Open Studio facilitates spaces for emerging creatives to connect, learn, and grow within the industry.
What's the issue?
of students worry about being able to get a job as an architect when they complete their studies.
RIBA COVID-19 Student Survey (2022)
of students said their architectural education provided them with the knowledge they need to go into practice.
Architect’s Journal Student Survey (2022)
Valuable talent continues to walk away from the profession in hope of increased wages and a more sustainable work-life balance.
The Pay100, Press Statement, 2025
Rising Competition
UK graduates face 140 applications per vacancy, the most competitive market in 30 years(1). This trend isn’t going away any time soon either, it’s only getting worse, especially in the architecture industry. Graduates leave education without the right skillset and tools to secure a position in practice, currently a vital step in the route to qualification, which itself is a linear path that has been heavily criticised.
Whilst systemic change may take several years, it leaves a large number of students and emerging creatives without experience and skillset typically formed within practice. This echoes the disconnect within the industry around fair pay, retaining younger talent and disparity in hiring processes.
Our Open Studios have an average of 3.7x oversubscription rate, demonstrating the high demand for support and guidance.
What is Open Studio?
By linking early-career talent with leading practices across London, we help bridge the gap between education and the professional world. These workshops center around CV and portfolio guidance as well as general career advice.
Led by creative director, Sana Tabassum, Open Studio offers collaborative workshops and mentoring that open up conversations around career development and creative practice.
When is the next one?
Our format
We typically host a 90-minute session mid-week which has worked as a repeatable concept and is easy for both attendees and practice mentors to adopt. This typically takes the form of a practice introduction, followed by an hour of group discussions as each attendee shares their portfolio and forms a part of engaged discussion around best practices and in turn, providing an opportunity to share and talk through their work.
