MAKING MORE UX DESIGNERS: 
UX Apprenticeship in Education 
Presented by: Fred Beecher
DEMAND FOR UX IS VORACIOUS 
©2010 Dimension Films
DEMAND FOR UX IS VORACIOUS 
©2010 Dimension Films 
SUPPLY OF UX TALENT IS… WEE
©2014 :: @fred_beecher :: #edui_apprentice 
UX
90% - Dumb Luck 
©2014 :: @fred_beecher :: #edui_apprentice 
UX 
10% - Design School
60% - Dumb Luck 
30% - Specialty School 
10% - Design School 
©2014 :: @fred_beecher :: #edui_apprentice 
UX
10% - Dumb Luck 
50% - APPRENTICESHIP 
30% - Specialty School 
10% - Design School 
©2014 :: @fred_beecher :: #edui_apprentice 
UX
INTEREST APPRENTICESHIP DEMAND 
©2014 :: @fred_beecher :: #edui_apprentice
INTEREST APPRENTICESHIP DEMAND 
©2014 :: @fred_beecher :: #edui_apprentice
©2014 :: @fred_beecher :: #edui_apprentice
©2014 :: @fred_beecher :: #edui_apprentice
APPRENTICESHIP ARCHITECTURE 
BUSINESS VALUE 
HIRE FOR TRAITS 
PEDAGOGY MENTORSHIP 
TRACKING 
©2014 :: @fred_beecher :: #edui_apprentice
APPRENTICESHIP ARCHITECTURE IN EDUCATION 
BUSINESS VALUE 
COMMUNICATION 
PEDAGOGY MENTORSHIP 
FEEDBACK 
©2014 :: @fred_beecher :: #edui_apprentice
BUSINESS VALUE 
•Do more work 
•Do better work 
•Attract & retain senior talent 
•Improve UX Design program 
©2014 :: @fred_beecher :: #edui_apprentice flickr: johnny vulkan
COMMUNICATION 
“My life is directed by logistics.” 
- Ange Wang, Adjunct Professor of Design 
©2014 :: @fred_beecher :: #edui_apprentice
DESIGN METHODS 
BUSINESS STRATEGY 
- Stakeholder Interviews 
- Business Discovery 
Workshops 
- Feature Analysis 
- Communicating Business 
Discovery Findings 
USER RESEARCH 
- Planning & Recruiting 
- In-Person Interviews 
- Remote Interviews 
- Contextual Inquiry 
- Survey Design & 
Analysis 
- Web Traffic Analysis 
- Research Analysis & 
Synthesis 
- Communicating User 
Research Findings 
©2014 :: @fred_beecher :: #edui_apprentice 
INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE 
- Card Sorting & Analysis 
- Search Log Analysis 
- Content Strategy 
- Content Auditing 
- Site Mapping 
INTERACTION DESIGN 
- Ideation & Design 
Workshops 
- Scenarios, 
Storyboarding, & 
Process Flows 
- Screen Layout & Design 
- Interactive Prototyping 
- Prototype testing 
USABILITY EVALUATION 
- Heuristic Review 
- In-Person Usability 
Testing 
- Remote Usability Testing
WHAT TO COMMUNICATE 
OBSERVATION 
METHOD PRACTICE 
FULL PROJECTS 
©2014 :: @fred_beecher :: #edui_apprentice
TRACK MENTORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES 
©2014 :: @fred_beecher :: #edui_apprentice
EMPATHY 
FOR STUDENTS 
• Their studies come first 
• Most haven’t seen the big 
picture of UX yet 
• The serious ones really want 
portfolio pieces 
• They are not just free labor 
• They know they won’t be able 
to finish your project 
FOR INSTRUCTORS 
• Some instructors are more 
focused on teaching than 
others 
• Tenure-track instructors might 
be more focused on research 
• Adjuncts are juggling many, 
many responsibilities 
• Instructors need to generate 
lots of ideas about what to 
teach 
©2014 :: @fred_beecher :: #edui_apprentice
PEDAGOGY 
LEARN OBSERVE 
PRACTICE PLAY 
©2014 :: @fred_beecher :: #edui_apprentice
PEDAGOGY 
LEARN OBSERVE 
PRACTICE PLAY 
©2014 :: @fred_beecher :: #edui_apprentice
MENTORSHIP IS THE ENGINE OF 
APPRENTICESHIP 
©2014 :: @fred_beecher :: #edui_apprentice
