CAD Design Academy — photoreal NZ home render
CAD Design Academy · Aotearoa New Zealand

Become the designer AI can't replace.

Fast-track your architecture career — or generate more sales. NZ-specific design, building-consent and AI training that helps emerging designers build real confidence through practical workflows, mentorship and industry insight.

Join the next intake → See how it works
20+Hours saved / week
$20–50kExtra earning / yr
100%NZ-specific
$120From / month
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NZ Building Code ◆ Building Consent ◆ NZS 3604 ◆ AI Workflows ◆ Twinmotion ◆ Archicad ◆ Consent Documentation ◆ MBIE ◆ Construction Awareness ◆ NZ Building Code ◆ Building Consent ◆ NZS 3604 ◆ AI Workflows ◆ Twinmotion ◆ Archicad ◆ Consent Documentation ◆ MBIE ◆ Construction Awareness ◆
01 — The shift

The industry just changed
beneath everyone's feet.

AI now drafts concepts in seconds. Consent pathways tighten every year. Clients expect renders, not promises. The gap between designers who adapt and designers who don't is widening — fast.

The good news: the people who learn the new way early don't just keep up. They become the obvious choice.

  • ◆
    AI moved from novelty to baseline

    Studios already brief, concept and render with it daily.

  • ◆
    Consent is less forgiving

    RFIs and rework punish anyone guessing at the Code.

  • ◆
    Clients want to see it, now

    Photoreal expectation has become the default, not the upsell.

02 — The honest truth

Most designers are
quietly falling behind.

Not because they aren't capable. Because nobody taught them the practical, NZ-specific way the work actually gets done today.

03 — Here's why
01

Theory without application

You learn the concepts but never take a real project to building consent.

02

AI is moving too fast

Tools change monthly. Without a system it's overwhelming — so most people freeze.

03

No one shows the real workflow

Brief to concept to consent to render — taught start to finish, the NZ way, almost nowhere.

04 — The answer

Meet CAD Design Academy.

Many aspiring designers learn the theory but struggle to apply it to real projects. We bridge that gap — teaching the practical skills, workflows and industry knowledge used every day in New Zealand's design and construction sector.

20+ hrs

The AI-powered design system that can save you 20+ hours every single week.

A full home

Complete a residential house design — concept to consent — within 12 months.

$20–50k

Discover the skills that can earn you an extra $20,000–$50,000 per year.

Who it's for

Built for where
you are right now.

◆

Students

Curious about architecture and how the industry really works.

◆

Future professionals

Learn how architectural projects actually operate, end to end.

◆

Junior designers

Build workflow confidence and real project awareness.

◆

Career changers

Transition into architecture with beginner-friendly guidance.

◆

Builders & developers

Read plans with authority and spot costly mistakes early.

◆

Workflow learners

Master documentation, systems and client communication.

1:1 mentorships · Live Q&A with industry experts · Industry templates · Downloadable resources · Community learning · Zero exams. Zero pressure.

05 — The method

From concept
to consent.

Every membership walks the full architectural process — with increasing depth, workflow understanding and industry exposure.

01Client Brief
02Concept Design
03Developed Design
04Digital Modelling
05Documentation
06Council & Consent
07Construction
Finished photoreal render of a completed NZ home
Consent drawing
1

Design with confidence

Concept and developed design that actually works on a real NZ site.

2

Document for consent

Code-correct drawings that pass council — fewer RFIs, faster sign-off.

3

Render & present

Turn drawings into photoreal visuals with AI and Twinmotion that win the client.

4

Deliver like a pro

Brief to Code Compliance Certificate — the full lifecycle, run properly.

The CAD AI Method

One brain.
A team of AI agents.

Not random prompts — a connected brain orchestrating eight specialist AI agents, one for each stage of the NZ design process. Each agent is trained for its job; together they run your whole workflow while you stay in control. Tap an agent to meet it.

CAD AI
The system

The CAD AI Brain

Orchestrating 8 specialist agents

Every stage below feeds the same connected brain — so your brief, your Code knowledge, your drawings and your renders all talk to each other. Consistent, fast, and unmistakably yours.

