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Designation is now Flatiron School
As of May 2019, Designation is now Flatiron School.
If you graduated from Designation prior to May 1, 2019, please leave your review for Designation. Otherwise, please leave your review for Flatiron School.
To view updated and accurate information, please visit the Flatiron School Course Report page.
Designation is a 24-week program specializing in the fields of UX and UI design with the primary goal to turn you into a hireable candidate for innovative and tech-focused companies. Designation offers a hybrid of both online education and in-person immersion in Chicago. Throughout the 24 weeks of the program, students are treated to guest speakers, sponsored workshops, and lab sessions. While there is no formal grading, students are asked to create portfolio deliverables and to actively document their design process for the purpose of finding a job after graduation. No prior experience is required, though top applicants should be prepared to work a minimum of 60 hours per week during the 12 weeks of the in-person phase. Designation is looking for highly motivated individuals who demonstrate maturity, persistence in problem-solving and show a genuine interest in design.
They say they screen applicants but they don't. You WILL work with people who shouldn't be in the program. Those people will be dead weight dragging down your experience (and your portfolio). Taking that into consideration and coupled wtih a lack of job placement, and incredibly short deadlines which negatively affect your ability to produce great work. I'd save the money and try another experience.
Incredible environmnet filled with people from all over the world that come from vastly different experiences. I learned more during the 12-week course than I did during 4 years of college.
My Background:
I stumbled across this program after my previous industry had crashed and left me with little opportunity. I was forced to pivot and discovered UX design when researching new careers. It sounded awesome! But I had zero experience in design and programming. I also had zero connections in tech to reach out to for advice. A degree in psychology was my closest applicable experience.
Why DESIGNATION:
At the time, DE...
My Background:
I stumbled across this program after my previous industry had crashed and left me with little opportunity. I was forced to pivot and discovered UX design when researching new careers. It sounded awesome! But I had zero experience in design and programming. I also had zero connections in tech to reach out to for advice. A degree in psychology was my closest applicable experience.
Why DESIGNATION:
At the time, DESIGNATION touted a 94% post-grad employment rate. Since employment was the goal, I put faith in their message and enrolled.
The Good:
-1871. It was great to be completely surrounded in the tech world. 1871 is full of super motivated people and is very inspiring to improve oneself.
-Intensity. You will improve greatly. You are forced to work under intense time constraints as you learn new software, design methods, and how to work in a team (surprisingly difficult in close quarters and long hours). The intensity could be too much for some. I have seen multiple people break down and cry, but hey, you do learn something.
-Know-how. You can learn 95% of it online on your own, but some stuff you just need to experience. Mostly working with others and how to communicate design effectively. You will develop thick skin :)
-Guidance. It was most helpful in showing me the path to get that first job. Stuff like what recruiters look for in a portfolio.
The Bad:
-Some instructors. They had egos and some drama would come from that. They could come off as kind of pretentious. My favorite faculty member by far is Mike, who works to connect the students with the real world. He is there because he's truly passionate about helping people succeed in design.
-Starts off slow. The earlier curriculum can be too novice, but they want to get everyone up to speed. It is a good review of the basics, but those who already have experience might find it mundane.
-Don’t expect a job. You are competing for jobs with your cohort, the cohort before you, and the cohort after you. I knew awesome people who are still having trouble getting work. Don’t rely on this program to give you anything. The connections I made here did NOT help me get any of the design jobs I’ve held. You still need to grind on your own to make an awesome portfolio and nail those interviews.
Overview:
This program is just one way to start. If you want to work with awesome people in a supportive environment, this could be for you. You will still need to put in the work. Just know that you can’t become a pro designer with one course. This is one method of learning what is needed to get you an entry-level position.
Really liked the way the curriculum was structured around full-stack design and then one particular focus area for each student. Great informal atmosphere and the instructors are very talented, but sometimes they are too busy to give full support creatively. Overall good experience.
