Course Content
12 Lessons
Catalog
Catalog
Course detail
Architecture Diagram Mastery: Concept to Portfolio is a workshop on PAACADEMY that teaches architecture students and young professionals how to translate design ideas into clear, portfolio-ready vector diagrams. Using SketchUp for 3D geometry, Adobe Illustrator for precise diagram composition, and AI tools including Claude AI, ChatGPT, and Gemini for visual enhancement, participants learn to produce parti diagrams, axonometrics, zoning, program diagrams, and more. The workflow moves from idea to model to diagram to presentation.
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1 course5.0
This workshop is important because most architecture students already have good ideas but struggle to communicate them clearly. In professional practice, studios don’t have time to interpret your work; they rely on diagrams to understand your project in seconds.
Unfortunately, this skill is rarely taught properly in colleges. This workshop bridges that gap by teaching you how to convert your architectural thinking into clear, professional diagrams that actually communicate your design.
The workflow is built around SketchUp and Adobe Illustrator because together they form a powerful, industry-relevant process. SketchUp helps you create clean 3D geometry and understand spatial relationships, while Illustrator allows you to refine that into precise, well-composed diagrams.
On top of this, the workshop also integrates AI tools, which can enhance visuals, speed up production, and help you explore multiple diagram styles quickly. This combination of traditional workflow + AI helps you work smarter, present better, and build a portfolio that stands out in internships and job applications.
Translate design ideas into clear, effective diagrams
Create key architectural diagrams (parti, zoning, axonometric, etc.)
Build a structured workflow using SketchUp + Illustrator
Apply clarity, hierarchy, and simplification in visuals
This workshop covers the complete process of creating professional architectural diagrams, from understanding design ideas to presenting them effectively in a portfolio.
Students will learn how to translate architectural thinking into clear visuals using a structured workflow that combines SketchUp, Adobe Illustrator, and AI tools.
The scope includes creating a wide range of diagrams such as parti diagrams, bubble diagrams, conceptual zoning, program/functional diagrams, form development diagrams, site and urban mapping, exploded axonometric diagrams, and activity diagrams.
Along with this, the workshop also focuses on workflow efficiency, visual clarity, and portfolio integration, ensuring that students not only create diagrams but also understand how to use them effectively in real-world architectural presentations and job applications.
The workshop follows a step-by-step, workflow-based approach, where students learn how to move from idea → model → diagram → presentation. The methodology begins with understanding diagram logic and preparing clean 3D models in SketchUp, followed by translating those models into precise diagrams using Adobe Illustrator.
As the sessions progress, students apply these workflows to create multiple types of architectural diagrams, gradually moving from basic to advanced levels. In the later stages, AI tools are introduced to enhance diagram visuals, speed up production, and explore different graphic styles, making the overall process more efficient and contemporary.
The workshop is designed to be hands-on and practice-oriented, where students actively follow along during sessions and apply the techniques on their own projects or provided practice files.
All work, including the final output, is done individually, ensuring that each student develops a clear personal workflow and portfolio-ready set of diagrams. Continuous guidance, assignments, and optional feedback opportunities help students refine their work throughout the workshop.
Day 1 – Foundations & Core Diagram Development
Session 1: Introduction & Diagram Thinking
Session 2: SketchUp for Diagram Preparation
Session 3: Illustrator Basics
Session 4: Core Diagram Creation
Day 2 – Advanced Diagrams, AI & Portfolio Integration
Session 5: Advanced Diagram Techniques
Session 6: AI in Diagram Workflow
Session 7: Portfolio Integration
Session 8: Review & Closing
Rewatching now, so many lessons to learn!!
