TUMO S T U D I O S

PUTTING YOUR MARK ON CONTEMPORARY ARMENIAN DESIGN

If you have a burning passion for creating and designing, join us and our network of acclaimed designers and artisans to shape your own Armenian-inspired contemporary products.

At TUMO Studios, you will acquire new technical and design skills and gain hands-on practice in product creation. You will work towards developing your own product line, which you will be able to promote in partnership with TUMO Studios or get assistance in creating your own brand and personal studio.

BECOME A STUDENT

TUMO Studios offers free of charge technical courses and design ateliers for imaginative individuals looking to tap into their artistic potential. If you have a burning passion for creating and designing and are between the ages of 16 and 28, join us and our network of internationally acclaimed designers to shape your own artisanal, Armenian-inspired products while putting your own mark on contemporary Armenian design.

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PROGRAM

The TUMO Studios educational program consists of technical courses and design ateliers. You will determine your own pace, designing a personal schedule around the standard program timeline.

Build up your skills in a beginner level technical course. Technical courses are currently available in jewelry making, ceramics, pattern making, embroidery, and silk screen printing.
In parallel to the technical course, you will be able to participate in design ateliers with local and international experts.

Duration of a technical course: 3 – 12 months
Minimum requirement: 1 technical course

Hone your craft by participating in design ateliers and diving deeper into a focus area. With each atelier you complete you will add more products to your portfolio, and will round out your set of skills and knowhow.
Students are required to participate in a minimum of 1 technical course and 12 design ateliers to complete the TUMO Studios educational program.

Duration of a design atelier: 2 – 4 weeks
Minimum requirement: 12 design ateliers

If you complete at least 1 technical course and 12 design ateliers, you will have the opportunity to design and produce an original collection of products for TUMO Studios and showcase your work in exhibitions.

Duration of residency: 1 year

In parallel to your studies, you will have many opportunities to advance and improve your craftsmanship and design skills. TUMO Studios provides students who have shown commitment and excellence with opportunities to study abroad, do internships with renowned designers, work on product development and production, and take part in exhibitions.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Anyone residing in Armenia and between the ages of 16 and 28 can become a TUMO Studios student. No prior knowledge or background is required to participate in our technical courses.

Design ateliers require some basic experience. For participation, you will be asked to provide a selection of your work.

Apply to become a TUMO Studios student by completing an application form online or in person at TUMO Studios.

TUMO Studios technical courses and design ateliers are free of charge.

TUMO Studios currently offers technical courses in jewelry making, ceramics, pattern making, embroidery, and printmaking. Two admissions rounds are held per year for technical courses in April and October. The technical courses are taught by permanent staff at TUMO Studios.

Each technical course has different schedules. Students will have the flexibility to determine their own schedules when fulfilling them. For example, students can work in three hour sessions, two times a week. Schedules are provided upon acceptance.

Students may take more than one technical course at a time, provided that they complete the designated hours for each.

*Technical courses do not limit the kind of design ateliers that can be taken later. For example, a student who has taken a technical course in jewelry making may participate in a printmaking design atelier.

A design atelier is an educational workshop in any of our focus areas led by a visiting expert from Armenia or abroad.

Design ateliers last between two weeks and one month long, and they are held throughout the year. When in session, they take place five days a week, Monday through Friday, 11:00 – 15:00 or 16:00 – 20:00.

Design ateliers are announced two to three weeks ahead of their start date. Space is limited and enrollment depends on the requirements of the atelier and the portfolio submitted by the applicant.

Students are required to participate in a minimum of 1 technical course and 12 design ateliers to complete the TUMO Studios educational program.

Completing the full educational program can take anywhere from two to three years depending on the study pace of the student and the duration of the courses.

By participating in the TUMO Studios program, you gain technical and design skills around a certain craft and create your own portfolio of products.

You will learn from expert artisans and designers, have opportunities to study abroad, participate in internships, gain employment and exhibit your work publicly.

UPCOMING DESIGN ATELIERS

Four elements and ceramics

Duration: October 2 – 13
Scheduling: Monday to Friday, 10։00 – 13։00

Deadline to apply: September 24
Language: English

In nature, elements co-exist together. There’s never a case of just one element. But how does this idea connect to our new atelier?

From October 2 to 13, TUMO Studios will hold an atelier to discover and create around this topic under the leadership of ceramist Ivana Petan.

With Ivana, students will explore the sound, visuals, color, and haptic aspects of each element. From their research, they will bring out local, traditional, and cultural stories associated with the elements and create clay items based on their discoveries.

Tufted Landscapes

Duration: October 9 – 14
Scheduling: Monday to Saturday, 14:00 – 20:00

Deadline to apply: October 1
Language: English

Mariadela Araujo, an old friend of TUMO Studios, will be returning with colorful ideas for a new atelier.

This time, students will observe landscapes colored by the warm autumn of Armenia, take photos, and create sketches with Mariadela.

Students will then learn the skills necessary to work with a special tufting gun to bring their sketches to life.

At the end of the atelier students will create rugs inspired by the palette of autumn in Armenia.

Theory

Crafting a Compelling Brand Identity

Duration: September 18 – 26
Schedule: Monday-Friday, 12։00-15։00
Deadline to apply: September 10
Language: English

TUMO Studios will be hosting Vardui Grigoryan, a creative marketing strategist, to lead the “Crafting a Compelling Brand Identity” atelier.

This atelier aims to empower participants with the knowledge and skills to create a comprehensive brand identity and voice that can be applied to various aspects of business, such as marketing, social media management, and packaging design. Through practical exercises, interactive sessions, and expert guidance, the participants will learn to develop a cohesive brand strategy that resonates with their target audience.

Apply before September 3. The atelier will take place from September 18 to 26, Monday through Friday, 12։00-15։00.

Ceramics

Duration: 12 months (April – March)
Schedule: 4 hours weekly
Deadline to apply: March 26
Language: Armenian
Led by: Vardan Aghabekyan

Duration: 12 months
Schedule: 4 hours weekly
Deadline to apply: March 26
Language: Armenian
Led by: Vardan Aghabekyan

The ceramics technical course at TUMO Studios starts with feeling the clay in your hands, crafting the details of the final product, and ends with becoming a pro at the pottery wheel.

The course will take place at TUMO Studios (Pushkin 38).

UPCOMING technical courses

Embroidery

Duration: October 16 – April 5 (6 months)
Schedule: Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 17:30 – 19:30
The schedules will be available for selection upon acceptance.

Deadline to apply: August 20
Language: Armenian
Led by: Mariam Gharibyan

During the six month technical course, you will learn about crochet, macramé, and five types of Armenian embroidery styles: Urfa, Sebastia, Marash, Van, and Ayntap.

The courses will take place at TUMO Studios (Pushkin 38).

Silkscreen Printing

Duration: October 16 – February 16 (3.5 months)
Schedule: Monday to Friday, 2 sessions per week, 2.5 hours per session, between 11:00 and 16:00.
The schedules will be available for selection upon acceptance.

Deadline to apply: August 20
Language: Armenian
Led by: Armine Margaryan

During the course, you will get the practical knowledge of silk screen printing and learn how to transfer your designs onto materials like fabric or paper.

The courses will take place at TUMO Studios (Pushkin 38).