In response to a huge demand for training for software developers, Victoria user experience (UX) studio Pencil & Paper has created the first design course validated by developers themselves.
Launching this week on September 15th, Design SOS teaches developers, who are often tasked with UX, fundamental concepts and strategies they can apply to any project they face — from website development to phone apps to heavy-duty software applications.
The course is markedly different from the glut of intensive boot camps and expensive certifications on the market.
“We wanted to make UX design content accessible and relevant, giving developers immediate wins and not overkill the content they have to sift through” explained Pencil & Paper Founder and CEO Ceara Crawshaw. “We created this course just like we create good UX: with intensive user testing of a select group of users (in this case, developers).”
With extensive experience in designing complex software from startups to enterprise, Crawshaw has positioned Pencil & Paper as an industry leader in the booming field of UX design. She has seen the field grow rapidly as consumers demand increasingly smooth, human-centred tech experiences.
It’s a positive trend for IT, but it puts added pressure on the software developers coding the applications.
“UX design is the heart and soul of excellent digital experiences like you find in products like Headspace. The tech industry has found itself in trouble many times from creating user experiences which are unhealthy,” Crawshaw said regarding the course launch.
“This is because of ignorance about the importance of human beings, and prioritization of immediate (and not long term) business goals. This is our contribution to creating a tech culture which puts users at the centre of everything starting from the code we write.”
To create the course Crawshaw validated her initial Business Model Canvas and landing page through user testing with developers and team leads. Once complete the course was beta tested with a group of 20+ developers from companies like GitLab, Stocksy, Billi, Mazumago, Workday, and Garmin.
“We’re seeing a new brand of ‘UX-minded developers’ who are thoughtful about user experience and enable a huge amount of business growth,” said Ms. Crawshaw. “It’s time to support them with efficient, cost-effective training and, in doing so, bring our software building workflows out of the dark ages.”
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