1^st lesson free

Bhakti

5 (5 reviews)

Rate $36
Response 1h

5 (5 reviews)

$36/h

1^st lesson free

Design
Architecture
Interior design

Architecture 1:1 Tutoring & Mentoring | Thesis, Studio Crits, Portfolios & Job Search Guidance from an Experienced London-Based M.Arch Architectural Designer.

Design
Architecture
Interior design

Lesson location

- online

About Bhakti

From sketching my first architectural ideas in India to working as an architectural designer in London, my journey has taught me that great architecture begins with curiosity, creativity and the courage to question.

Hi, I'm Bhakti! A London-based Architectural Designer, M.Arch graduate, architectural writer and mentor, with professional experience across the UK and India.

I completed my five-year Bachelor of Architecture at Parul University, India, before moving to London to pursue my Master of Architecture in Architectural Design at the University of East London, graduating in 2023. My Master's thesis, Urban Play, explored the relationship between architecture, urban spaces and people's everyday experiences.

Today, I work in UK architectural practice, contributing to master planning, urban design, residential and mixed-use projects across RIBA Stages 1–5, from concept development and planning applications to technical design and coordination.

Beyond practice, I'm a contributing architectural writer for SMART.POV and have been involved in mentoring through Women in Architecture and Studio to Practice. I've also worked with Bucksmore Education and Archimake, introducing young learners to architectural thinking and creative design. I've had opportunities to speak about my journey through UK architectural education and professional practice.

Why do I mentor? Because I've been in your shoes.

The endless design iterations, late-night submissions, challenging crits and moments when you have a brilliant idea but struggle to communicate it — I understand them all.
I believe the best architectural guidance doesn't give you all the answers. It helps you ask better questions, strengthen your ideas and discover your own design voice.

Whether you're developing a studio project, researching your dissertation, preparing for a design crit or building a professional portfolio, I bring together academic knowledge, real-world architectural experience and personalised mentoring to help you progress confidently.

My goal isn't just to help you create a better project. It's to help you become a more confident, independent and thoughtful designer.

Because sometimes, all it takes is one meaningful conversation to transform an idea into something extraordinary.

About the lesson

Have a great architectural idea but struggling to turn it into a strong project? Stuck on your thesis, unsure how to approach your next crit, or wondering whether your portfolio is good enough?

You're in the right place!

Architecture school can be exciting, creative and incredibly demanding. Sometimes all you need is a fresh perspective, an honest conversation or someone who can help you connect the dots between your research, design ideas and final presentation.

That's exactly what my sessions are designed for.

I'm a London-based M.Arch graduate with professional architectural experience in both the UK and India. Alongside working on real architectural projects, I've been involved in architectural education, workshops and mentoring emerging designers.

My approach is simple: I don't just tell you what to change. I help you understand why, explore your options and develop the confidence to make your own design decisions.

Whether you're an undergraduate, postgraduate or recent architecture graduate, our sessions will be tailored to your project, learning style, academic requirements and professional ambitions.

WHAT CAN I HELP YOU WITH?

1. Research, Dissertation & Thesis Development

Not sure what to research? Have an interesting topic but struggling to turn it into a meaningful architectural investigation?

We can work together on:

- Finding and refining your dissertation or thesis topic
- Developing strong research questions and objectives
- Identifying research gaps and building an architectural argument
- Research methodologies and literature review strategies
- Case studies, precedents and comparative analysis
- Site research, mapping and contextual analysis
- Connecting theoretical research with spatial and architectural design
- Structuring chapters and improving academic communication
- Reviewing your argument, research direction and presentation

My own Master's thesis explored Urban Play: Rethinking the Urban Waterfront as a Potential Public Open Space, so I understand the journey from an initial research interest to developing a design-led investigation.

The aim is to help you think critically, develop your own arguments and produce work that reflects your ideas.

2. Architectural Design Studio & Concept Development

Have you ever received feedback saying your concept needs to be stronger, your design lacks a clear narrative or your drawings aren't communicating your intentions?

