What is Full Stack Design?
You are a creative person with a curiosity about human behaviour. Do you look at a website or app and feel like you could make it better or easier to understand for the user? Perhaps you’ve worked in graphic design and now want to take your skills into the digital space.
Did you know there are 1,776 privately held tech companies in Calgary alone? According to Calgary Economic Development, there has been a 22 percent growth in tech talent and total tech jobs over the past five years. Alberta is ranked as one of the top 50 North American tech markets. The numbers don’t lie - there are endless opportunities to join innovative companies that are tackling some of the world's greatest challenges. Tech companies need creative people like you to design all kinds of business solutions.
So, if you are reading this right now wondering…could this be me? How do I break into tech? I’m ready for a change! Then, continue reading as we answer some of your frequently asked questions.
Why enroll in the Design program?
Computers and amazing new technologies are daily news items. Along with those comes the fear that humans are being displaced by machines. This is a long-held fear with every new technology that has been introduced. Check out the article “When the Computer Takes Over the Office” which was published in the Harvard Business Review in 1960.
Our anxieties around automation and technology go back much further than that.
“Nearly 500 years ago, Queen Elizabeth I cited the same fear when she denied an English inventor named William Lee a patent for an automated knitting contraption. “I have too much regard for the poor women and unprotected young maidens who obtain their daily bread by knitting to forward an invention which, by depriving them of employment, would reduce them to starvation.” (Sarah Kessler, QUARTZ, March 9, 2017)
What we are now seeing is a volume and velocity of new technologies that often only add to the anxiety.
By understanding technology and building digital competence, we can build our confidence to step into the future without fearing it. Design involves not only how things look, it involves how things function. When we understand how humans behave and think, we can build things that solve problems rather than create new ones.
Are there any qualifications or prerequisites required?
It’s all about mindset. Do you value team collaboration, are you curious about human nature, do you enjoy solving puzzles and creative construction? If you answered yes, then Full Stack Design could be right for you. You do not require a degree or diploma, but some design experience (even volunteering) is recommended.
Why are there four weeks of Essential Skills Training?
In the first portion of the program, you will engage in deep career work to help identify skills, interests, values, and unique aspects of your personality. This self-reflection will give you a strong foundation to choose a career path that is a great fit for you. If you're still not sure, don’t worry. Our facilitators are experts in career development and we will help you figure out which of the four career paths is the best fit.
What roles will I be qualified for?
This program will give you the skills for entry-level design roles such as:
UX/UI designer
UX researcher
Product designer
What kind of projects will I work on?
You will work on 2 projects, both involving real-world challenges with one being a project from industry/the ecosystem. You will be encouraged to ask questions and respectfully challenge the beliefs that are driving the problems and preventing solutions.
Project 1 You will:
identify a problem that pulls your curiosity and learning, something you are compelled to dig into and understand more deeply.
Project 2 will be one selected from pitches from industry and organizations in the tech and innovation ecosystem. You will:
Engage in deep problem-setting, ideation and prototyping
What is the learning style?
We believe the best way to learn is by doing. We encourage our learners to be curious, open to feedback and constantly learning, re-learning and adapting their work to represent new knowledge and insights. Our facilitators are a caring group of people who want you to challenge yourself, to be open to what you don’t know, be brave enough to admit when you need help and deliver high-caliber work in a timely and professional manner. Through bi-weekly retrospective exercises with our participants, we update the program design to reflect changes in learner needs. This allows us to customize and respond to emerging needs, learner interests and industry trends.
Who are the instructors?
Your instructors for this course are Greg Hart and Devon Hamilton. Greg is an experienced facilitator and design expert - he has assessed nearly 200 design solutions for companies in various industries ranging from software development to tech manufacturing and heavy industry.
Devon Hamilton runs his own company, Playful Content, and is an experienced science centre and museum designer.
What equipment will I need?
Standard laptop and access to wifi. Wifi is provided free of charge in our Learning Space. You may also require access to Zoom and headphones.
How will I land my first job?
We offer a wide variety of career support. We teach you professional networking skills, help with resume writing and LinkedIn accounts - all of the tools you’ll need to land that first job. In addition, we offer Lunch and Learns with local tech employers, make introductions to local tech companies and organize and attend tech ecosystem events. The Learning Space is situated in the heart of Calgary’s Innovation District so you will be close to all of the action and networking opportunities.
What are the hours and expectations?
Cohort 2 and 3 - Monday to Friday, part-time and virtual
It’s an intense, fast-paced learning experience intentionally designed to emulate what it’s like working in a tech company. You’ll be accountable for your own learning, with our support, but we won’t be holding your hand. It’ll be hard work, but for those that are up for it, you’ll be job-ready upon graduation.
What are you waiting for?
Ready to learn more? Attend our TechTrek event to learn more.
