration of the session.

The Drawing Gym Archives – Walk-Talk by Michele Gauler

The Drawing Gym Archives – Diagram by Justin Nicholls

The Drawing Gym Archives – Trip by Ricardo Abreu

Book online

Booking information

Adult: £170

Adult early bird: £153

Student (18+): £153

Student (18+) early bird: £137

Members*: £136

*Please note that this benefit applies only to the cardholding Member’s ticket and not to those of additional guests.

• Early bird until 21 October 2024

• The price includes the two-day class

• Suitable age range: 18+

Check out the Design Museum Academy refunds and cancellations policy here.

Additional information

  • Please note that this workshop is for participants over 18 years old, and the content and complexity have been tailored accordingly.

  • If you would like to let us know about any access requirements, including neurodiversity, there is the option to notify us at the ticket checkout.

  • If you would like to have 1:1 support for this workshop, you are welcome to bring a companion to support you on your project, at no extra cost. To request a companion spot please email learning@designmuseum.org with your booking information.

  • This session has a capacity of 20 participants, and one or two facilitators will be leading the sessions.

  • If you have any questions, please contact learning@designmuseum.org

Facilitators

Trevor Flynn

Flynn is the Director of Drawing At Work. Founder of the Drawing Gym, he is a visiting lecturer at the Design Museum, The Architectural Association, Bath University and the Institution of Structural Engineers in London. He has illustrated a best-selling cookbook and a book by Richard Curtis about the making of the film Notting Hill.

Peter Ayres

Ayres’ work with the Design Museum includes running creativity sessions for students and educators on our annual Design Ventura programme for young people. His ideas for development and delivery of special projects are visible in his work as co-director of Beep Studio.

Related exhibition

Designer Maker User

A free display introducing part of our collection, looking at the development of modern design through these three interconnected roles.

Background image courtesy of The Drawing Gym / Trevor Flynn.