Let's work through it together.

Sessions can cover:

- Understanding and breaking down your design brief
- Site analysis and identifying design opportunities
- Precedent research and translating findings into design strategies
- Concept generation and creative exploration
- Developing spatial arrangements, massing and architectural form
- Translating research into meaningful design decisions
- Design iterations and responding to tutor feedback
- Connecting your concept with environmental, social and contextual considerations
- Developing a coherent architectural narrative from concept to detailed design

Rather than giving you a ready-made design solution, I'll help you question your ideas, explore alternatives and strengthen your own design process.

3. Crit Preparation, Presentation Scripts & Design Storytelling

You might have spent weeks developing an exciting project, but how do you communicate it confidently in 5, 10 or 15 minutes?

A strong architectural presentation isn't about showing every drawing you've produced. It's about telling a clear and convincing story.

I can help you with:

- Structuring your presentation and design narrative
- Deciding what information and drawings to prioritise
- Developing a clear presentation script
- Explaining your research, concept and design decisions
- Preparing for interim reviews, final juries and university crits
- Practising presentations through mock crit sessions
- Anticipating questions and responding to constructive criticism
- Improving visual communication and presentation confidence

We'll practise explaining not only WHAT you've designed, but WHY you've designed it that way.

4. Technical Design, Architectural Technology & Professional Studies

Architecture doesn't end with a beautiful concept. Understanding how buildings work, how designs are developed and how decisions are coordinated is equally important.

Drawing on my experience working on UK architectural projects, I can support your understanding of:

- RIBA Plan of Work Stages 1–4
- UK architectural design and planning processes
- Architectural drawings, plans, sections and elevations
- Technical design development and construction detailing
- Building materials, junctions and construction principles
- Building Regulations and design compliance concepts
- Design coordination and consultant information
- Understanding architectural drawing packages
- Bridging university technical modules with professional practice

These sessions are particularly useful if you're studying architectural technology, professional studies or technical design modules and want to understand how the principles relate to real projects.

5. Architecture Portfolios, CVs & Career Development

Your portfolio should communicate more than the final outcome of a project. It should demonstrate how you think, explore, develop and communicate ideas.

Whether you're preparing for university admission, applying for your first Part 1 placement or looking for your next architectural opportunity, I can help with:

- Academic and professional portfolio reviews
- Project selection and storytelling
- Portfolio structure, layout and visual hierarchy
- Communicating design development and technical understanding
- CV reviews and presenting your experience effectively
- Cover letters and job application strategies
- Interview preparation and project presentations
- Understanding the UK architectural job market
- Positioning yourself for Part 1 and Part 2 opportunities
- Navigating the transition from architecture school to professional practice

My goal is to help you communicate your strengths authentically and confidently.

HOW DO MY LESSONS WORK?

Every student is different, so every session starts with understanding you and your goals.

You might be preparing for a submission next week, developing a thesis over several months or looking for ongoing guidance throughout your degree.

We'll build our sessions around what you actually need.

A typical 60-minute session includes:

First 10 minutes — Understanding your challenge

We'll discuss your project, current progress, academic brief, tutor feedback and what you'd like to achieve.

Next 15 minutes — Reviewing and questioning

We'll look at your drawings, research, portfolio or presentation and identify what's working, what needs improvement and where there are opportunities to develop your ideas.

Next 25 minutes — Practical mentoring and design development

This is where we work through your challenges together using discussion, sketches, diagrams, relevant examples, design exercises or presentation practice.

Final 10 minutes — Clear next steps

We'll summarise the key feedback, establish realistic priorities and identify what you can work on independently before our next session.

You'll leave with a clearer understanding of your project and a practical direction for moving forward.

MY TEACHING APPROACH

Think of our sessions as a friendly architecture studio tutorial, but with the added perspective of professional practice.

I believe the best architectural learning happens through curiosity, conversation, experimentation and constructive criticism.

