Courses Draw-to-Scale Tools Contact
About Contact

Master iPad drawing in a radically better way

Work faster, draw better, win more clients, and finally build the creative practice you know you’re capable of — all from wherever you want to work.

You’ll update your hand sketching and design skills for the 21st century, learning how to design, draw to scale, and present on the iPad using easy-to-learn techniques that blend the warmth and immediacy of hand drawing with the precision and agility of modern digital workflows.

5-Week Live Training Starts Wednesday, August 13th

Excited? Want To Get Started Right Away?
Skip right to registration

See How It Works — in Just 5 Minutes

Before you scroll, watch this short video to see why this live draw-along workshop might be exactly what you’ve been waiting for. You’ll hear how it combines the focus of a live group, the flexibility of a self-paced course, and guided exercises that give you a running start. If you’ve ever stalled out in a design course—or wished there was a better way to learn real iPad workflows—this is the answer.

 

Wouldn’t You Love It If You Were Able To…

  • Sketch compelling concepts quickly -- and with confidence -- directly on your iPad, from anywhere
  • Present warm, hand-drawn ideas that connect emotionally with your clients -- while still flowing into precise digital workflows
  • Make faster, smarter design decisions by blending sketching, drafting, and diagramming in one fluid ecosystem
  • Draw to scale with beautiful accuracy, using tools that integrate seamlessly with modern office standards -- no vector software required
  • Reclaim pride in your drawing skills -- now updated for the 21st century with digital power and professional polish
  • Win clients and collaborators earlier by sharing drawings that invite conversation -- not overly specific, computer-generated images that shut it down.

What’s Holding You Back?

If you’re like most architects and designers we’ve heard from, here’s what might be getting in your way:

You bought an iPad with high hopes… but learning to draw on it felt too technical, too isolated, or just too time-consuming to stick with.

You’re not sure hand drawing still has a place in the fast-paced world of digital design.

You don’t want to look amateurish in front of colleagues — or waste time learning tools that don’t connect with how your firm actually works.

You’re overwhelmed. You want to improve, but you need structure, support, and momentum — not another lonely YouTube deep dive.

YES, I Can Help! More About Me...

I’m James Akers — a registered architect, full-time professional renderer, and founding instructor behind iPad for Architects. Up until 2015, I supported my family drawing by hand in pencil and watercolor — until I realized those methods couldn’t keep up with the pace of modern architectural practice.

When I switched to and figured out my own methods for mastering the use of Apple Pencil on iPad, everything changed. I’ve been teaching iPad drawing professionally ever since — in my own practice, at UCLA, and on my YouTube channel (over 50,000 subscribers and 200,000 viewers a month).

Now I combine that experience with proprietary workflows—like draw-to-scale tools, hybrid rendering methods, and live workshop sessions—to help architects rediscover the joy and power of hand drawing — but in a way that fully integrates with modern digital workflows.

Over the years, nationally recognized architects on both coasts have turned to me for help with fast, flexible sketches that speak with clarity and emotion. As I've helped them, I've recognized there's an enormous need from architects and designers of all walks and levels of experience to learn these methods, and I set out to package my expertise in a digestible way to teach my methods at a larger scale.


...I started using the rendering tactics in your Rendering with Procreate course which are massively time-saving and optimize my work. Long story short, I’m now doing these quick, 2-to 5-hour color renderings—similar to what I learned in your course—for upcoming broadcast commercials and shows. My new clients love my Procreate hand renderings! So you were actually not BS-ing when you said this stuff could change your life. Just wanted to thank you again. I’m starting on the Sketchup for iPad course now, and please let me know if you ever do one for Shapr-3D. With gratitude and appreciation for all you do

Sven Johnson, Set Designer, Associate Professor of 3D Visualization, F.I.T.

That’s Why I Created the iPad for Architects Live Draw-Along Workshop

To help you finally break through the barriers that have stalled your creative growth — and actually finish learning to draw confidently on your iPad.

