BECOME A PRODUCT DESIGNER
Ideal for talented visual designers who want an internship or junior-level role, or for current junior product designers who want to up their game. Create a better portfolio, feel less imposter syndrome, and build your confidence & community.
This is not a traditional “bootcamp.” The best candidates are those who already have a portfolio and a completed case study.
This 12-week virtual class is on 1 weeknight per week. The curriculum below was for a previous cohort, and will be similar for future cohorts. Apply now.
Student intros
Review course outcomes
Developing your design POV
Decolonizing & divesting from traditional (European) design perspectives, methods, and approaches to design
Group critique of a product from a divestment lens
Debrief on individual case study
Create a visual moodboard that represents your personal and cultural identity
Azeez Alli: Co-founder of Àròko Cooperative, former Principal Product Designer at Netflix
Building confidence and resilience
Handling feedback
Finding a mentor and muse who keeps you inspired and accountable
Confidently working with metrics, ideating how to address them, and interviewing users
Write down your intro statement, 3 personal design principles, and 3 reasons you should get a new role, client, promotion, and/or fee increase
Reach out to potential mentors
Write down 3 ways you can use your personality and identity to your advantage
Write your design brief, including the problem statement, what metrics you will address, and potential solutions
Mitzi Okou: Co-founder of Where Are The Black Designers?, ex-Spotify
Live critique by our guest
What successful and interesting portfolios look/feel like
Running a design sprint & working with a team with different points of view
Improve your portfolio based on the feedback you hear and receive
Get feedback from another student, who will role-play as teammate, to refine your design brief
Amy Lima: Product Designer at Amp/Amazon Music, Founder of Diversify Design, ex-Pinterest
Balancing user & business needs
Gathering data from users
Interview 3 users of an existing product or service and create a User Journey Map of their experience
Choose 1 design solution to wireframe
Ashley Kim: Content Creator @pashtime, Product Design at Praxis Labs, ex-Accenture
Common pitfalls with prototyping
Sketch and create clickable wireframes for a microinteraction in Figma
Annika Hansteen-Izora: Lead Product Designer at Lex, ex-Somewhere Good, ex-Hyperakt
Creating accessible, inclusive UI
Building a useful design system
Finalizing your prototype
Build and refine your UI and a mini design system for your case study
Mig Reyes: Senior Director of Product Design at Duolingo, former Director of Product Design at Instagram
Getting feedback on your work
Get feedback from 3 students, 3 customers, 3 designers, 3 non-designers, and make 12 changes to your design
Create a 5 minute presentation of your work
Jared Erondu: SVP of Design at Lattice, Advisor at Designer Fund
Writing and presenting better narratives, highlighting your strengths, unique contributions and identity
Present your work to everyone
Record yourself presenting your background and portfolio to 3 professionals, and write down 3 areas of improvement
Dan Mall: Founder of Design Systems University
Updating your personal brand and first impression
Networking confidently
Refine your portfolio site (type, color, copy)
Find a photographer for your headshot
Create case study presentation in Figma and/or Google Slides with your updated branding
Write down your award acceptance speech in 30 years focused on your purpose. What award did you receive? What did you accomplish? Why did you do the things you did? Rewrite your own career bio that includes a specific reference and representation of your personal brand
Write or rewrite your own career bio that includes a specific reference and representation of your personal brand. This should include your personal brand tagline
Write a 3-point annual plan of three goals you want to accomplish that will impact your team and/or organization. (Only 3 goals no more). Include how you will accomplish these goals
Ovetta Sampson: Director of User Experience Machine Learning at Google, ex-Capital One, ex-Microsoft
Getting gigs in unconventional ways
Applying, finding a sponsor, interviewing, great portfolios, negotiating, cover letters, resumes, and LinkedIn tips
Write your cover letter and resume (using only fonts by POC)
Update your Linkedin, resume, website, and portfolio (PDF or Figma)
Apply to 5 new roles and/or set up time to discuss with manager about promotion/additional responsibilities
Grace Ling: Founder of Design Buddies, Product Designer at EA
Portfolio critiques by Terrell Griffith: Lead Product Designer at Headspace
Live mock interviews
Collaborative project
Final case, portfolio link, and headshot due
Other homework TBD based on class needs
Shannon Morales: Founder of Tribaja
Graduation activity!
None!
Pinterest Recruiting Team
The only thing we’re serious about is food.
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The only thing we’re serious about is food.
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Monday to Friday :
10 am to 9 pm
Saturday :
10 am to 5 pm
Sunday :
12 pm to 5 pm
