Developing the next generation of UX/UI Designers

I’m proud to be a veteran instructor at one of the most prestigious UX bootcamp schools in the world

I’ve been the Lead Instructor on seven full-time three month immersive UX Design career-change courses at General Assembly, perhaps the most widely recognised UX bootcamp provider globally.

In Week 3 of their 12-week full-time immersive UX training, I taught Katie, Ed, Nat, Maeve and Josh the principles of Information Architecture using a twist on the traditional card-sorting methodology: candy-sorting 🍭 — *In Week 3 of their 12-week full-time immersive UX training, I taught Katie, Ed, Nat, Maeve and Josh the* *principles of Information Architecture using a twist on the traditional card-sorting methodology: candy-sorting* 🍭

As well as long-form courses, I’ve taught and devised numerous other shorter courses and workshops on many aspects of UX & design, ranging from one hour to one week. I’ve crafted syllabuses, devised bespoke curriculums, and have been recognised as a member of General Assembly’s distinguished faculty for my role in supporting and training other instructors - particularly when it comes to remote collaboration.

I’ve personally facilitated over 1500 hours of remote training since March 2020

I’d done so much remote facilitation over the previous 12 months that I decided it would be rude not to share the things I’d learned by crafting eeeeven more General Assembly workshops 😅 — *I’d done so much remote facilitation over the previous 12 months that I decided it would be rude not to share the things I’d learned by crafting eeeeven more General Assembly workshops* 😅

With the right tools 🛠️ and the right mindset 🧠, collaborating remotely can be every bit as engaging and enjoyable as doing so in-person…and even more efficient! — *With the right tools* 🛠️ *and the right mindset* 🧠*, collaborating remotely can be every bit as engaging and enjoyable as doing so in-person…and even more efficient!*

I equip UX trainees with the best-practice methods, tools, techniques and processes they need to succeed

From Affinity Mapping to Usability Testing, from Design Studios to Wireframing, and with numerous other methods, the courses I teach cover all the essential knowledge an aspiring Product Designer needs - but providing an understanding of the tools themselves is just the beginning.

*UX immersive students Jack, Freddie, Lieke and Xavi at work on a concept brief that I wrote, designing a new ‘at-seat’ ordering system for Honest Burgers*

A core part of the training involves instilling a design thinking mindset, and applying it in practice to a series of increasingly complex projects, in order that students be equipped to devise their own approaches to solving design and business challenges in the real world.

On top of that, and perhaps most importantly - is the soft skills.

I coach and mentor students to be the best designers and collaborators they can be

The most important success criteria for being a UX/UI designer are not the tangible ones - anyone can learn to create a prototype in Figma from watching YouTube tutorials, or to memorise the fundamental structure of an experience map from a Medium article.

In my opinion, the most valuable UX skills are cultivating empathy, presenting ideas and concepts based on the perspective of the reciever, active listening, facilitating, delivering and recieving feedback effectively, staying mindful of one’s own preconceptions, and truly caring about both your users and those you collaborate with.

Nobody can claim to be perfect at all of these all the time - but I myself hone them every way I can, whilst supporting my students and colleagues to do the same.

I loved coming to work every day alongside Severin and Soraia, my two fantastic teaching assistants across multiple immersives. They’re now seeking their next challenges, so if you’re after Junior UX/UI Designers, check them out - they don’t come be… — *I loved coming to work every day alongside* ***Severin*** *and* ***Soraia***, my two fantastic teaching assistants across multiple immersives. They’re now seeking their next challenges, so if you’re after Junior UX/UI Designers, check them out - they don’t come better than this.

I help UX trainees understand the wider context in which they’ll work.

UX doesn’t happen in a vacuum. I introduce students to wider ways of working in the industry, calling on methodologies like waterfall, agile and lean. We develop an understanding of the structures and rituals of product teams - how they manage work, set goals and measure success in the real world.

Then, the learning becomes even more tangible, with case studies from throughout my career as a freelancer/contractor and a permanent employee, for clients, agencies and consultancies, and across industries. In areas where I don’t have direct experience, I tap into my network to arrange guest speakers and industry Q&As.

I get students writing their first lines of code - but more importantly, I help them understand the how and why of working effectively with development teams.

*UX designers-in-training are delighted when I show them how with just basic knowledge (and ‘Inspect’ mode on Google Chrome), they can tinker with their favourite websites*

I’ve sourced clients, defined briefs, and supported teams through 43 design sprints for active startups and small businesses

Each course culminates in the trainees taking on a real-life client project. I source suitable clients (typically startups) alongside the course producers, support the clients in defining a suitable scope and brief, and then guide the students through applying the relevant tools and methods they have learned in a 3 week collaborative design sprint.

The focus of the courses I teach is on UX, but I also guide their development in UI

Figma is our primary design and prototyping tool. In this Loom gif, I was explaining the concepts of style guides and pattern libraries 🎨 — *Figma is our primary design and prototyping tool. In this Loom gif, I was explaining the concepts of style guides and pattern libraries* 🎨

While I haven’t been formally trained as a graphic designer, my years of experience developing and designing digital products allows me to guide trainees through applying principles of effective UI design, critiquing and supporting them as they learn to bring their visuals to life. I’ll often collaborate alongside other General Assembly instructors to ensure students emerge with a well-rounded skillset.

I’m committed to fostering diverse, inclusive and positive working and learning environments

The society we live in is not equal. I’m becoming more aware of the need to build my awareness of my own inherent biases, my own blind spots, culturally-ingrained unconscious habits, and the privilege of my position - advantages I’ve been given by virtue of race, gender, orientation and educational opportunity.

I aim to enable a working culture where everyone can thrive, no matter their background or how they identify. It is the variety in our experiences and perspectives that stimulates growth the most. We learn from our diversity, and I have as much to learn from the students as they do from me.

Yes, there’s a whole lot of learning to be done in order for them to transition to a shiny new career, and we work hard…but we never forget to have fun along the way 🥳 — *Yes, there’s a whole lot of learning to be done in order for them to transition to a shiny new career, and we work hard…but we never forget to have fun along the way* 🥳

As much as I love running these training courses, I’m ready for my next adventure 🚀

I hope you can tell that I’ve absolutely adored my time running full-time training courses at General Assembly. The people, the sense of contribution, and the relationships are as powerful as any I’ve encountered in my career thus far.

At the same time - delivering the content itself is no longer challenging me enough, so while I’ll be sure to retain the best bits and continue to dabble with coaching, mentoring, and short-form/part-time training - I’m ready for my next adventure!

Fancy a chat?

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