My teaching style is:

- Personalised: Every session responds to your individual project, experience and learning needs.
- Discussion-led: I encourage questions, critical thinking and independent decision-making.
- Visual and practical: Where useful, we explore ideas through sketches, diagrams, precedents and real architectural examples.
- Constructive: You'll receive honest, supportive feedback that helps you recognise both your strengths and areas for improvement.
- Goal-oriented: We'll identify achievable next steps so you can continue progressing between sessions.
- Supportive: You can ask questions, explore unfinished ideas and discuss challenges without feeling judged.

I also understand that architecture education can sometimes feel overwhelming, particularly when you're balancing several modules, approaching deadlines or navigating a new academic environment.

Having studied and worked in different countries, I bring an international perspective to architectural education and professional development.

WHO ARE MY LESSONS FOR?

My sessions are suitable for:

- Students preparing for architecture university applications
- Undergraduate architecture students (Part 1)
- Postgraduate and M.Arch students (Part 2)
- Interior architecture and spatial design students
- Students working on dissertations, theses and design studio projects
- Students preparing for crits, juries and technical submissions
- Recent graduates developing portfolios and applying for architectural roles
- Early-career architectural assistants seeking academic-to-practice guidance

Whether you need a one-off project review, preparation for an important presentation or regular mentoring throughout your academic journey, we can find an approach that suits you.

LET'S MAKE YOUR NEXT DESIGN MOVE COUNT!

You don't need to arrive with a perfect concept, a polished portfolio or all the answers.

Bring your ideas, your questions, your unfinished drawings — even the messy sketches you're not quite sure about yet.

We'll start from where you are and work towards where you want to be.

**Great architecture starts with great questions. Let's explore yours together!

Recommendations

Recommendations come from relatives, friends and acquaintances of the teacher

H

HIMANSHI

I had a one-to-one session with Bhakti, and it was an hour-long session with her. I reached out to her through LinkedIn. I walked up to her, and she answered right away and was very humble to me. She gave me very good insights into the UK industry and helped me improve my architectural portfolio.
She was very nice and explained everything very well and was patient with my questions.
Her advice and guidance was very helpful.
Read more

H
HIMANSHI
I had a one-to-one session with Bhakti, and it was an hour-long session with her. I reached out to her through LinkedIn. I walked up to her, and she answered right away and was very humble to me. She gave me very good insights into the UK industry and helped me improve my architectural portfolio.
She was very nice and explained everything very well and was patient with my questions.
Her advice and guidance was very helpful.
K

Kohana

I’ve had two mentoring sessions with Bhakti so far, and both have been really valuable. In our first session, she reviewed my CV and portfolio in detail and gave me practical, constructive feedback that helped me identify several changes I could make to strengthen how I present my experience and work.
In our second session, we focused more broadly on navigating the architecture job market, including application strategies, networking, approaching practices, and how to respond to interview feedback. As a fairly recent architecture graduate, I’ve found Bhakti’s advice particularly helpful and reassuring during what can be quite an uncertain stage of starting your career.
She is approachable, encouraging and honest in her feedback, while also giving practical suggestions that I can actually apply to my job search. I’ve really appreciated having someone in the profession to discuss things with and would definitely recommend her to architecture students and recent graduates looking for guidance.
Read more

K
Kohana
I’ve had two mentoring sessions with Bhakti so far, and both have been really valuable. In our first session, she reviewed my CV and portfolio in detail and gave me practical, constructive feedback that helped me identify several changes I could make to strengthen how I present my experience and work.
In our second session, we focused more broadly on navigating the architecture job market, including application strategies, networking, approaching practices, and how to respond to interview feedback. As a fairly recent architecture graduate, I’ve found Bhakti’s advice particularly helpful and reassuring during what can be quite an uncertain stage of starting your career.
She is approachable, encouraging and honest in her feedback, while also giving practical suggestions that I can actually apply to my job search. I’ve really appreciated having someone in the profession to discuss things with and would definitely recommend her to architecture students and recent graduates looking for guidance.
R

Reshma

I had a one-hour session with Bhakti. She provided feedback on my CV and portfolio and shared brief insights on how I can target and secure the roles I am aiming for.