OutputA faster, sharper, fully NZ-specific design workflow.
20+ hrs / weektime the brain gives back
Trained on the NZ system NZ Building CodeNZS 3604MBIECouncil consentTwinmotionMidjourneyArchicad
06 — What's inside

Everything you get.

◆

26+ practical modules

Across three career-grade courses — concept design, NZ Building Code, consent pathways, construction, client management and AI workflows. Self-paced, beginner-friendly, NZ-specific from the first lesson to the last.

◆

Copy-paste AI prompt packs

Ready-made prompts for concepts, briefs and renders.

◆

AI render templates

Midjourney & Twinmotion setups that just work.

◆

Real consent & practice templates

Client briefs, variation forms and NZ construction details you can use on live projects from day one.

◆

1:1 mentorship with Sophie

Quarterly sessions on Growth & Pro tiers.

◆

Private peer community

Real project support when you need it.

◆

Certified pathway & lifetime improvements

Pro unlocks the Certified AI Design & Build Professional pathway, priority support and early access to new content.

07 — Your journey

The student journey.

Stage 1

Foundations click into place

Understand how NZ residential design and the Building Code actually fit together — no jargon, no gatekeeping.

Stage 2

You design your first real concept

Take a brief and turn it into a developed design that holds up on a real site.

Stage 3

You document for consent

Produce a code-correct drawing set and learn exactly what council looks for.

Stage 4

You render, present & deliver

Add AI and Twinmotion to your workflow and walk away able to run a project end-to-end.

Real work · Real NZ projects

The standard
you'll learn to hit.

Every render below is real CAD Consultants work — the level of design, documentation and presentation you'll be building toward.

NZ residential render — Aotea HouseAotea House
NZ residential render — Moody HouseMoody House
NZ residential render — EdenEden
NZ residential render — ZaraZara Entry
NZ residential render — Cosford HouseCosford House
NZ residential render — Breckle HouseBreckle House
08 — Built for real outcomes

Results that compound.

0
Career-grade courses
0
Lessons in AI course alone
0
NZ Building Code aligned
0
Full access, every tier
★★★★★
"I finally understand how a project actually moves from brief to consent. I stopped guessing."
[Student name] · Career changer, Auckland
★★★★★
"The AI workflow alone paid for the course. My renders look like a studio's now."
[Student name] · Architectural designer, Christchurch
★★★★★
"Practical, NZ-specific and warm. It's the mentor I wish I'd had years ago."
[Student name] · Draftsperson, Wellington

Sample testimonials shown — replace with your real student quotes before launch (you have a testimonials folder ready to pull from).

09 — Why CAD Academy

Learn from someone
still in the trenches.

S
Sophie Stevenson, founder of CAD Consultants Ltd
Sophie StevensonFounder · CAD Consultants Ltd
"You don't need to have all the answers — you just need a place to start."

CAD Academy is built from real-world experience and real NZ projects. The training is designed to help you gain confidence faster, avoid costly mistakes, and build a successful career in architectural design.

Everything taught comes from a working New Zealand design and construction practice — not theory.

Live
Working NZ practice
NZ
Code & consent expertise
1:1
Direct mentorship
Learn from industry professionals

Members can access live Q&A sessions with the people who deliver real NZ projects:

ArchitectsPlannersBuilders ConsultantsEngineersSurveyors
10 — The transformation

Today vs. 12 months from now.

Today

Guessing your way through

  • — Slow, unsure where to start
  • — Avoiding AI, falling behind
  • — No systems, constant rework
  • — RFIs and consent delays
  • — A portfolio that doesn't sell
  • — Low confidence, lower rates
After CAD Academy

The person everyone comes to

  • ✓ Fast, with a clear process
  • ✓ AI-powered, ahead of the pack
  • ✓ Repeatable systems, less rework
  • ✓ Consent-ready documentation
  • ✓ A portfolio that wins clients
  • ✓ Confident, industry-ready, higher value
11 — Choose your path

Choose your course.

Every tier includes a 12-month payment plan at the same total cost · Starter 12×$59 · Growth 12×$149 · Pro 12×$249

12 — Common questions

Questions, answered.

13 — Ready when you are

The future of architectural
design starts here.

Both courses open immediately after enrolment. Self-paced. NZ-specific. From $120/month. Limited places each intake.

Join the next intake → Visit the plan shop