Your design identity already exists.
We help you discover it.
At The Residency, we believe no two designers think or feel the same.
Your TRA (The Residency Archetype) is your creative blueprint: a lens through which you interpret space, identity, and story.
Our TRA system allows you to learn in alignment with how you naturally design, giving you the tools, rhythm, and reflection points that match your creative DNA.
Slide through our four TRAs below to have an idea of which TRA will guide you along your journey at The Residency.
ONYX
The Story-Weaver
Essence
Narrative. Sensory. Intuitive.
Design Behaviour
ONYX designs like they write memories. They translate personal history into warm, poetic interiors that hold emotion in silence and light.
They Thrive On
Natural light, tactile materials, soft palettes
Emotionally intelligent client interpretation
Spaces that feel like rituals
Learning Style
Reflective + Emotional Learner
They absorb meaning through personal connection, storytelling, and journaling. They need emotional context before technique, and they flourish when invited to feel their way through design.
TRA Language
“What story is this space meant to hold?”
Design Style Lean
Layered softness, cultural intimacy, spiritual modernism
Celebrity Doppelgänger
AERO
The Vision-Builder
Essence
Logical. Fluid. Functional.
Design Behaviour
AERO thrives in clarity. They design for rhythm, practicality, and peace — prioritizing how people move, function, and think inside a space.
They Thrive On
Intelligent layouts, negative space, modularity
Light tech integration
Visual and spatial flow
Learning Style
Analytical + Sequential Learner
They prefer structured modules, clear instructions, and step-by-step logic. They need frameworks and often reverse-engineer creative ideas based on outcomes and utility.
TRA Language
“How does someone move through this space?”
Design Style Lean
Functional minimalism, modular purity, ergonomic softness
Celebrity Doppelgänger
SORA
The Logic-Crafter
Essence
Structured. Grounded. Intentional.
Design Behaviour
SORA designs with restraint and calm authority. Their spaces are orderly and quiet, deeply tied to longevity, memory, and atmospheric stability.
They Thrive On
Clean lines, architectural form, symmetry
Grounded palettes, solid materials
Spatial rhythm and restraint
Learning Style
Deliberate + Observational Learner
They need time to absorb and reflect before acting. They are process-oriented, often needing clarity on why a method exists. They observe deeply before contributing—and when they do, it’s impactful.
TRA Language
"What is the structure that’s holding this feeling?"
Design Style Lean
Earthy minimalism, architectural serenity, timeless classicism
Celebrity Doppelgänger
NOVA
The Experimentalist
Essence
Expressive. Unconventional. Visionary.
Design Behaviour
NOVA creates from the gut. Their work is instinctual, layered, and always reaching beyond what’s expected. They bring emotion through boldness, surprise, and movement.
They Thrive On
Editorial thinking, bold contrasts
Soft surrealism, concept-first design
Expressive materiality and sensory immersion
Learning Style
Intuitive + Experiential Learner
They learn by doing, experimenting, and breaking rules. They need space to push boundaries and make mistakes without judgment. The more open-ended the exercise, the more they shine.
TRA Language
"What if this space felt like a dream you’re still unpacking?"
Design Style Lean
Sculptural maximalism, artistic contradiction, moody futurism
Celebrity Doppelgänger
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Understand Yourself
Each section is a mirror — look at how you naturally create, think, and respond.
Design in Alignment
Use your TRA to guide your workflow, client fit, career path, and creative choices.
Journal With It
These traits aren’t final. They’re foundations. Reflect on what evolves over time.
Return to it Often
Your TRA will mean more the further you go. It’s a map — not a label.
Who Shares Your Design DNA?
Three words that frame this TRA’s soul — their creative nucleus.
How this archetype moves through space, story, and sensory experience.
The conditions that unlock their creative clarity and emotional fluency.
The unique way this designer absorbs, processes, and applies knowledge.
A guiding question they unconsciously ask whenever they design.
Their visual tendency — what their spaces often look and feel like.
A known figure who embodies the emotional texture of this archetype.
Leyden Lewis
ONYX
Leyden builds atmospheres like poems:
slow, intentional, and spiritually charged.
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Tiffany L Thompson
NOVA
Tiffany creates interiors that feel like prayers: soft, sculptural, and unspoken.
John Pawson
SORA
John designs like a monk with light: stripping space back to its essence until silence can speak.
Faye Toogood
AERO
Faye's work feels handmade by memory — stitched, cast, or stacked with emotion.
We've mapped some of the world's most iconic design minds to the four TRAs.
See where your spirit aligns.
What's your TRA for?