Not everyone can offer such personalised, productive sessions when you're seeking help with your career prospects. I'm glad I met her, and we exchanged our information and experiences.
Read more

R
Reshma
I had a one-hour session with Bhakti. She provided feedback on my CV and portfolio and shared brief insights on how I can target and secure the roles I am aiming for.

Not everyone can offer such personalised, productive sessions when you're seeking help with your career prospects. I'm glad I met her, and we exchanged our information and experiences.
T

Tomiwa

I connected with Bhakti on LinkedIn where she offered a free criticism of my architectural portfolio. She too keep time to analyze it and state her constructive critiques on it while recognizing the essence I wanted the portfolio to portray.

Overall very helpful and insightful
Read more

T
Tomiwa
I connected with Bhakti on LinkedIn where she offered a free criticism of my architectural portfolio. She too keep time to analyze it and state her constructive critiques on it while recognizing the essence I wanted the portfolio to portray.

Overall very helpful and insightful
T

Tamil

Bhakti is a truly self- made woman who is passionate about teaching, sharing her knowledge, and helping others grow. She is always eager to learn, improve her skills, and expand her knowledge. She is talented, hardworking, dedicated, and one of the most honest people I have ever met.

She genuinely cares about the happiness of those around her and always encourages others to do their best. Her positive attitude, kindness, and commitment to her work make her an inspiring person.

I would highly recommend Bhakti to anyone looking to improve their architectural knowledge and skills. She is an excellent teacher who combines her expertise with a genuine passion for helping others succeed
Read more

T
Tamil
Bhakti is a truly self- made woman who is passionate about teaching, sharing her knowledge, and helping others grow. She is always eager to learn, improve her skills, and expand her knowledge. She is talented, hardworking, dedicated, and one of the most honest people I have ever met.

She genuinely cares about the happiness of those around her and always encourages others to do their best. Her positive attitude, kindness, and commitment to her work make her an inspiring person.

I would highly recommend Bhakti to anyone looking to improve their architectural knowledge and skills. She is an excellent teacher who combines her expertise with a genuine passion for helping others succeed
View more recommendations

Rates

Rate

Pack rates

5h: $159
10h: $292

Travel

+ $$10

free lessons

This first lesson offered with Bhakti will allow you to get to know each other and clearly specify your needs for your next lessons.

online

$36/h

Architecture 1:1 Tutoring & Mentoring | Thesis, Studio Crits, Portfolios & Job Search Guidance from an Experienced London-Based M.Arch Architectural Designer.

Lesson location

Recommended

About Bhakti

About the lesson

Recommendations

Rates

Rate

Pack rates

Travel

free lessons

online

Other tutors in Design

Jaina

Tia

Abdi

Oliver

Andrew K

Yianni

Josiah

Andrei

Jimmy

Dessy

Soniamaria

Mathilda

Sol

Nutifafa

Lorenzo

Valentin

Gokhan

Sofiya

İremnur

Mahalakshmi

Architecture 1:1 Tutoring & Mentoring | Thesis, Studio Crits, Portfolios & Job Search Guidance from an Experienced London-Based M.Arch Architectural Designer.

Lesson location

Recommended

About Bhakti

About the lesson

Recommendations

Rates

Rate

Pack rates

Travel

free lessons

online

Other tutors in Design

Jaina

Tia

Abdi

Oliver

Andrew K

Yianni

Josiah

Andrei

Jimmy

Dessy

Soniamaria

Mathilda

Sol

Nutifafa

Lorenzo

Valentin

Gokhan

Sofiya

İremnur

Mahalakshmi

Share

Verified degree

levels

All languages in which the lesson is available

Review

Reviews

Recommendations

free lessons

Report this posting