How We Support Design Students
Solutions Globali brings together decades of experience in global arts and design education - from university teaching and research to senior academic leadership, as well as invited work with professional organizations and government departments, plus embassies, NGOs and others. One constant throughout: care for students and for their success.
On this page design students and families can see the different ways that we can work together—from free curated resources to full, ongoing advisory support. Don't see what you need - or have a question? Contact us.
For a more general view of support areas, see the "Support For Students" page, where we present a macro view of the design school application process: finding your design path, considering locations, developing your portfolio, and guiding your applications.
Here, we focus on the specifics of how we support you at various levels, so you can choose the kind of relationship that fits you now.
Levels of Support for Design Students
You can begin with free curated resources and, if it makes sense, move into more personalized support over time. Here are the main ways we work with design students.
Free Curated Resources
Short, carefully organized guides to design careers, study locations, and industry trends—available to everyone at no cost. A good place to explore options and form questions before deciding on next steps.
Guided Conversations
A focused Zoom call to clarify your path, compare options, or plan next steps. Ideal when you have specific questions that go beyond what email can cover.
Design Studio
Our Design Studio members area offers a carefully-curated Design Library of guides and tools to help you choose your direction and prepare strong applications and portfolios. You also gain access to topics-based presentations, and small-group webinars and short programs, along with their recordings to revisit in your own time.
Concierge Advisory
A continuous advisory relationship from early exploration through final submissions, for students and families who want a single, steady guide through the process. Concierge Advisory brings together location and program strategy, portfolio and application guidance, and ongoing mentorship as your plans develop.
Free Curated Resources
Who this is for
Students beginning to explore design careers, programs, and regions, and families who want a clear, trustworthy starting point.
How we support you
- Our Explore Design Careers and Find Your Place in Design guides, organized by discipline and path.
- Our Locations page, highlighting regions and countries where you can study design.
- Design Notes: Blog posts and curated news on design and design education, plus admissions, study opportunities, and industry trends.
- Reading Rooms: Quiet spaces to read collections of posts and curated news from our Design Notes.
- Design Horizons newsletter: Occasional email updates with notes on design education, careers, study opportunities, and admissions. We keep these informational and service-focused, not promotional.
Additionally, two core pieces from the Design Studio members area — the Map of the Design School Journey and the University Application Tracker—are available on open access so you can begin working with them right away. For more information about the Design Studio, see further below.
How this connects to our mission
These resources reflect the same thinking behind all our student support—especially finding your path—and are available to everyone at no cost. They are designed to help you understand options, clarify your interests, and consider and formulate questions before you decide whether to work with us more directly.
How to start
Explore the Explore Design Careers and Locations pages - plus Design Notes - and, if you wish, sign up to receive our Design Horizons newsletter with occasional updates on design education and industry trends.
Guided Conversations
Who this is for
Students and families who have specific questions that go beyond what email can cover, and who might desire a focused conversation before making larger decisions.
How we support you
Options to consider:
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A free 30-minute Zoom consultation call to clarify your path, compare options, or talk through next steps.
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A paid 60-minute Zoom conversation to go deeper into your plans, needs, and timelines. We’ll focus on a specific set of questions or decisions. Includes a short follow‑up summary with key points and suggested actions.
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A paid 90 minute one-to-one Zoom session to look at your overall strategy — how your portfolio, statement of purpose, and program choices work together. This session can also be used for other in-depth topics you’d like to explore. Includes a short follow up summary with key points and suggested actions.
Typical questions
- How do I know which design discipline suits me best?
- How can I narrow my list of countries or regions?
- What should I focus on this year to prepare for strong applications?
- Is jumping into a program right for me now, or should I wait?
- How should I approach my statement of purpose so that it supports, rather than repeats, my portfolio?”
How this connects to our mission
Guided Conversations often center on one of our core areas—Finding Your Path, Portfolio Development, or Application Guidance—but in a single, conversational session. They are a way for you to work with us without committing to a full advisory relationship.
How to start
A simple way to begin is by choosing a time for a Zoom call on our Guidance Services page. If you’re not sure which option there is right for you, you can also email us with a few lines about your background, plans, and questions, and we’ll suggest options that fit your situation and timelines.
Design Studio
Who this is for
Students and families who want more than a single conversation but are not yet looking for full concierge support. This level of support is especially good for those who like learning independently with a curated library of resources and recordings, and in small, guided group or short, focused formats.
How we support you
Our Design Studio members area provides entry into two important spaces:
1) Our extensive and carefully-curated Design Library of guides, tools, checklists, and templates so you can stay organized and on track, work through key steps, approach applications with clarity and confidence, and revisit key ideas at your own pace.
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Two core pieces from the Design Library—the Map of the Design School Journey and the University Application Tracker—are available as open access so you can begin working with them right away.
2) Sessions and Archives. From time to time, our Design Studio offers its members recorded presentations, small group webinars, and short programs on specific topics—from funding your studies to building a portfolio that reads clearly across cultures.
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Preparing for interviews and conversations with schools.
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How design programs read and consider applications and portfolios.
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Thoughts and strategies about funding—scholarships, grants, fellowships - and realistic financial planning.
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Comparing programs across countries and regions.
How this connects to our mission
These programs expand upon the basic concepts described on our Support For Students page—especially Application Guidance and Portfolio Development— and Design Notes/Reading Rooms, offering a more guided way to explore where — and how — you might study design.
How to start
Begin by joining our Design Studio. You can start with Library-Only access or choose Full Access if you’d like both the library resources, plus live sessions and recordings. New sessions and recordings are announced through our Design Horizons newsletter, so be sure to subscribe. You are also welcome to email us to suggest topics or questions you’d like to see explored in future sessions, or guides and materials to add to our library.
Concierge Advisory (Full Support)
Who this is for
Design students and their families who prefer a more continuous, personalized advisory relationship from early exploration through final decisions, and who would like a single place to bring questions as their plans evolve.
How we support you
We begin with a deep initial conversation to understand your background, interests, and possible directions in design. From there, we work together over time on questions such as: choice of design disciplines, where in the world to study, how to shape and present your portfolio, understanding applications, how to approach essays and statements of purpose, and how to compare offers when they arrive. The aim is to walk you through the process, not just appear at one or two points along the way.
Frank admissions guidance
Admission decisions belong to the institutions. Our role is to help you see the landscape more clearly, make thoughtful, realistic choices about where to apply, and understand how best to structure and complete your application materials. In short: help you to become the strongest and most authentic candidate you can be, and to be clear about what is and is not realistic for you.
How this connects to our mission
Concierge Advisory offers students and their families the full depth and breadth of our expertise - and maximum access. It brings together all the areas described on our "Support For Students" page—Finding Your Path, Portfolio Development, and Application Guidance (plus our Design Studio and its Design Library and other resources) —into one seamless relationship of mentored support.
How to start
Email us to request an initial Concierge Advisory consultation. We will respond with a brief set of questions to aid in structuring our initial conversation, and work with you to find a convenient day and time for an introductory Zoom call.
Not Sure Which Level of Support You Need?
If you are unsure where to begin, reach out to us - even if it is just a simple question. To best advise you, share with us by email a bit about your background, your current studies or work, and your goals. In return, we will suggest a reasonable next step—whether that is pointing you to our free curated resources, scheduling a Zoom conversation, joining our Design Studio and webinars, or full advisory support.
Email: info@globaliplus.com