Inspiring the Next Generation

Girls Who Code is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to closing the gender, economic, and racial gaps in technology. It seeks to transform the image of what a programmer looks like and does while fostering sisterhood through engaging activities in Computer Science.

As the Creative Director of Girls Who Code College Loop at Georgia State University, I taught an eight-week Bootcamp focused on UI/UX from 2022 to 2023. Recognizing Georgia State University's lack of specialized programs in this field, and noting how many students gravitated towards Software Engineering without exploring other tech roles, I designed the Bootcamp to unveil the vast, creative opportunities of design and research within technology.

All the presentations and content I created for the Girls Who Code UI/UX Bootcamp are now hosted here, on my portfolio. I've made them free for anyone who wants to dive into design, whether you're exploring it for the first time or refreshing your knowledge. I wanted to ensure that knowledge and learning opportunities extend beyond the confines of the original Bootcamp.

If you have any questions about the material or in general, please reach out to me! I'd be happy to help, and we can figure it out together. (:

An Intro to UI/UX

In this lecture, we'll start with the fundamentals of UI/UX, exploring its history and the evolution of design thinking. We'll also cover the user-centered design process and learn about Nielsen's 10 guiding principles.

Understanding + Defining

In this lecture, we'll navigate through usability heuristics and the distinction between qualitative and quantitative research methods. We'll then focus on defining strategic approaches, crafting a precise problem statement, and understanding the underlying issues. We'll conclude with hands-on Miro activities and insights on deploying effective surveys.

Ideating + Designing

In this lecture, we'll start by clarifying our 'why' and dive into competitive analysis. We'll also introduce various UX research methods, offer hands-on Miro demonstrations, and embark on the foundational aspects of design principles.

Design Fundamentals I

In this lecture, we'll begin by constructing site-maps and establishing style guides. We'll learn about layout design nuances and make informed UI design styling choices. As we explore design patterns and current trends, we'll also dive into wireframing — covering basic structures, building frames, and the creation of mood boards. Finally, we'll touch upon benchmarking and conclude with focused sessions on reviewing and critiques.

Design Fundamentals II + Wireframing

In this lecture, we'll kick off with the basics of paper prototypes, then transition to an introduction to Figma. We'll progress from low-fidelity wireframes to high-fidelity versions, culminating in the creation of interactive prototypes. Our journey will wrap up with an exploration of design systems.

Testing + Improving the Design

In this lecture, we'll talk about usability testing and compare methodologies through A/B testing. We'll touch upon the art of UX writing, underscore the importance of accessibility, and guide through design handoffs. The session will conclude with insights on creating your own online portfolio.

Other Types of Design

In this short wrap-up lecture, we'll introduce additional UI tools and delve into the dynamics of UI animations. We'll also explore the realm of voice user interface design and provide a glimpse into front-end development as we conclude our Bootcamp journey.

Student Presentations

My UI/UX Bootcamp empowered students to explore the field, allowing them to specialize in research, design, or both based on their interests. They concluded the Bootcamp by confidently presenting their customized projects, showcasing their passion and significant growth within just eight-weeks.

Final Thoughts

Before the 2022 spring semester, I dedicated months to meticulously planning this Bootcamp, anchored in the Design Thinking Process. This period involved extensive research, content development, hands-on exercises, and presentation rehearsals.

The objective was clear: provide a course designed to understand the basics of UX/UI. Each week's activity was designed to cover essential areas, from understanding the core of UX/UI design to exploring diverse career paths. Students mastered tools like Figma, Miro, and Milanote and became adept with research platforms such as Google Forms, Survey Monkey, and Typeform.

Real-world insights took center stage as I hosted guest speakers from esteemed companies like General Motors and IBM, enriching students' perspectives and fostering valuable networking opportunities.

Looking back, this Bootcamp truly embodied my passion for teaching, especially when it came to design. Learning alongside my students and witnessing their eagerness to dive deeper into UI/UX was incredibly rewarding. In my book, this Bootcamp was undoubtedly a success.