Level 1
Artistic Textures
Sabulador sandy walls, sea-wave Mavericks and Arteco 7 patina – your first step into Italian artistic textures.
- Movement, light and system thinking from day one.
- Boards and walls that designers can actually specify.
Italian Surface Finishes · London Studio & Italy
ISF Academy – learn the Framework, not just the finish.
The ISF Academy is a structured route into Italian decorative, architectural and waterproof systems – from first artistic textures, through silk, metallics and concrete, into microcement and wet rooms and, finally, Framework project leadership.
Instead of isolated “effects”, every Level sits inside one Framework, so what you learn in the Studio can be specified, priced and delivered on real UK projects.
Hands-on · small groups
London Studio & Italy
Installer, designer & practice routes
Why this Academy exists
Beautiful finishes only survive if the system behind them is solid.
Most problems with decorative finishes don’t start in the bucket – they start in the substrate, sequence or decision-making. The Academy is built to change that. Each Level combines motion and aesthetics with system logic, risk and language you can use with designers, contractors and clients.
From “effect paint” to architectural Framework.
At ISF we don’t sell “effects in a tin”. We work inside one Framework that links artistic textures, silk, metallics, concrete, stone, marble, microcement and waterproof bodies into a coherent map.
- Every Level shows where its systems sit next to other families, not in isolation.
- Training is delivered in the same space designers see – the London Studio with full walls and bays.
- Access to critical systems (especially wet-area and microcement) is linked to training and support.
- The goal isn’t one hero wall – it’s a repeatable way to deliver entire schemes.
The six Levels
One ladder · many ways to climb it.
You don’t have to complete every Level in order. Some installers start with artistic textures and move slowly. Others arrive with years of Venetian, microcement or resin work and jump straight into metallics, mineral walls or wet systems. The Level pages give full detail – this is the overview.
Level 2
Silk, Suede & Satin Walls
Fabric-inspired walls using Valsetin / Valsetin 2 and Valrenna / Valrenna 2 on light-critical elevations.
- Calm, believable silk and suede walls under real light.
- Prepares you for metallics, which are even less forgiving.
Level 3
Metallic & Industrial Walls
Klondike Classic & Light, Meteore 8 Lamé, Valmetal, Ferro & Corten – designer metallic and industrial metals.
- Control sheen, grain and patina on tall elevations.
- Metallics as architecture, not as “special effects”.
Level 4
Concrete, Stone & Marble Walls
Meteore 10 Cemento, Intonaco and Marmorizzato – architectural mineral language for full schemes.
- Concrete, stone and marble readings that stand up under raking light.
- Bridges directly into wet-area frameworks and microcement.
Level 5
Italian Microcement & Waterproof Artistic Walls
E-VOLUTION PLUS waterproof bodies and I-BETON PLUS microcement for bathrooms, wet rooms and floors.
- Substrate triage, mesh logic and full system build-ups.
- Gateway to restricted system supply and warranty pathways.
Level 6
Framework Lead & Project Mentor
For installers already leading multi-system projects who are ready to carry Framework-level responsibility.
- Lead complex Framework schemes and small teams.
- Own QA, RAMS, warranty documentation and mentoring.
Routes through the Framework
Installers, designers and studios use the Academy differently.
The Framework is built primarily for professional installers – but designers, specifiers and studios plug in their own way. The right route depends on the work you want to own over the next few years, not just the next job.
Installer route
Most installers move through Levels 1–4 at their own pace, then add Level 5 when they’re ready to take responsibility for bathrooms, wet rooms and floors. Level 6 is for those who naturally end up leading Framework projects.
- Tools-in-hand at every Level, in the London Studio.
- System access (especially wet-area and microcement) linked to training and assessment.
- A clear pathway into the ISF Installer Network and project leads.
Designer / specifier route
Designers and specifiers dip into selected Levels to understand how systems behave and how to write them into specifications. You’re welcome – but you’ll spend time at the wall, not just in a chair.
- Popular: Level 1 (textures), Level 2 (fabric walls), Level 4 (mineral walls) and waterproof briefings.
- Helps you design with the Framework in mind from the very first sketch.
Practice & studio route
Some studios send full teams – designers plus preferred installers – into selected Levels or private intakes so everyone is speaking the same language on systems, risk and detailing.
- Custom combinations of Levels and Studio sessions around key projects.
- Ideal for practices repeatedly using Framework systems across their portfolio.
Spaces
London Studio & Italy — where the Framework lives.
Training starts in the ISF London Studio, surrounded by full-scale walls, bays and catalogue boards. Higher Levels and selected intakes also connect directly to Italy – for manufacturer contact, innovation and system development.
London Studio — full Framework in one room.
The Studio is where you see every family in context – artistic textures, silk and suede, metallics, concrete, stone, marble, microcement and Waterproof Artistic Walls. Training bays are sized and lit like real projects: tall walls, corners, soffits, awkward corridors, stair cores.
You don’t just learn how to make something look good in a close-up. You learn how it behaves in the kinds of rooms you actually work in.
Italy — innovation, manufacturing & residencies.
At the top of the Framework, selected installers join Italy-based innovation and design residencies. These connect you directly with Valpaint’s technical and R&D teams and show how new systems and languages are developed before they reach the UK.
It’s where Framework Leads help steer how products are positioned, tested and supported on future UK projects.
Questions
ISF Academy — general FAQ.
Do I have to take the Levels in order?
The Levels are designed as a ladder, but you don’t have to climb every rung. Many installers start at Level 1 and move steadily up. Others enter at Level 2–4 based on existing experience. Level 5 (continuous & wet systems) and Level 6 (Framework Lead) usually require evidence from earlier Levels or equivalent project work.
How do I know which Level is right for me?
Use the enquiry form below to share where you are now – years in the trade, systems you already run, links or photos. The Academy will reply with a suggested starting Level and, if useful, a phased route through the Framework so you’re not guessing or repeating things you already do well.
Where do Academy courses take place?
Almost all training runs in the ISF London Studio. Selected groups and Level 6 activity connect to Italy for manufacturer visits, residencies and innovation work. Any off-site or project-specific training is agreed with you in advance.
What about dates, prices and availability?
Dates and prices vary by Level, group size and whether it’s an open intake or something tuned to a particular practice. When you enquire, the Academy will confirm current dates, costs and availability and can hold a place briefly while you sort travel and diaries.
Are tools and materials provided?
Yes. All primers, bodies, decorative coats and sealers are provided. You’re encouraged to bring the tools you normally work with, but the Studio also holds full kits so you can experiment before committing to any new tools on live projects.
Do Academy Levels include certification?
Yes. Each Level includes assessment appropriate to its content. Successful installers receive Level-specific recognition that links to system access and, where relevant, warranty pathways. Level 6 recognises an ongoing Framework Lead role rather than a single exam.
Can you run private or practice-only intakes?
Yes. For studios, practices or installer groups who need project-specific training, ISF can tune content, dates and group size. Use the enquiry form below and note that you’re interested in a private intake or practice-level plan.
Not sure where to plug in? Start with a conversation.
Share where you work, what you install now and what kind of projects you want more of – textures, silk / suede, metallics, concrete / stone / marble, bathrooms, wet rooms, floors or full Framework schemes. The Academy will suggest a starting Level and a realistic route.
ISF Academy enquiry — help me choose the right Level.
A short form is enough. The team will review your experience, portfolio (if you have one) and the kind of work you want to own, then reply with suggested Levels, dates and next steps.