©2014 :: @fred_beecher :: #edui_apprentice 
Principal 
Mentor 
Apprentices Large Design 
Team
©2014 :: @fred_beecher :: #edui_apprentice 
College 
Design 
Manager 
Apprentices 
Department 
Designers 
Communication 
& Logistics 
Mentorship & 
Feedback
Apprentice 
Small Design 
Team 
©2014 :: @fred_beecher :: #edui_apprentice
©2014 :: @fred_beecher :: #edui_apprentice 
Accountability 
Observation 
Assistance 
Mentorship 
Oversight
©2014 :: @fred_beecher :: #edui_apprentice 
Accountability 
Observation 
Mentorship 
Oversight
APPRENTICE 
• Watches 
• Asks questions 
©2014 :: @fred_beecher :: #edui_apprentice 
Accountability 
Observation 
Mentorship 
Oversight 
MENTOR 
• Shows what 
they’re doing 
• Explains why 
GATES 
• None
©2014 :: @fred_beecher :: #edui_apprentice 
Accountability 
APPRENTICE 
• Executes the 
method with 
assistance 
MENTOR 
• Talks 
apprentice 
through the 
method 
GATES 
• Has covered 
method in 
class 
Observation 
Mentorship 
Oversight
©2014 :: @fred_beecher :: #edui_apprentice 
Accountability 
APPRENTICE 
• Executes the 
method 
independently 
MENTOR 
• Checks 
apprentice’s 
work 
GATES 
• Has covered 
method in 
class 
• Project work 
Observation 
Mentorship 
Oversight
PROVIDE FEEDBACK ON APPRENTICES 
©2014 :: @fred_beecher :: #edui_apprentice
ENCOURAGE REFLECTION 
©2014 :: @fred_beecher :: #uxapprenticeship
APPRENTICES PROVIDE FEEDBACK ON YOU 
©2014 :: @fred_beecher :: #edui_apprentice
AND ON THE PROGRAM 
©2014 :: @fred_beecher :: #edui_apprentice
YOUR NEXT STEPS - LAY THE FOUNDATION 
BUSINESS VALUE 
Define how apprenticeship will 
benefit your organization 
• More work? 
• Better work? 
• Attract senior talent? 
• Enhance UX program’s 
reputation? 
COMMUNICATION 
Identify your allies and tailor 
your communication for them 
• Who is motivated to 
teach? 
• What are they looking 
for? 
• What can you offer them? 
©2014 :: @fred_beecher :: #edui_apprentice
YOUR NEXT STEPS - INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN 
PEDAGOGY 
Define how apprentices can 
participate in your work 
• Choose design methods 
• Identify opportunities for 
observation 
• Identify opportunities for 
practice 
• Identify longer term 
projects 
Define the mentorship structure 
of your program 
• How will you spread the 
burden? 
• What different levels of 
mentorship are you able to 
provide? 
©2014 :: @fred_beecher :: #edui_apprentice 
MENTORSHIP
YOUR NEXT STEPS - SET UP TRACKING 
FEEDBACK 
Set up the infrastructure you 
need to provide feedback to 
apprentices & instructors 
• Forms, spreadsheets, 
databases, processes, etc. 
• Learning goals 
• Reflections 
• Feedback for you! 
• Pilot class 
©2014 :: @fred_beecher :: #edui_apprentice
Fred Beecher 
UX Apprenticeship Lead 
! 
fbeecher@nerdery.com 
nerdery.com/fb 
@fred_beecher 
! 
slideshare.net/fred_beecher/ 
ICONS BY NOUNPROJECT: 
Erlenmeyer Flask by Dmitry Baranovskiy :: Magnifying Glass by Lemon Liu :: Person by Alex Fuller :: Volunteer by 
Amanda Clifford :: Education by Travis Yunis :: Mentor by Irene Hoffman :: Statistics by Nate Eul :: Bridge by Torehan 
Sharman :: Four Leaf Clover by Iconoci :: Unicorn by Bram van Rijen :: Mortar Board by Ryan Beck :: Megaphone by 
Piero Borgo :: Comment by Mourad Mokrane (all other icons are public domain)

Making More UX Designers in Education

  • 1.
