Westhighland Designs Academy

Master the Fundamentals of 2020 Design in 4 Recorded Classes

Go from struggling with the basics to confidently creating kitchen designs, construction drawings, and professional presentations — taught by a designer with 30 years in the industry.

Enroll in the Training
30+
Years in Design
4
In-Depth Classes
100%
Recorded & Replayable
REPLACE WITH: Karen Hockley at her desk with her West Highland Terrier

Learning 2020 Design on Your Own Is Frustrating

You bought the software. You watched the manufacturer's tutorials. But when you sit down to actually design a kitchen, you're still guessing, backtracking, and spending hours on things that should take minutes.

  • Spending too long on basic tasks

    Drawing walls, placing cabinets, and importing appliances shouldn't take all day — but without guidance, they do.

  • No one to ask when you're stuck

    Working alone means there's no colleague to ask "am I doing this right?" — and manufacturer support only goes so far.

  • Picking up bad habits you don't know about

    Self-taught designers often find workarounds that create bigger problems later — and don't realize it until they're deep into a project.

  • Presentations that don't impress clients

    You know the design is good, but your renderings and construction drawings don't show it — and that affects how clients perceive your work.

4 Classes That Build on Each Other

Each class is recorded so you can rewatch, pause, and practice at your own pace. By the end, you'll have the skills to design, present, and document a complete kitchen project.

Class 1

Drawing Your First Kitchen

  • Drawing walls
  • Adding windows, doors, and doorways
  • Building in the countertop depth refrigerator
  • Importing appliances from the cloud
Class 2

Cabinetry, Molding & Finishes

  • Placing wall cabinetry
  • Deeper wall cabinet above fridge
  • Placing toe kicks
  • Starter molding and crown molding
  • Placing sink and faucet
  • Importing countertop textures
Class 3

Islands, Lighting & the Quote

  • Adding the island & finishing for rendering
  • Finding and understanding the Quote
  • Importing lighting into your design
  • Importing ceramic tile
  • Decorating the kitchen
Class 4

Presentations & Construction Drawings

  • Rendering and importing drawings into Canva
  • Creating construction drawings for contractors
  • Understanding how to look up the cabinet quote
REPLACE WITH: Karen Hockley at her desk with design samples

Hi, I'm Karen Hockley

CMKBD, CAPS • Founder & Principal Educator

With over 30 years in the kitchen and bath design industry, I've designed hundreds of kitchens using a wide range of manufacturer catalogs and mastered the tools of the trade — including 2020 Design software.

I started teaching because I saw too many talented designers struggling with software that should be making their work easier, not harder. My classes are built around real projects and real-world problems, so you're not just learning features — you're learning how to actually use them on the job.

Whether you're brand new to 2020 Design or you've been self-teaching and want to clean up bad habits, I'll meet you where you are and help you build real confidence with the software.

"Karen demystifies, offers real time examples and projects while presenting the process in a concise but comprehensive fashion."
— Natalie Z, Academy Student

Designers Who Took the Training

"Karen is truly phenomenal. Her charismatic personality and deep knowledge of the 2020 Design system make her exceptional. She is patient, clear, and very easy to understand. Her expertise has been incredibly valuable to us."

CF
Catalina Focil
Google Review

"If you're on the fence, just do it! I taught myself 2020 Design over the last year and I work by myself with no one to ask questions. Even though I'm technically not a beginner, I knew I was doing some things the hard way. One day of class and it's already been so helpful."

NZ
Natalie Z
Academy Student

"Karen is a fantastic instructor delivering valuable, practical content. Her experience shows in her deep knowledge of design, 2020 software, and the cabinet industry as a whole. I highly recommend her training."

SS
Sarah Stephens
Design Professional

"The 4 Workshops were so helpful — whether you are new to Design or a year+ in. Karen built on each subsequent session with recaps and clear examples, offering her personal experience and allowing each participant to share their screen for additional help. AND she taped each session so you can go back and review. Above and beyond!"

JM
Jeanne McLaughlin
Academy Student

"I enrolled in Karen Hockley's Westhighland Designs Academy the day she launched it. I can confidently say that Karen is one of the most effective, knowledgeable, and patient instructors I've had. Her classes stand apart from others with their unique and engaging content. Karen genuinely cares about her students' progress. I cannot recommend her and her academy highly enough."

SE
Samantha Emmerling
Academy Student

"Karen spent a few valuable hours helping me and my team get setup and going on cabinet design software. We flew through the basics as we are a very tech forward crew. As a business owner, I value my time and the time with my team, so the fact that we were able to get through this quickly was not only beneficial but saved me money!"

KL
Keffie Lancaster
Business Owner

"My goal was to build on my skills as a newer kitchen designer. I was very fortunate to have met Karen Hockley. She has been a mentor and a credible and brilliant trainer who delivers her knowledge with authenticity and patience. Thank you, Karen, for your support and guidance. You never disappoint!"

JM
Jeanne McLaughlin
Kitchen Designer, Owner

Invest in Your Design Skills

Four recorded classes covering everything from drawing your first wall to delivering professional presentations and construction drawings.

Complete Training
$399

One-time payment. Full access to all 4 recorded classes.

  • 4 in-depth recorded video classes
  • Watch at your own pace, rewind and replay
  • Beginner through intermediate topics
  • Taught using Diamond Cabinetry — one of the most widely used catalogs in the industry
  • Taught by a 30-year industry veteran
Enroll Now
Full access — learn at your own pace

Already a member? Kitchen & Bath Design Master Membership members get this entire training — a $399 value — included at no extra charge.

Learn About the Membership

Common Questions

Do I need to already know 2020 Design software?
Not at all. The training starts from the very beginning — drawing walls and placing your first elements. It's designed so complete beginners can follow along. That said, experienced designers have also found it valuable for cleaning up bad habits and learning more efficient workflows.
How long are the classes?
Each class is a full-length recorded session (about an hour each). They're recorded so you can pause, rewind, and rewatch as many times as you need while you practice alongside.
Do I need a specific version of 2020 Design?
The training uses 2020 Design with Diamond Cabinetry catalogs. The core skills and workflows apply across versions, though some menu locations may vary slightly if you're on a different version.
How long do I have access?
Once you enroll, the recordings are yours to watch whenever you need them — whether that's working through the course over a weekend or coming back to a specific class six months from now when you need a refresher.
I've been using the software for a while — will I still learn something?
Absolutely. Several students who were already using 2020 Design said they discovered they'd been doing things the hard way. The training covers proper workflows, shortcuts, and techniques that even experienced users miss when they're self-taught.
Can I get help if I'm stuck on something?
Yes. Karen is available to answer questions and support students through the course. You're not just getting videos — you're getting access to a 30-year industry veteran who wants to see you succeed.

Stop Struggling with the Software

Join designers who went from frustrated to confident with 2020 Design. Four classes. Real projects. A teacher who's been where you are.

Enroll in the Training

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