Challenge
Students enroll in college courses to gain specialized skillsets to gain employment in a desired industry. By applying a user-centered design process to the course, can we reach greater results?
Background
Tools: Post-Its, Sharpies, Whiteboards, Cold Brew Coffee
Timeline: 10 months
Tools: Post-Its, Sharpies, Whiteboards, Cold Brew Coffee
Timeline: 10 months
During the 2017-2018 school year, I had the opportunity to teach "User Experience/User Interface Design" at The Cleveland Institute of Art. The class met on a weekly basis for a 5-hour "studio" course.
Process
Result-Focused
During moments of uncertainty, I would refocus — is this true to the course's core purpose? Is this providing students with a foundational UX skillset catered to UX employer needs?
User Research
Prior to drafting any syllabus or project prompts, I developed an understanding of user needs through connecting with students enrolled in the upcoming class, as well as students who took the course previously under a different instructor. Additionally, I reached out to design managers to learn what they looked for when hiring new grads.
Iterative Design
By breaking the class schedule into smaller sections, I was able to test and apply feedback rapidly. Not only did I embrace change to the course structure, but I planned on it — moving forward with what worked, leaving behind what didn't. This agile philosophy helped me avoid rework and iterate towards a better product.
Research
I gained valuable insight from both design students and design managers in hiring roles. Opting for in-person interviews when possible, I also leveraged phone calls, and distributed surveys to connect with both users and stakeholders.
User Interviews
Many students shared that, during their college experience, the project prompts they found the most impactful involved working with real-world clients from outside of CIA's walls.
Many students shared that, during their college experience, the project prompts they found the most impactful involved working with real-world clients from outside of CIA's walls.
Stakeholder Interviews
Hiring managers in the UX industry shared with me that when it came to evaluating entry-level designers, they were more interested in observing an understanding of process, and less interested in visual aesthetics and UI design.
Hiring managers in the UX industry shared with me that when it came to evaluating entry-level designers, they were more interested in observing an understanding of process, and less interested in visual aesthetics and UI design.
Solution
The course was composed of elements students found impactful, like real-world client projects, without ignoring what UX employers are looking for — an emphasis on process.
Real-world Clients
A benefit of teaching at CIA is being able to tap into their network of connections.
• Collaborated with University Hospitals to develop a mobile app designed to support multiple sclerosis patients.
A benefit of teaching at CIA is being able to tap into their network of connections.
• Collaborated with University Hospitals to develop a mobile app designed to support multiple sclerosis patients.
• Teamed up with MOCA Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University, and Berlin-based contemporary artist, Simon Denny, for an experimental project that explored industry-disrupting tech, like AI and Blockchain.
Design Thinking
To help simplify the UX design process, we followed the same Design Thinking formula for each project prompt. Students understood the emphasis of user input by focusing on it during the project's kickoff, then returned to their users to test prototypes as they completed the project.
1. Empathize
2. Define
3. Ideate
4. Prototype
5. Test
1. Empathize
2. Define
3. Ideate
4. Prototype
5. Test
Design Sprints
To demonstrate the scalability of this Design Thinking process, we facilitated multiple Design Sprint workshops around design challenges the students were passionate about.
1. Map
2. Sketch
3. Decide
4. Prototype
5. Test
1. Map
2. Sketch
3. Decide
4. Prototype
5. Test
Evoking Passion
As a former CIA student, I knew where some existing pain points existed in the CIA student experience. By turning these hot button topics into project prompts, I found it led to passionate participation.
Embracing Innovation
An experimental project with Case Western Reserve, MOCA, and CIA led to students exhibiting work at MOCA Cleveland with contemporary artist, Simon Denny. Students broke into teams to investigate and explore the impact of disruptive tech, and created board games that simulated how industry and tech interact...yes, board games.
Results
In the years that followed, I've been absolutely thrilled to observe many of my students pursue careers in the UX field.
Obviously, this is thanks to these amazing students' own drive, dedication, and talent...but I enjoy thinking they carry a piece from the course as they embark on their UX careers!
Initially nervous to teach, this step outside of my comfort zone helped me discover personal leadership strengths I wasn't previously aware of. Additionally, as a result of teaching, I became very comfortable evangelizing the importance and value of user-centered design in the workplace.
