Art & Design Portfolio Support for Ambitious Students

Every student's creative journey is different. Whether you're just starting out or preparing for university applications, Dan Studios offers flexible programmes designed to develop your creative confidence, technical skills and individual artistic voice.

From independent learning to personalised mentorship, find the right support for your portfolio journey.

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Successful student artwork from Dan Studios accepted to RISD and Parsons.

Three Ways to Work With Dan Studios

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Our online portfolio development course is available to access and do at your own pace.

Online Course

STRUCTURE & INDEPENDENT LEARNING

A comprehensive, self-paced course featuring seven modules and five student case studies.

Develop your creative thinking, technical skills and portfolio presentation through structured lessons, practical exercises and real student examples.

Learn at your own pace, wherever you are in the world.

Explore the Online Course

Work with Daniel in a mentorship capacity for a completely focused and custom experience.

Guidance & Mentorship

INDIVIDUAL GUIDANCE & SUPPORT

Personalised one-to-one mentorship tailored to your creative interests, abilities and university aspirations.

Through structured assignments, ongoing feedback and individual guidance, I support students in developing original projects, strengthening their portfolios and preparing confidently for university applications.

Choose from focused consultations to comprehensive long-term mentorship.

Explore mentorship Programmes

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Free Portfolio Review with Dan

EXPERT FEEDBACK & DIRECTION

An initial consultation to discuss your creative interests, current work and university ambitions.

Receive experienced guidance, identify areas for development and explore practical next steps for your portfolio journey.

Request a Free Review

For high-school students (14–19) building portfolios for top global art, design & architecture universities.

The Dan Studios Framework

Define. Design. Deliver.

Every Dan Studios programme follows a structured yet flexible approach to creative development, helping students build confidence, develop original projects and prepare thoughtful, individual portfolios.

Define

Discover your creative interests, research potential pathways and establish a clear portfolio direction

Design

Build technical skills, explore ideas, experiment and develop meaningful personal projects.

Deliver

Refine and curate your portfolio, articulate your ideas and prepare confidently for applications.

Logo of the Rhode Island School of Design featuring the initials RISD enclosed in decorative flourishes, with the school's name and founding year 1877 written in a circular pattern around it.
Logo of University of the Arts London with the text 'ual: university of the arts london' in black on a white background.
Logo for The New School Parsons with black and red text on a white background
Logo of Maryland Institute College of Art with the acronym MICA in bold black letters.
Logo for the Royal College of Art featuring a coat of arms with lions, a unicorn, and a crest, along with the text "Royal College of Art" and "Postgraduate Art & Design."
The University of Cambridge crest with a shield featuring lions and a crown, below which is the text 'University of Cambridge'.
Logo of California College of the Arts with the initials 'CCA' and the full name written below.
ArtCenter logo with a red circle and the text 'ArtCenter' in black.
School of the Art Institute of Chicago logo with black square and white text.
The Pratt logo on a yellow background.
Logo of the School of Visual Arts with a red abstract floral design above the text.
The logo of the University of Edinburgh with the university's name.

Mentorship Programmes

From a focused consultation to a comprehensive year of support, each programme is tailored to your interests, creative ambitions and university application timeline.

2 Hour
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Kick Start

2-HOUR INTENSIVE

Clarity, direction and a personalised plan.

A focused one-to-one session designed to review your current work, explore creative ambitions and establish a clear direction for portfolio development.

What's included:

  • Individual portfolio review and feedback

  • Creative goal-setting and project direction

  • Personalised recommendations and next steps

Students at a world-class institution like RISD or UAL using strategic design skills.
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1 Month
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Focused

1-MONTH MENTORSHIP

Targeted support when it matters most.

Intensive short-term mentorship to strengthen existing projects, develop new ideas and make meaningful progress towards your portfolio goals.

What's included:

  • Four one-hour mentorship sessions

  • Personalised assignments and creative guidance

  • Ongoing feedback and project refinement

  • Access to the online course

High school art student preparing work for art school portfolio submission.
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6 Month
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Growth

Sustained creative development and personal growth.

A structured programme to help students discover their creative voice, develop original projects and strengthen their technical and conceptual abilities.

Through regular mentorship, individual assignments and ongoing feedback, students build confidence, creative independence and a cohesive body of portfolio work.