Pathways
001: The Fundamentals
Begin with who you are. Design from there.
Self-paced
DESCRIPTION
This is your first chapter in The Residency.
001: The Fundamentals is a self-paced, beginner-friendly immersion into the core of our philosophy: design identity.
You won’t just learn how to decorate a space, you’ll learn how to interpret a story and translate it into spatial form.
In this opening chapter, you’ll explore:
-
The foundations of spatial thinking
-
A soft entry into 3D visualisation (interface tour + essential tools)
-
How your unique TRA (design archetype) shapes the way you create
-
How to design a sample living room from a real-world client brief
By the end, you'll have created your first finished visual, guided not by trends or templates, but by your own perspective.
No experience required. Just the courage to begin.
MENTOR
Hey! I’m Aurelie Rivkah —
an artist, educator, and founder of The Residency.
I’ll be walking with you through this first course, helping you create from who you already are.
DETAILS
Time Commitment
8-10 hours total
Level
Beginner-friendly
Access
Global, digital
Outcome
1 fully designed living toom
Open Access To
Course 002: The Method
002: The METHOD
Translate your identity into form.
Self-paced
DESCRIPTION
This is where your identity takes shape.
002: The Method is the second chapter of The Residency, a deeper immersion into spatial storytelling.
Now that you’ve uncovered who you are in 001: The Fundamentals, it’s time to interpret that identity in three dimensions, with clarity, precision, and emotional resonance. This chapter is where design becomes a language. Partnering with a fellow student, you’ll create a space that holds memory, atmosphere, and narrative.
What you’ll explore:
-
Translating identity into spatial form through real and fictional client briefs
-
Core principles of layout, scale, proportion, and flow
-
Storytelling through light, materiality, and architectural gestures
-
Giving and receiving spatial critique to evolve your design voice
-
Collaborative design through peer pairing and reflective dialogue
MENTOR
In this beta version, I’ll guide you through my full method while you help shape the future of the course.
We’re building this together, in real time.
DETAILS
Time Commitment
4 weeks total
Level
Intermediate (Course 001 recommended)
Access
Global, digital
Outcome
1 fully designed ensuite bedroom (8K stills + VR + written concept)
Open Access To
Course 003: The Mastery
003: The MASTERY
Design with clarity. Show up with authority.
Live 4-week cohort
DESCRIPTION
This isn’t the end. It’s the emergence.
003: The Mastery is the final chapter of The Residency — a live, guided course designed for identity-rooted designers who are ready to lead, launch, and live out their creative direction with full alignment.
This course isn’t about completing a curriculum.
It’s about becoming undeniable in your portfolio, positioning, and professional presence.
You’ve remembered who you are (001). You’ve built from it (002). Now it’s time to be seen, positioned, and established.
You’ll leave with:
-
A professionally designed, identity-rooted digital portfolio
-
An aligned offer suite or mapped career direction
-
A clear brand and online presence strategy
-
Foundational tools to run your practice (contracts, rates, structure)
-
Deepened clarity around your voice, vision, and value
MENTOR
You won’t walk this alone.
In 003, you’ll learn from both me and a select group of design industry professionals who live this every day
DETAILS
Time Commitment
4-6 hours/week
Level
Advanced (only open to 002 alumni or full-program students)
Access
Global, Digital, By Application Only
Outcome
Portfolio + career/practice direction + graduation
Status
Coming Soon
MENTOR
Hey! I’m Aurelie Rivkah —
an artist, educator, and founder of The Residency.
I’ll be walking with you through this first course, helping you create from who you already are.
DESCRIPTION
This is your first chapter in The Residency.
001: The Fundamentals is a self-paced, beginner-friendly immersion into the core of our philosophy: design identity.
You won’t just learn how to decorate a space, you’ll learn how to interpret a story and translate it into spatial form.
In this opening chapter, you’ll explore:
-
The foundations of spatial thinking
-
A soft entry into 3D visualisation (interface tour + essential tools)
-
How your unique TRA (design archetype) shapes the way you create
-
How to design a sample living room from a real-world client brief
By the end, you'll have created your first finished visual, guided not by trends or templates, but by your own perspective.
No experience required. Just the courage to begin.
Begin with who you are. Design from there.
001: The Fundamentals
DETAILS
Time Commitment
8-10 hours total
Level
Beginner-friendly
Access
Global, digital
Outcome
1 fully designed living room
Open Access To
Course 002: The Method
Self-paced
002: The method
TRA
ONYX
MENTOR
In this beta version, I’ll guide you through my full method while you help shape the future of the course.
We’re building this together — in real time.
