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I'm leading a hands-on interior design course in London and you're invited to join me!



Have you ever dreamed of starting your own interior design business? If so, you're in for an absolute treat! Let me introduce you to my design collective, First-Hand Design.


First-hand design brand logo

I've teamed up with 3 other passionate creatives, each with years of creative entrepreneurial experience under their belts...


First Hand interior design course leaders on colourful backgrounds

Kevin Haley (Kevin Haley Studio): Interior Designer, specialising in storytelling through design and Lecturer at the Royal College of Art.


Simon Hamilton (Simon Hamilton Creative): Design Careers and Networking Expert. A respected figure in the industry, with over 30 years experience.


Julio Calanche (Sales Done Right): Creative Sales Strategist.


And let's not forget little old me; Hannah Drakeford (Hannah Drakeford Design): Interior Designer, Furniture Upcycling Extraordinaire (hehe), and Content Creator.



And we'll be leading Craft & Draft, a unique, hands-on interior design course that will see us design and transform an under-used space in the New Acres development in Wandsworth, London into the pub of the future, while we teach you everything we know about starting and building successful interior design businesses.



What can you expect from the course?

Paint being poured over 2 broken pub chairs as an art installation

Full details and tickets can be found on our Eventbrite page, but to summarise, the course will take place over 1 weekend, where you and your fellow students will be joining us here in Wandsworth to plan and implement your design for the pub of the future.


We're lucky to have access a space that we can completely transform. There will be a huge cupboard of tools and supplies at your disposal and a vast array of colourful paints, supplied by the fabulous YesColours. You'll be decorating the walls and windows, reimagining the flooring, building a bar and upcycling all the pub furniture. It's a space you can really get messy in, explore your design and crafting skills and let your creativity run wild in!

hannah drakeford interior design with messy paint on hands

And alongside the transformation, your course leaders will be delivering workshops to help you develop your business skills, such as how to create effective sales strategies and how to harness the power of social media to develop and grow your brand.







Why are we building a pop-up pub?

First hand interior design course leaders planning the workshop materials

In the UK, pubs have been at the centre of our communities for hundreds of years, but due to the economic downturn and our changing habits, they are closing down at a record rate, with Fifty pubs a month closing their doors in England and Wales in the first half of 2024. We think it's time we came up with a vision for the pub of the future. How do we reimagine the concept of the pub, to keep these valuable community spaces thriving for future generations? We also wanted to celebrate the rich brewing heritage of the Wandsworth area, which used to be home to the Ram Brewery, one of the largest and well-known in London, so designing and building a pop-up pub, which can be used as an event space and community hub for locals, seemed like the

perfect project for our team of creative entrepreneurs to collaborate on.



What happens after the course?

You'll come away with photos and videos of a real life project that you can use in your portfolio to attract clients and to launch your brand's social media accounts. In addition, you'll be part of a community of other entrepreneurs, all at similar stages in your careers and we'll be encouraging you to support each other as you start out on your business journeys together.


We'll also be inviting you back for an evening to toast the launch of the pub with us. There will be additional workshops, guest speakers, drinks and snacks and a chance to network with other entrepreneurs and industry professionals.


So, if you want to be a part of this truly unique, community-focused venture, while gathering skills to help you launch a new creative career, then what are you waiting for? Grab yourself a ticket! (There are only 20 places in total, so don't hang around!)


So, will we be seeing you down the pub?



Craft and Draft interior design course logo




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