What's included:

  • Twelve one-hour mentorship sessions

  • Individual creative development plan

  • Personalised projects and assignments

  • Regular feedback and accountability

  • Portfolio development and curation

  • Access to the online course

High school art student preparing work for art school portfolio submission.Group of people working on digital art projects at a creative workspace with computers and art supplies.
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12 Month
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Elite

Comprehensive support from early exploration to university applications.

An extended mentoring relationship supporting every stage of creative and portfolio development.

From establishing a personal artistic direction and developing ambitious projects to university research, portfolio curation and interview preparation, I provide individual guidance throughout the journey.

What's included:

  • Twenty-four one-hour mentorship sessions

  • Comprehensive creative development plan

  • Sustained individual project development

  • Regular feedback and accountability

  • Portfolio curation and presentation

  • University application and interview guidance

  • Access to the online course

Aspiring art student working on their portfolio in a creative studio environment.
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What's Included in Personal Mentorship?

Every mentorship programme is tailored to the student's interests, abilities and ambitions. Depending on the programme and individual goals, support may include:

Personalised Development Plan

A clear creative direction based on your interests, current abilities, university ambitions and application timeline.

Individual Assignments

Purposeful creative tasks designed to develop technical skills, explore ideas and strengthen portfolio projects.

Regular Feedback & Accountability

Constructive guidance, achievable milestones and consistent support to encourage progress and creative independence.

Creative & Technical Development

Artist research, experimentation, technical refinement and the development of meaningful, original artwork.

Portfolio Curation

Support with selecting, sequencing and presenting work, documenting creative processes and writing artist statements.

University Application Support

Guidance on university pathways, portfolio requirements, application deadlines and interview preparation.

Online Course

Turn Your Creativity into a World-Class Portfolio

A comprehensive online course designed to help students develop, curate, and present their art and design portfolios for top global universities.

Start the Full Course
High school art student preparing work for art school portfolio submission.

What Students Will Gain

Through the Dan Studios Online Course, students develop the creative understanding, structure and confidence needed to build a stronger portfolio.

Creative Direction

Technical Development

Stronger Projects

Clearer Process

Portfolio Confidence

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University Preparation

Not Sure Which Option Is Right for You?

Your Creative Journey Starts With a Conversation.

Whether you're beginning your portfolio journey, developing existing projects or preparing for competitive university applications, I'd be happy to discuss your ambitions and offer guidance.

During your free initial consultation, we'll explore your creative interests, current progress and goals, and consider the most appropriate next steps.

Book your Free Portfolio Review
A man with a beard and wearing a light green button-up shirt sits on a table in an art studio, smiling at the camera. In the background, there are shelves with art supplies and a painting of a woman with birds.
Close-up of a black and white logo featuring a pencil drawing the letter 'D' with a dark background.

Free initial consultation. No obligation.

Student Success Stories .

Successful student artwork from Dan Studios accepted to RISD and Parsons.

Henry - "At the heart of it all, there was Dan. He listens more than he talks, and that made all the difference. He taught me not just art, but how to create art with honesty and humility. "

Logo for California College of the Arts with stylized letters CC and a number 7 in teal, and the college's name below
Hongik University emblem featuring interlocking hands around a central shield with Korean and English text, date 1946.
Logo of School of Visual Arts featuring a red, abstract, flower-like design above the text.
Seal of Kyungpook National University featuring the university name, founding year 1966, and colorful design elements.
Successful student artwork from Dan Studios accepted to RISD and Parsons.

Mark - "My time with Dan was unforgettable. He pushed me to lean into my fascination with humor and the absurd, and helped me develop a strong creative voice. His guidance enriched my work conceptually and gave me the confidence to scale up."

UAL: University of the Arts London logo
RISD (Rhode Island School of Design) seal logo with text around a central design.
The logo of Parsons The New School, with 'PARSONS' in bold red letters and 'THE NEW SCHOOL' in black text above.
Successful student artwork from Dan Studios accepted to RISD and Parsons.

Cherry - "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."

The logo for Parsons The New School, featuring the text 'The New School' in black and 'PARSONS' in bold red letters.
Pratt logo with white text on a yellow background
California College of the Arts logo with the text 'Cal' and 'California College of the Arts'
SAIC School of the Art Institute of Chicago logo
Book a Free Consultation

Book a Free Consultation.

Free portfolio review & guidance call. No obligation, honest insights tailored to you.

You don’t need a finished portfolio, Dan helps you build it.