This live workshop isn’t just a course. It’s a five-week experience designed to give you:

  • Real-time guidance in a weekly draw-along session + office hours that keep you accountable and moving forward.
  • Community and support from fellow architects and designers who are learning alongside you — celebrating progress and troubleshooting together.
  • A clear path forward, combining the best of hand drawing, digital workflows, and proven design strategies — so you can start sketching and presenting with speed, confidence, and joy.
  • Immediate wins — whether you're designing for clients, teaching, working solo, or collaborating inside a large firm. You’ll learn techniques one evening and put them to use the very next day — on real, billable work.

This isn’t about learning everything. It’s about learning exactly what you need to finally unlock the drawing practice you've always wanted — so you can win better work, communicate with ease, and fall in love with designing again.

You’ll Discover How To

  • Master iPad drawing as a professional design tool — with intuitive, repeatable techniques that make your ideas clear, legible, and presentation-ready.
  • Design and draw to scale — using templates, rulers, stencils, and brushes built for architectural clarity and confidence.
  • Blend analog warmth with digital speed — producing sketches that feel hand-drawn but slide seamlessly into modern workflows.
  • Create beautiful plans, sections, elevations, and perspectives — all from one device, and often in a single sitting.
  • Use lightweight tools like Procreate to stay fast, flexible, and mobile — working from anywhere without being tied to a desktop setup.
  • Present ideas in a way that invites client input — keeping the process collaborative, editable, and emotionally engaging

Most courses only teach pieces of the puzzle...

This live workshop gives you the full picture — not just how to draw on your iPad, but how to actually use those drawings to move projects forward, win clients, and bring warmth and clarity into your workflow. You’ll learn tools, techniques, and real-world strategies that make iPad sketching both powerful and practical.


I’m a very recent ex-Disney Imagineer (Senior concept designer/ Art Director) and I want to grow my skills doing exactly what you're doing for vacation resorts and such. Love your videos because I’m using and learning the same tools. Thank you for these tutorials!!!

Mark Page Design Art Tutorials.

This isn’t just another iPad sketching course. It’s a faster, smarter way to actually master the skill.

Most online courses leave you to struggle on your own. University courses demand more time than you have. This workshop is different — built to fit into your real life, while giving you real-world, billable skills you can use the very next day.

Every tool and technique you'll learn is rooted in practical, real-world tasks. This is not about theory — it’s about building repeatable, professional-grade workflows that helps you work faster, present better, and grow your creative confidence with every sketch.

How Is the iPad For Architects Live Draw-Along Workshop Different? 

It's designed specifically to solve the problems holding you back. 

If you’ve tried learning iPad drawing on your own — through scattered videos, unfinished courses, or software tutorials that don’t speak to real architectural workflows — you already know the frustration.

That’s why this workshop is built differently:

  • It’s live and time-bound — so you finally finish what you start.
  • It’s guided and structured — so you’re never stuck wondering what to do next.
  • It’s architect-led — with all lessons grounded in real design tasks, not art-class abstractions.
  • It’s built on community — so you stay motivated, supported, and accountable as you build real skills.

Every session is designed to get you drawing for real projects — with tools you’ll keep using, and skills you can put to work immediately.


I rejected the iPad as just another gizmo... then I succumbed, bought an old one, and within 24 hours, I was smitten. I traded it for a powerful one two weeks later. James' courses have been magic—I never considered the iPad as a time saver, but now I can’t imagine my workflow without it. The first paying sketch took 1.5 hours, but the revision took 7 minutes... the client responded in 5 minutes and was excited.

I’ve been using computers forever, yet I feel stupid as $#!t sometimes. But somehow, these classes made it click. I got my money’s worth on the first lesson alone—how to navigate the gallery. I needed to take that before jumping into rendering. It’s hard being an old dog... but this old dog is learning new tricks.

Kathleen Kinan, Architect, Buffalo, NY.

Join the Next Live Draw-Along Workshop

A 5-week guided workshop for architects and designers to master iPad drawing and bring their hand drawing talents into the digital age.

 

$997 USD

or 3 monthly payments of $377

INCLUDES:

  • 5 live weekday workshops (draw-along sessions)
  • 5 Saturday office hours for feedback + Q&A
  • Lifetime access to all course replays
  • Unlimited auditing privileges for future cohorts
  • Full access to the complete iPad for Architects self-paced course library
  • All drawing templates, brushes, rulers, and Procreate tools used in class
  • “Try Week One Free” Guarantee — cancel before Week Two for a full refund

Learn on Wednesday. Put it to work on Thursday. Bill real hours by Friday.

