Learn to design with the professionals
A range of short design courses suited for enthusiasts and budding designers of all ages.
Based in the stunning English Riviera, our range of courses offer both the combination of a holiday setting and Design Studio tuition by top class professionals.
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2 Day - Introduction to Design Sketching
The weekend course is hosted by internationally renowned designer Steve Harper and fellow Design professionals, at the SHADO Riviera Design Studio, Paignton, Devon. Tuition would be for all, whatever level of artistic skills, and would introduce you to the specialist sketch & rendering techniques used by designers. With numerous demonstrations and personal guidance, the course will develop your skills, plus, help you explore your own creativity and enthusiasm for the subject of Automotive & Product Design.
The basic materials; paper, pens, pencils will be provided. These and other designer's tools, can be purchased at the end of the course if required.
Saturday & Sunday
£200.00 -
2 Week - Introduction to Clay Modelling
Scale and Full-size Clay models are used extensively throughout the Design Studios of the world, for both Exterior & Interior designs.
Hosted by internationally renowned designer Steve Harper and clay-modeller colleague Tony Tovey, together with fellow professionals, in the SHADO Riviera Design Studio, Paignton, Devon, this updated version of the Course introduces you to those skills used by Design Clay Modelers. With 'One on One' guidance & tuition, together with demonstrations using scale models, full size exterior and interior panels, this Course offers you the chance to explore the specialist tools & techniques used, your own creativity, and provide you with the opportunity to investigate a new hobby or career.
The basic materials; clay, clay rakes & slicks, radius sweeps, will be provided. Similar tool sets to those used, can be purchased during or after the course if required.
Monday to Friday 10am – 5pm (light lunches included):
£1850.00 -
2 Week - Introduction to Design
This introductory Course is hosted by internationally renowned designer Steve Harper, together with fellow professionals, in the working environment of the SHADO Riviera Design Studio. The Introduction in Design is ideal for people who would like to experience the world of Automotive and Product Design, and are interested in developing their sketching & creative skills and become proficient in the techniques used in a Design Studio. The Course offers tuition in design techniques, with numerous demonstrations of sketching & rendering techniques, guiding the student through the process of turning an idea into reality. Together with helping you explore your own creativity, it also would offer you the opportunity to further investigate a new hobby, or lead you towards a Higher Education Course or career.
The basic materials; paper, pens, pencils, clay, clay rakes & slicks, radius sweeps, would be provided. Similar tools to those used, can be purchased during or after the Course if required.
Monday to Friday 10am – 5pm (light lunches included):
£1900.00 -
4 Week - Clay Modelling Masterclass
In Studios throughout the World, a Car, Van, Truck or Bus 3D design is still developed using clay models, which are crafted by a team of skilled modelers. The Master Class, hosted by internationally renowned professionals, at the working SHADO Design Studio in Paignton, Devon, offers you the opportunity to explore your own creativity in an authentic environment, provide you with some valuable experience and allow you to further investigate a new hobby or career.
The 'One on One' tuition around realistic scale models and full-size Exterior & Interior panels, would enable you to gain knowledge of the specialist tools & techniques used by Automotive clay modelers, then let you develop your own skills, in all of these disciplines, up to the standard of a junior professional.
The basic materials; clay, clay rakes & slicks, radius sweeps, will be provided. Similar tool sets to those used, can be purchased during or after the course if required.
Monday to Friday 10am – 5pm (light lunches included):
£3750.00 -
4 Week - Design Masterclass
The Design Master Class is a multi-disciplined Course, ideal for anyone who is serious about developing their all-round design skills.
The 'One on One' Course offers in depth tuition in design techniques, an introduction to ALIAS computer aided design, as well as the opportunity to experience the tools & techniques of clay modeling.
With numerous demonstrations of sketching & rendering techniques, tape drawing, ALIAS model construction and presentation tools, scale modeling, full size exterior and interior work, under direct personal guidance, it is ideal for all, whether a beginner, graduate or someone considering a mid-career change.
The basic materials; paper, pens, pencils, clay, clay rakes & slicks, radius sweeps, would be provided. Similar tools to those used, can be purchased during or after the Course if required.
Monday to Friday 10am – 5pm (light lunches included):
£3900.00
Courses from March 2011
All Courses include light lunches and run from 10am to 5pm.
Due to regular request, we are now revising the availability of the new improved ‘One on One’ Course dates, to suit your own diary and availability. For instance the '2 day – Introduction to Design Sketching' can now be offered during consecutive week days, as well as over weekends.
Also the 4 week Courses may be split into 2 x 2 week blocks, to allow the student some personal development time between sessions, in order to maximise their own learning process, or meet existing work / holiday restrictions.
2 Day course
Title | Code | Days | Dates |
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Introduction to Design Sketching | WEC-DS - 2011 | 2 | Can be tailored to suit your own availability |
2 Week courses
Title | Code | Days | Dates |
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Introduction to Clay Modeling | TWC-IC - 2011 | 10 | Can be tailored to suit your own availability |
Introduction to Design | TWC-ID - 2011 | 10 | Can be tailored to suit your own availability |
4 Week courses
Title | Code | Days | Dates |
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Clay Modeling Masterclass | FWC-CM - 2011 | 20 | Can be tailored to suit your own availability |
Design Masterclass | FWC-DM - 2011 | 20 | Can be tailored to suit your own availability |
We can offer a list of recommended hotels in the area, from small and friendly B&Bs to luxury spa hotels, covering a range of budgets.
For further details, contact Steve Harper 01803 527772 or shado@shado.co.uk
RIVIERA DESIGN STUDIO • TROJAN INDUSTRIAL ESTATE • PAIGNTON • DEVON • TQ4 7EP
Course Recommendations
Freelance Motoring Journalist
“Although I am not a would-be designer, sampling a weekend course as a journalist for Autocar magazine, I was amazed to find that I was able to produce a moderately presentable rendering of a half-reasonable car. Amazed, because I have no drawing skills at all, but SHADO were nevertheless able to dredge something up. Apart from this satisfaction, the course was practical, illuminating and enjoyable too. To anyone with aspirations to design cars, whether as a professional or a happy amateur, I'd recommend it.” December 14, 2010
Richard Bremner, Freelance Motoring Journalist

Design Masterclass
“I found the Design Masterclass both extremely interesting and rewarding, offering a good insight into vehicle design, as well as providing a sound basis to develop my skills further. Steve’s wealth of experience and knowledge both as a designer and teacher meant that I could learn a great deal during the course. I consider it to have been a very good investment and I can thoroughly recommend it to anyone contemplating a career in design.” December 14, 2010
Martin Donovan

The Modern Leonardo Da Vinci
“As an individual with an interest in automobile design, it has been an amazing opportunity to take a design course at SHADO. Located
at the seaside Riviera of Paignton with great views, the studio is well furnished with state-of-the-art design facilities and this made the
course study a thrill.”
“Steve Harper as a renowned international designer, has a wealth of experience in design techniques and processes and his unique tutoring
ability (an all-rounder in art and design who could dubbed in my own words as the "Modern Leonardo Da Vinci"), together with guest automobile
design experts and friendly studio staff during this course has permanently transformed my idea development and rendering techniques
approach in automobile design. I would strongly recommend a SHADO design course for anyone with an interest in art
and design.” December 14, 2010
Michael Kotoh-Mortty
