The Draft.
Built for the beginning.
Before the sampling. Before the factory. Before the money gets spent in the wrong place. This is where the foundation gets laid.
The Draft is the education arm of Salt & Lemon. Practical, commercially grounded, and built around one idea: the gap between having a design and knowing how to develop it properly is where most early mistakes happen.
These sessions are for founders, emerging designers, and students who want to understand the development process before they're in the middle of it.
The Draft: Product
Development Workshop
The full product development journey. Half a day. No prior knowledge required.
A structured half-day session covering the full development process from first concept through to production-ready. You leave with a clear understanding of every stage, what needs to happen at each one, and where brands typically lose time, money, and clarity.
What's covered
- The full development process — concept to production-ready
- Tech packs and why they matter
- Measurements and size structure
- Sampling stages and how to manage them
- Understanding patterns and grading
- Fit sessions — how to run them and what to look for
- Supplier sourcing, briefing, and communication
- Critical path and timeline management
Who it's for
- Founders preparing to launch their first brand
- Designers taking a product to market for the first time
- Students preparing to enter the industry or launch independently
- Anyone who wants clarity before spending on development
Format & Pricing
| Format | Length | Investment |
|---|---|---|
| 1-to-1 | Half day | £315 |
| Small group (up to 5) | Half day | £220 per person |
| Institution / university cohort | Half day | Get in touch |
1-to-1 Mentorship
Senior technical guidance through your actual development process.
For founders and designers who are ready to start building and want an experienced hand alongside them. Not general advice — working through your real product, your real decisions, your real timeline.
Each month we cover where you are, what needs to happen next, and what to watch out for. You make the decisions — just with over a decade of commercial product development experience alongside you.
What's included
- Two 1-hour sessions per month
- Hands-on guidance tailored to your stage
- Tech pack review and feedback
- Supplier and factory advice
- Fit session support
- Clear next steps after every session
Best for
Founders who have completed the workshop and are moving into active development. Or anyone who already understands the basics and wants experienced technical support without needing a full studio engagement.
Not sure where
to begin?
Start with the workshop. It gives you the full picture in half a day — so you know exactly what comes next.
Book a Discovery Call