Our goal is to turn creative potential into university offers.
Personalised Mentorship for Art, Design & Architecture Students
At Dan Studios, mentorship means more than technical instruction. It’s a strategic, one-to-one partnership that helps students define their artistic identity, develop exceptional portfolio projects, and deliver applications that stand out to top art, design, and architecture universities worldwide.
Founded by Dan, this programme draws on over a decade of international teaching experience and a proven record of student success—admissions to institutions such as Cambridge Architecture, RISD, UAL, Parsons and CalArts.
"Loving art, being enthusiastic and passionate came from Dan. His support and encouragement gave me freedom to explore, and his honest advice helped me hold onto my belief that my work had value. That kept me from giving up."
Cherry – Accepted to Pratt Institute, CalArts, Parsons, SVA, Otis, Syracuse
Why Personalised Mentorship?
Every student’s portfolio journey is unique.
Our mentorship is designed for those who want tailored, sustained support beyond the online course—balancing creativity, technical skill, and strategic insight.
Through structured reflection, constructive critique, and ongoing accountability, students gain:
Confidence in artistic decision-making
Clarity in portfolio direction and presentation
Consistency in creative growth and commitment
Each session is a guided step towards clarity, creativity, and purpose.
Our Packages.
2 Hour
Price: $795.00
Kick Start
A single deep-dive session designed to set direction.
- 2-hour personal consultation with Dan
- Bespoke portfolio strategy and roadmap document
Ideal for: students who need a boost, encouragement, advice, and guidance at any stage of their portfolio process
1 Month
Price: $1,800.00
Focused
Short-term intensive guidance to refine and strengthen a portfolio.
- Kickstart session included
- 2x 1-hour follow-up sessions
- Email support between sessions
Ideal for: students working towards a specific deadline or project, or those who need targeted support to elevate their portfolio quickly.
6 Month
Price: $5,500.00
Growth
Structured growth and accountability across the portfolio journey.
- Kickstart session included
- 12x 1-hour mentorship sessions (2 per month)
- Ongoing priority feedback and email guidance
- Access to Dan Studios’ full online course
Ideal for: students who want steady, long-term support to grow conceptually and technically, while staying accountable and confident throughout the process.
12 Month
Price: $9,500.00
Elite
Short-term intensive guidance to refine and strengthen a portfolio.
- Kickstart session included
- 24x 1-hour mentorship sessions (2 per month)
- Unlimited priority email support
- Access to Dan Studios’ full online course
- 2x mock interview preparation sessions
Ideal for: students committed to reaching the highest level of preparation — from first explorations to final submission — with close guidance every step of the way.
Guidance & Mentorship Curriculum
All sessions are conducted online directly with Dan, offering bespoke guidance, expert feedback, and personalised strategies for students developing portfolios for art, design, and architecture universities worldwide.
Each plan includes:
1:1 Online Sessions with Dan (via Zoom)
Written Summaries & Guidance Notes — actionable next steps to sustain growth between sessions
Parent Partnership Option — parents are always welcome to attend or receive follow-up notes for transparency and shared understanding
Define · Design · Deliver Framework — a structured process to help every student clarify their artistic voice, develop their ideas, and communicate their creative potential confidently
Kickstart
Content: Intensive workshop (120 minutes) + Written Summary
The Kickstart Session offers targeted, high-impact support tailored to each student’s current needs. Before the session, students complete the Dan Studios Pre-Session Form, providing insight into their interests, goals, and portfolio progress. This allows the session to be entirely focused and personalised.
During the session, students may choose to explore:
Developing or refining artistic concepts and project ideas
Structuring research and artist investigations
Receiving in-depth portfolio feedback and critique
Preparing personal statements, interviews, or college submissions
Creating a timeline and strategy plan for future portfolio development
After the meeting, students receive a written guidance summary, outlining clear next steps and tailored recommendations to sustain momentum.
Ideal for: students who need a boost, encouragement, advice, or a sense of direction at any stage of their portfolio journey.
1 Month
Content: Kickstart Session + 2 x 1-hour Sessions (bi-weekly) + Written Feedback + Email Support
The 1-Month Mentorship builds upon the Kickstart with a short-term, strategic focus. It’s designed for students preparing for upcoming deadlines, refining existing projects, or seeking clarity in direction.
This package begins with a Kickstart Session to assess each student’s strengths, goals, and portfolio stage. Together, we establish a custom roadmap using the Define · Design · Deliver Framework:
Define: Identify key ideas, personal themes, and areas for development.
Design: Create actionable goals, experimentation tasks, and improvement strategies.
Deliver: Develop professional presentation strategies and reflective practice.
Students receive consistent accountability and support, with written feedback and optional email check-ins between sessions.
Ideal for: students working towards a specific deadline or project, or those seeking focused guidance to elevate their portfolio quickly and confidently.
6 Month
Content: Kickstart + 12 x 1-hour Sessions (bi-weekly) + Written Feedback + Priority Email Support + Access to Full Online Course + Portfolio Review
The 6-Month Mentorship allows students to engage in a complete creative development cycle. Combining structure with flexibility, it enables deep exploration through the full Define · Design · Deliver Framework while maintaining consistent feedback and growth.
Students work closely with Dan to:
Establish long-term creative and conceptual goals
Strengthen technical and material fluency across projects
Integrate artist research meaningfully into their process
Develop cohesive, conceptually rich projects
Receive ongoing digital and presentation feedback
This mentorship empowers students to access their art journey at an advanced level, fostering independence, creative confidence, and the ability to articulate ideas visually and verbally.
Ideal for: students seeking steady, structured guidance to evolve conceptually and technically, while staying accountable and confident throughout their creative process.
12 Month
Content: Kickstart + 24 x 1-hour Sessions (Custom Schedule) + Written Feedback + Premium Email Access + Interview Prep + Portfolio Presentation Review + Portfolio Review + Access to Full Online Course
The 12-Month Mentorship is Dan Studios’ flagship programme — a complete end-to-end journey that transforms students into thoughtful, distinctive, and confident artists prepared for elite university applications.
This extended mentorship allows for deep engagement across all three pillars of the Define · Design · Deliver framework:
Define: Build artistic identity through sustained conceptual inquiry and personal reflection.
Design: Create and refine multiple projects that demonstrate technical mastery, creativity, and innovation.
Deliver: Perfect curation, portfolio presentation, writing, and interview performance.
Students at this level access their artistic journey at an elite standard—learning to combine intellectual depth, technical excellence, and conceptual clarity to stand out in competitive admissions.
Includes additional services such as:
Interview preparation and mock sessions
Portfolio presentation review (digital and physical)
High-end portfolio critique and ongoing support throughout application season.
Ideal for: students who are fully committed to pursuing top-tier art, design, or architecture universities and want continuous mentorship to refine their craft, thinking, and presentation to a professional level.
Next Steps.
If you’re ready to discuss your goals, explore your next steps, or learn how our mentorship programs can support you, book a free consultation with Dan today.
This free 20–30 minute session is designed to help you (or your child) understand the portfolio process clearly and confidently.
During your consultation, you will:
Receive honest, expert guidance from Dan, Founder of Dan Studios.
Understand the process of building a portfolio that stands out to top global art and design universities.
Discover which Dan Studios Guidance & Mentorship programs best fit your goals.
Have space to ask questions about timelines, expectations, and next steps.
You’ll leave the meeting with a clearer sense of direction — and an actionable next step for your creative journey.
*All consultations are held online. Parents and students are welcome to attend together.
Course spaces are limited to ensure personalised attention and quality.