    MAKING MORE UXDESIGNERS: UX Apprenticeship in Education Presented by: Fred Beecher
  • 2.
    DEMAND FOR UXIS VORACIOUS ©2010 Dimension Films
  • 3.
    DEMAND FOR UXIS VORACIOUS ©2010 Dimension Films SUPPLY OF UX TALENT IS… WEE
  • 4.
    ©2014 :: @fred_beecher:: #edui_apprentice UX
  • 5.
    90% - DumbLuck ©2014 :: @fred_beecher :: #edui_apprentice UX 10% - Design School
  • 6.
    60% - DumbLuck 30% - Specialty School 10% - Design School ©2014 :: @fred_beecher :: #edui_apprentice UX
  • 7.
    10% - DumbLuck 50% - APPRENTICESHIP 30% - Specialty School 10% - Design School ©2014 :: @fred_beecher :: #edui_apprentice UX
  • 8.
    INTEREST APPRENTICESHIP DEMAND ©2014 :: @fred_beecher :: #edui_apprentice
  • 9.
    INTEREST APPRENTICESHIP DEMAND ©2014 :: @fred_beecher :: #edui_apprentice
  • 10.
    ©2014 :: @fred_beecher:: #edui_apprentice
  • 11.
    ©2014 :: @fred_beecher:: #edui_apprentice
  • 12.
    APPRENTICESHIP ARCHITECTURE BUSINESSVALUE HIRE FOR TRAITS PEDAGOGY MENTORSHIP TRACKING ©2014 :: @fred_beecher :: #edui_apprentice
  • 13.
    APPRENTICESHIP ARCHITECTURE INEDUCATION BUSINESS VALUE COMMUNICATION PEDAGOGY MENTORSHIP FEEDBACK ©2014 :: @fred_beecher :: #edui_apprentice
  • 14.
    BUSINESS VALUE •Domore work •Do better work •Attract & retain senior talent •Improve UX Design program ©2014 :: @fred_beecher :: #edui_apprentice flickr: johnny vulkan
  • 15.
    COMMUNICATION “My lifeis directed by logistics.” - Ange Wang, Adjunct Professor of Design ©2014 :: @fred_beecher :: #edui_apprentice
  • 16.
    DESIGN METHODS BUSINESSSTRATEGY - Stakeholder Interviews - Business Discovery Workshops - Feature Analysis - Communicating Business Discovery Findings USER RESEARCH - Planning & Recruiting - In-Person Interviews - Remote Interviews - Contextual Inquiry - Survey Design & Analysis - Web Traffic Analysis - Research Analysis & Synthesis - Communicating User Research Findings ©2014 :: @fred_beecher :: #edui_apprentice INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE - Card Sorting & Analysis - Search Log Analysis - Content Strategy - Content Auditing - Site Mapping INTERACTION DESIGN - Ideation & Design Workshops - Scenarios, Storyboarding, & Process Flows - Screen Layout & Design - Interactive Prototyping - Prototype testing USABILITY EVALUATION - Heuristic Review - In-Person Usability Testing - Remote Usability Testing
  • 17.
    WHAT TO COMMUNICATE OBSERVATION METHOD PRACTICE FULL PROJECTS ©2014 :: @fred_beecher :: #edui_apprentice
  • 18.
    TRACK MENTORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES ©2014 :: @fred_beecher :: #edui_apprentice
  • 19.
    EMPATHY FOR STUDENTS • Their studies come first • Most haven’t seen the big picture of UX yet • The serious ones really want portfolio pieces • They are not just free labor • They know they won’t be able to finish your project FOR INSTRUCTORS • Some instructors are more focused on teaching than others • Tenure-track instructors might be more focused on research • Adjuncts are juggling many, many responsibilities • Instructors need to generate lots of ideas about what to teach ©2014 :: @fred_beecher :: #edui_apprentice
  • 20.