Buy Now

Where These Skills Can Take You

Real stories from real projects—showing how iPad drawing can transform your process, your confidence, and your client relationships.

Real-world example 1: Residential Design Impact

What it looks like to draw at scale and explore design options quickly
THE CHALLENGE:

A homeowner came to me with a sketch they'd pieced together after wrestling with online floor plan tools. They had a strong sense of what they wanted—just not a way to organize it.

MY SOLUTION:

By importing their drawing into Procreate, I was able to slice it into parts and quickly generate seven distinct, buildable schemes. Seeing the options laid out side by side helped them instantly recognize the one that felt just right. Because the diagram was to scale, we could move straight into SketchUp—creating accurate plans, 3D massing, and elevations that showed her the design was not only possible, but real.

THE RESULT:

We arrived at a design that was deeply personal and site-specific. The client felt empowered, listened to — and excited. This house is now headed into construction in late 2025.

HOW THIS SKILLSET PAYS OFF:

Once you’ve mastered the foundational tools and workflows, you’ll start seeing opportunities like this in your own projects. The ability to quickly reshape ideas, test multiple schemes, and move seamlessly from sketch to scale drawing to 3D visualization can be a game changer — for you and your clients.

Real-world example 2: Nick Hotel

What it means to bring color, energy and story into your concept sketches
THE CHALLENGE:

My client was tasked with injecting the Nickelodeon brand into an already-designed hotel. The original building was completely generic — no color, no energy, no "Nick" magic.

MY SOLUTION:

I brainstormed immersive lobby and public space concepts — drawing directly on the iPad with bold color, perspective sketching, and real-time client feedback. We integrated iconic Nick elements like the blimp, slime, and splat into every part of the experience, while still keeping things grounded in adult comfort.

THE RESULT:

My sketches helped secure client approval and moved the project into development. The hotel became a memorable brand experience — playful for kids, functional for parents.

HOW THIS SKILLSET PAYS OFF:

Once you know how to draw at scale with clarity and confidence, your presentations start to carry more emotional and visual punch. You’ll be able to translate abstract ideas into vivid, client-ready imagery — blending hand rendering with storytelling, branding, lighting studies, and just enough polish to move big projects forward.

Real-world example 3. New Urban Design

What happens when you sketch fast enough to lead the conversation
THE CHALLENGE:

A major Middle Eastern client was developing a world-class theme park and needed rapid ideas for a next-generation queue experience. They didn’t want just turnstiles and waiting areas — they wanted immersion, anticipation, and delight. And they wanted it fast.

MY SOLUTION:

Working side-by-side with a large LA-based firm, I used my iPad and hybrid rendering techniques to sketch out over 30 design ideas in less than two weeks. Each drawing combined clarity, movement, and color — enough to communicate function, form, and atmosphere, without locking the design into rigid early decisions.

THE RESULT:

Our drawings gave the client just what they needed — a clear sense of vision and excitement without slowing down the project timeline. Our ideas were selected for presentation to senior leadership, helping to move the entire design package forward.

HOW THIS SKILLSET PAYS OFF:

When you can visualize complex ideas clearly and quickly, high-stakes clients take notice. These sketching techniques help you win trust early in the process—by showing what’s possible without boxing in the design too soon. You’ll gain the confidence to communicate ideas under pressure, while still leading with warmth, clarity, and imagination.

Ready To See How
iPad For Architects Live Draw-Along Workshop Fits Together?


OMG! You are amazing wow! I’ve learned more about procreate from your video than in a year. Thank you so much for this amazing tutorial. You made everything look so easy and your paste was incredible for actually keeping up. Watched the entire video with my mouth wide open. Thank you!

yaprak gezmen

Join the Next Live Draw-Along Workshop

A 4-week guided workshop for architects and designers to master iPad drawing and bring their hand skills into the digital age.

