top of page
Logo Skala Studio_Border.jpg

Skala Studio Lab

The semester you won’t find at school.

Architecture education is brilliant at ideas, but often weak on survival. Portfolios, deadlines, real drawings, practice skills — these are the gaps. Skala Studio Lab exists to close them, so you can feel more confident in school, and more employable after.

Learning is easier together.

Architecture school can feel isolating — long nights, endless crits, and the pressure of portfolios and deadlines. That’s why we’re building a private online community: a focused space where students and young architects can post, chat, and swap advice.

​

It’s not another noisy social feed. Just a small group, learning the parts of architecture education that school leaves out. The community will open soon — sign up to be the first to know when it launches.

linkedin 02.jpg
Who’s behind the Lab?

I’m Katarzyna, an architect, lecturer, and researcher. I currently teach Spatial Interior Design at bachelor level at the University of Kent, and I’ve been a visiting critic and workshop leader at the Architectural Association. I’m also the co-founder of Skala Studio, an architecture and interior design practice. Between teaching and running a practice, I’ve seen the same pattern again and again: students are brilliant at design, but unprepared for the structures, documents, and decisions of real projects. Skala Studio Lab is my way of bridging that gap — the semester no one teaches, but every student needs.

Start with portfolio advice.

Portfolios are the one thing every architecture student stresses about. I’ve seen hundreds — some brilliant, many chaotic. Here are a few small things you can fix right now, without redoing everything:

Curate

Don’t show everything — 2–3 strong images are better than 10 weak ones.

Edit

Keep text short. One clear sentence is more powerful than a paragraph no one reads.

Structure

Don’t forget the basics: page numbers, consistent margins, readable fonts.

Why the Lab?

Architecture school teaches design philosophy, concept models, and crit culture. But when it comes to survival — portfolios, deadlines, interviews, real-world drawings — most students are left on their own.

Go further.

The free guide will get you started. But if you want more structure, I’ve put together resources and workshops to make your work clearer, your portfolio stronger, and your job applications more confident.

01

Career Starter Pack

Interview Ready

InDesign portfolio file with ready-to-use layouts, CV template and cover letter. Includes guidance on adapting layouts, tips for consistent formatting, and export settings to ensure your work looks professional on screen and in print without extra effort.

Learn More

02

Design Impact Pack

Crit & Review

Improve your portfolio in 2 weeks - before sending to an employer or submitting for review. This pack includes eight pre-made workshops (15 hours total) to complete at home: refine concepts, clarify research, sharpen visuals, and prepare 2- and 8-minute pitches.

Learn More

03

Portfolio Workshop

Four Weeks

Four weeks live online workshop in a small group. Bring your draft portfolio and work through exercises to improve structure, flow, and clarity. Learn how to edit, sequence, and present projects so your portfolio is ready for submission and real job applications by the end.

Learn More

04

Project Reality

Six Weeks

Six weeks, one fake project, all RIBA stages. From feasibility and concept to technical drawings and construction. You’ll leave with a practice-style project for your portfolio and the confidence to explain how real architecture projects actually run.

Learn More

The missing semester of your architecture education.

Uni shows you how to design. We show you how to survive it - and how to prepare for the world after. Portfolios, deadlines, real projects, and interviews - the things that actually make the difference. 

Subscribe to our newsletter

bottom of page