DESCRIPTION
This is where your identity takes shape.
002: The Method is the second chapter of The Residency, a deeper immersion into spatial storytelling.
Now that you’ve uncovered who you are in 001: The Fundamentals, it’s time to interpret that identity in three dimensions, with clarity, precision, and emotional resonance. This chapter is where design becomes a language. You’ll learn to shape interiors that don’t just look good, they mean something.
Partnering with a fellow student, you’ll create a space that holds memory, atmosphere, and narrative.
What you’ll explore:
— Translating identity into spatial form through real and fictional client briefs
— Core principles of layout, scale, proportion, and flow
— Storytelling through light, materiality, and architectural gestures
— Giving and receiving spatial critique to evolve your design voice
— Collaborative design through peer pairing and reflective dialogue
Time Commitment
4 weeks total
Level
Intermediate (Course 001 recommended)
Access
Global, digital
Outcome
1 fully designed ensuite bedroom (8K stills + VR + written concept)
Open Access To
Course 003: The Mastery
DETAILS
002: The Method is currently in its Beta phase.
This means you won’t just be a student — you’ll be a co-creator.
As a beta tester, you’ll move through the self-paced content at your own rhythm, while giving light feedback that helps us shape the final version of the course.
What Beta Testers Receive:
— Early access to all lessons, briefs, and guides
— The opportunity to influence the course’s final structure
— Permanent discounted rate on the course once the beta ends
— Early access to 003: The Mastery
Self-paced
BETA TESTING 002
Translate your identity into form.
003: The MASTERY
TRA
ONYX
MENTORS
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You won’t walk this alone.
In 003, you’ll learn from both me and a select group of design industry professionals who live this every day.
DESCRIPTION
This isn’t the end. It’s the emergence.
003: The Mastery is the final chapter of The Residency — a live, guided course designed for identity-rooted designers who are ready to lead, launch, and live out their creative direction with full alignment.
This course isn’t about completing a curriculum.
It’s about becoming undeniable — in your portfolio, positioning, and professional presence.
You’ve remembered who you are (001). You’ve built from it (002). Now it’s time to be seen, positioned, and established.
You’ll leave with:
-
A professionally designed, identity-rooted digital portfolio
-
An aligned offer suite or mapped career direction
-
A clear brand and online presence strategy
-
Foundational tools to run your practice (contracts, rates, structure)
-
Deepened clarity around your voice, vision, and value
Time Commitment
4-6 hrs/week
Level
Advanced (only open to 002 alumni or full-program students)
Access
Global, Digital, By Application Only
Outcome
Portfolio + brand presence + career/practice direction + graduation
Status
Coming Soon – Applications open to eligible students only
DETAILS
-
Crafting a soul-aligned, portfolio-ready design narrative
-
Offer clarity: defining your design niche, pricing, and practice
-
Personal brand refinement: visuals, language, and digital presence
-
Legal + financial foundations for launching your studio or freelance career
-
Career support for employment-seeking designers (CVs, interviews, proposals)
-
Presentation mastery and storytelling for clients and collaborators
-
Career mapping across freelance, consultancy, studio, and hybrid pathways
-
Live mentoring with guest professionals in the interior design industry
Live 4-week cohort (guided sessions + assignments)
WHAT YOU SHOULD EXPECT
Design with clarity. Show up with authority.
Circle
The Residency is more than just a curriculum.
Circle is where the journey deepens.
This is the private space for everyone inside The Residency.
A place of conversation, reflection, and creative exchange. It's where questions are asked, breakthroughs are shared, and each designer's process is witnessed in real time.
Circle is not a forum. It’s a living room. A shared space where every perspective matters and every voice shapes the atmosphere.
Here, we don’t just connect. We grow together. We challenge and refine.
We speak the language of design with people who understand its weight.
Whether you’re in Chapter 001 or preparing for 003, Circle is where you’re seen, not just as a student, but as a designer becoming.
This is your creative anchor.
Your quiet motivator.
Your circle.
Their words. Their walk.
Hear from Amy (SORA), Bukky (SORA), and Nana (AERO) as they reflect on what The Residency unlocked for them — not just in their design process, but in how they see themselves.
Alumni Spotlight:
Olivia Ziregbe & Ember Spaces
After completing The Residency, Olivia Ziregbe, an ONYX, founded Ember Spaces — an identity-led interior design practice rooted in emotional warmth, spatial storytelling, and cultural presence.
Her time in The Residency gave her the tools to refine her offer, master her design language, and step into her career with clarity.