 

$997 USD

or 3 monthly payments of $377

INCLUDES:

  • 5 live weekday workshops (draw-along sessions)
  • 5 Saturday office hours for feedback + Q&A
  • Lifetime access to all course replays
  • Unlimited auditing privileges for future cohorts
  • Full access to the complete iPad for Architects self-paced course library
  • All drawing templates, brushes, rulers, and Procreate tools used in class
  • “Try Week One Free” Guarantee — cancel before Week Two for a full refund

Learn on Wednesday. Put it to work on Thursday. Bill real hours by Friday.

Buy Now

This Live Draw-Along Workshop Was Made for You If You...

  • Are a trained architect, interior designer, or educator frustrated that your hand drawing skills no longer fit modern workflows — and you're not ready to give them up
  • Bought Procreate (or an iPad) months ago, maybe a year ago… but never got past the basics — and now you’re stuck, embarrassed, or don’t know where to begin
  • Have tried online courses but stalled without deadlines, structure, or a real person to ask when things don’t make sense
  • Feel discouraged watching younger colleagues “move faster” with digital tools — even when you know your ideas are better
  • Want to present work that feels more personal and warm — but still looks crisp, professional, and high-end
  • Want to charge more, win more work, and communicate more clearly — by offering sketches and renderings that actually sell your ideas
  • Want to bring back the joy of hand drawing — without sacrificing speed, professionalism, or credibility
  • Are tired of working in isolation — and would thrive with support, encouragement, and momentum from a cohort walking the same path
  • Need a drawing practice that gives you results the very next day — so you can bill for it, present with it, or win clients with it
  • Are ready to finally build the drawing practice you’ve always wanted — and stop feeling like you’re falling behind in a profession you once felt at home in

This Live Draw-Along Workshop Probably Isn’t for You If…

  • You’re looking for a magic shortcut — something that makes you money without learning, practicing, or trying anything new
  • You think sketching is “just for fun” and don’t plan to use it for real design work, presentations, or client communication
  • You expect to master everything in five weeks and walk out a rendering superhero — instead of building a strong foundation you’ll keep growing from
  • You’re hoping this will feel like binging a YouTube playlist at 2x speed — with no accountability, support, or follow-through
  • You don’t actually want to draw — and are only here because someone else told you it might help
  • You’re expecting a university-style theory class — not hands-on, practical, real-world skills training from someone who draws for a living every day
  • You’re not ready to show up live (or watch the replays), try new techniques, and join a community that lifts each other up
  • You already have a polished digital rendering pipeline — and aren’t interested in adding warmth, agility, or hand-drawn clarity to your process
  • You want someone else to draw for you — instead of developing a powerful, repeatable practice you can actually own

This is great stuff. I like following along with what you are doing. Helps me put the ideas squarely in my brain.
I have long been an architect who watercolors - yet, I have never had those watercolors enter into my practice.
It seems the Procreate method may be more practical for the world today. Very Helpful! 

Eric M. Roberts, Architect

No-Risk Guarantee

I want this to be a no-brainer for you.

If you pay in full, you’re covered by my “First Week, No Risk” Guarantee. You’ll get access to Workshop Week One and your first week of live training — including the weekday session and the Saturday office hours. If you decide the course isn’t right for you, just email me before our Week Two session begins and I’ll refund every penny. No questions asked.

If you choose the three-month payment plan, you can cancel anytime before your second payment. No guilt, no forms, no fine print — just send me a note and I’ll take care of it.

Either way, you get to see what this course can do for you, risk-free.

Join the Next Live Draw-Along Workshop

A 4-week guided workshop for architects and designers to master iPad drawing and bring their hand skills into the digital age.

$997 USD

or 3 monthly payments of $377

INCLUDES:

  • 5 live weekday workshops (draw-along sessions)
  • 5 Saturday office hours for feedback + Q&A
  • Lifetime access to all course replays
  • Unlimited auditing privileges for future cohorts
  • Full access to the complete iPad for Architects self-paced course library
  • All drawing templates, brushes, rulers, and Procreate tools used in class
  • “Try Week One Free” Guarantee — cancel before Week Two for a full refund

Learn on Wednesday. Put it to work on Thursday. Bill real hours by Friday.

Buy Now

Frequently Asked Questions

Privacy Policy      Contact Us
© 2025 iPadForArchitects.com. All rights reserved.