    PEDAGOGY LEARN OBSERVE PRACTICE PLAY ©2014 :: @fred_beecher :: #edui_apprentice
  • 21.
    PEDAGOGY LEARN OBSERVE PRACTICE PLAY ©2014 :: @fred_beecher :: #edui_apprentice
  • 22.
    MENTORSHIP IS THEENGINE OF APPRENTICESHIP ©2014 :: @fred_beecher :: #edui_apprentice
  • 23.
    ©2014 :: @fred_beecher:: #edui_apprentice Principal Mentor Apprentices Large Design Team
  • 24.
    ©2014 :: @fred_beecher:: #edui_apprentice College Design Manager Apprentices Department Designers Communication & Logistics Mentorship & Feedback
  • 25.
    Apprentice Small Design Team ©2014 :: @fred_beecher :: #edui_apprentice
  • 26.
    ©2014 :: @fred_beecher:: #edui_apprentice Accountability Observation Assistance Mentorship Oversight
  • 27.
    ©2014 :: @fred_beecher:: #edui_apprentice Accountability Observation Mentorship Oversight
  • 28.
    APPRENTICE • Watches • Asks questions ©2014 :: @fred_beecher :: #edui_apprentice Accountability Observation Mentorship Oversight MENTOR • Shows what they’re doing • Explains why GATES • None
  • 29.
    ©2014 :: @fred_beecher:: #edui_apprentice Accountability APPRENTICE • Executes the method with assistance MENTOR • Talks apprentice through the method GATES • Has covered method in class Observation Mentorship Oversight
  • 30.
    ©2014 :: @fred_beecher:: #edui_apprentice Accountability APPRENTICE • Executes the method independently MENTOR • Checks apprentice’s work GATES • Has covered method in class • Project work Observation Mentorship Oversight
  • 31.
    PROVIDE FEEDBACK ONAPPRENTICES ©2014 :: @fred_beecher :: #edui_apprentice
  • 32.
    ENCOURAGE REFLECTION ©2014:: @fred_beecher :: #uxapprenticeship
  • 33.
    APPRENTICES PROVIDE FEEDBACKON YOU ©2014 :: @fred_beecher :: #edui_apprentice
  • 34.
    AND ON THEPROGRAM ©2014 :: @fred_beecher :: #edui_apprentice
  • 35.
    YOUR NEXT STEPS- LAY THE FOUNDATION BUSINESS VALUE Define how apprenticeship will benefit your organization • More work? • Better work? • Attract senior talent? • Enhance UX program’s reputation? COMMUNICATION Identify your allies and tailor your communication for them • Who is motivated to teach? • What are they looking for? • What can you offer them? ©2014 :: @fred_beecher :: #edui_apprentice
  • 36.
    YOUR NEXT STEPS- INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN PEDAGOGY Define how apprentices can participate in your work • Choose design methods • Identify opportunities for observation • Identify opportunities for practice • Identify longer term projects Define the mentorship structure of your program • How will you spread the burden? • What different levels of mentorship are you able to provide? ©2014 :: @fred_beecher :: #edui_apprentice MENTORSHIP
  • 37.
    YOUR NEXT STEPS- SET UP TRACKING FEEDBACK Set up the infrastructure you need to provide feedback to apprentices & instructors • Forms, spreadsheets, databases, processes, etc. • Learning goals • Reflections • Feedback for you! • Pilot class ©2014 :: @fred_beecher :: #edui_apprentice
  • 38.
    Fred Beecher UXApprenticeship Lead ! fbeecher@nerdery.com nerdery.com/fb @fred_beecher ! slideshare.net/fred_beecher/ ICONS BY NOUNPROJECT: Erlenmeyer Flask by Dmitry Baranovskiy :: Magnifying Glass by Lemon Liu :: Person by Alex Fuller :: Volunteer by Amanda Clifford :: Education by Travis Yunis :: Mentor by Irene Hoffman :: Statistics by Nate Eul :: Bridge by Torehan Sharman :: Four Leaf Clover by Iconoci :: Unicorn by Bram van Rijen :: Mortar Board by Ryan Beck :: Megaphone by Piero Borgo :: Comment by Mourad Mokrane (all other icons are public domain)