The introduction was clear, covered the main aims of the course and broke down interior concepts in a digestible way (e.g. What is interior visualisation, and why is it important?).
I especially loved how it jumped into the visualisation interface early on, and I found the initial introduction into using the software really helpful.
Nana Mensah, AERO - 001: The Fundamentals
The most valuable part was being part of a group of community with similar interests and are likeminded. Seeing everyone’s designs and ideas was very insightful!
Nali - 001: The Fundamentals
I think for me it was the topics on design identity and language. These really helped me understand that though my designs may not be the same as others, there is still room for my designs somewhere out there!
Wanjavwa - 001: The Fundamentals
Activations Along The Way
The Residency isn’t a linear course. We've designed a sequence of moments designed to build identity, community, and presence at every stage.
We welcome you to sign up to our newsletter to keep up with major updates.
For Courses 001 & 002
Each cohort connects through regular online sessions designed for live discussion, feedback, and creative connection. These calls provide space to align with your process, share progress, and build quiet familiarity with your cohort.During Course 003, each cohort meets in person once, in the majority city.
This is a grounding moment in the journey — an opportunity to connect physically with the creative community you've been walking with and to mark the final chapter with presence.
The Circle is your central hub throughout the journey.
It includes cohort-based chats, resources, announcements, and TRA-specific groups — giving you a quiet, focused space to grow with others who share your design rhythm.Held annually or bi-annually, this public gathering invites students, alumni, and the wider design world into The Residency’s philosophy.
The summit explores design identity and tech integration through guest speakers, panels, and immersive sessions and concludes with the official graduation ceremony.
Pricing + Access
SELF-PACED • OPEN TO ALL
001: The Fundamentals
£ 297
Cohort size: 30
Learn your design identity
Understand your TRA
Design a narrative living room
Output: 8K visual
SELF-PACED · BETA ACCESS
002: The Method
£ 447
£597 after Beta
Interpret identity using real & fictional briefs
Learn spatial flow, proportion, and materiality
Final outcome: Ensuite bedroom, 8K visuals + VR tour
LIVE COHORT · APPLICATION ONLY
003: The Mastery
£ 1,200
Cohort size: 10
Career strategy + portfolio refinement
Legal + financial guidance for your studio
Guest mentors + branding support
In-person meet-up + graduation access
Need Support?
Payment plans are available for Courses 002, 003, and the Full Journey.
To explore flexible options, please reach out to us at hello@designataura.com
The Aura Seat
One gifted place. Every cohort.
The AURA Seat is our sacred offering — a fully funded place awarded to one individual per cohort who is spiritually and creatively aligned with the vision of The Residency.
It’s not based on merit, need, or application performance.
It’s for the one who’s meant to be here.
If you sense this work is part of your calling — not just a next step, but a divine assignment — you’re invited to apply.
SELF-PACED • OPEN TO ALL
001: The Fundamentals
£ 297
Cohort size: 30
Learn your design identity
Understand your TRA
Design a narrative living room
Output: 8K visual
SELF-PACED · BETA ACCESS REGISTRATION OPEN
002: The Method
£ 447
£597 after Beta
Interpret identity using real & fictional briefs
Learn spatial flow, proportion, and materiality
Final outcome: Ensuite bedroom, 8K visuals + VR tour
LIVE COHORT · APPLICATION ONLY
003: The Mastery
£ 1,200
Cohort size: 10
Career strategy + portfolio refinement
Legal + financial guidance for your studio
Guest mentors + branding support
In-person meet-up + graduation access
ALL THREE COURSES · PRIORITY ACCESS
The Full Journey
£ 1,800
Lifetime access to all 3 courses
Full entry into The Residency Circle
Priority admission to 003
Guaranteed seat at Graduation Summit
Need Support?
Payment plans are available for Courses 002, 003, and the Full Journey.
To explore flexible options, please reach out to us at hello@designataura.com
The Aura Seat
One gifted place. Every cohort.
The AURA Seat is our sacred offering — a fully funded place awarded to one individual per cohort who is spiritually and creatively aligned with the vision of The Residency.
It’s not based on merit, need, or application performance.
It’s for the one who’s meant to be here.
If you sense this work is part of your calling — not just a next step, but a divine assignment — you’re invited to apply.
From The Founder
I didn’t build this school because I had all the answers.
I built it because I couldn’t find the questions that mattered.
I’m a self-taught designer who shaped her practice not from trends or templates,
but from identity - mine, and the people I’ve been trusted to design for.
The Residency is everything I wish existed when I started.
A place where your story leads, your spirit is heard, and design becomes language.
Aurélie Rivkah Tshiama