TL;DR: DESIGNATION can help you land a design job, but nothing's handed to you. The people that do well are the ones that have some work experience, take it seriously, trust the process, and work their asses off. The program's hard by design and constantly testing/iterating to be better.
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I worked with DESIGNATION both as a student and on staff (as a TA), and I'm super happy with the investment. I gained...
TL;DR: DESIGNATION can help you land a design job, but nothing's handed to you. The people that do well are the ones that have some work experience, take it seriously, trust the process, and work their asses off. The program's hard by design and constantly testing/iterating to be better.
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I worked with DESIGNATION both as a student and on staff (as a TA), and I'm super happy with the investment. I gained an awesome UI/UX job, solid portfolio, invaluable career advice, connections to companies, and access to a huge network of friends and other designers across the country. I learned. a. ton.
Pros:
Mike Joosse and his portfolio / career prep
Client phase: actual client projects with committed Creative Directors (GA doesn't do client projects)
Immersion phase with our intsructor Andrew Twigg from Carnegie Mellon - he was awesome
Cons:
The move away from teaching breadth in both UI and UX towards a depth in either UI or UX. Good for some folks (specialists), bad for others (generalists…)
It’s a for-profit program, so it’s not the most selective. Your teammates might be fairly experienced and committed, or they might not…
Overall, I'd choose DESIGNATION again. Do it! But only if you're serious.
I wish I could say I absolutely loved this program and highly recommend it to everyone, but there were too many moments of frustration that makes it hard to spew out those exact words.
I'll start with the bad and transition to the good.
I wish I could say I absolutely loved this program and highly recommend it to everyone, but there were too many moments of frustration that makes it hard to spew out those exact words.
I'll start with the bad and transition to the good.
Overall, (like most things in life) the program is what you put into it. The fact that it costs $15,000+ is a bit insane in my opinion. I would not call this top-quality education and am really interested in the breakdown of costs. To be really honest, I still want to receive additional, formal education in design/engineering but am too poor to do so. Perhaps working in the field a couple more years will change that thought and hopefully my current financial state, as well.
I landed my product design role with great thanks to this experience and am very thankful. It's true people can become designers by teaching themselves with free information found online, but it's a much better experience to learn with others who are as hungry to improve their design skills.
One importance realization I had during the program was that design is merely a tool. It's hard to say that design itself is my passion; it is how and what you design that speaks to your passion and your work is just an extension of your character.
This program is not perfect and this review is extremely long.
tl;dr – I recommend.
At Designation, you all are truly allowed to design their next career if you put forth the effort.
Before Designation, I was a Relationship Manager at Bank of America. I had significant experience in finance and banking, but I also worked in other industries including healthcare and food retail. I also have a degree in sociology. Throughout all my positions across industries, they were all people and client facing, so I knew I had a love for customer service...
At Designation, you all are truly allowed to design their next career if you put forth the effort.
Before Designation, I was a Relationship Manager at Bank of America. I had significant experience in finance and banking, but I also worked in other industries including healthcare and food retail. I also have a degree in sociology. Throughout all my positions across industries, they were all people and client facing, so I knew I had a love for customer service and client experience.
Why Designation
I was looking for an opportunity to challenge myself in a new way and I wanted to get out of sales. UX would allow me an opportunity to use my people's skills, inquisitive nature, and curious mind. After a series of Google searches, I found a couple of bootcamps. I was undecided between Springboard, General Assembly, and Designation. I chose to attend Designation because of the client phase. The opportunity to work with real clients and design digital solutions for real problems for me was invaluable. I knew having client experience would afford me more opportunities later and make me stand out among other applicants during my job search. No other program offered client facing projects.
During Designation
Unforgettable and transformative are two words to describe my experience there. The in-person phase called for 70-80 hours per week, and it was intensive. But I loved what I was doing. The work wasn't work for me. I had finally found something that invigorated my soul. At times, working on a team of people with different and sometimes challenging personalities was difficult. The team dynamic played a huge role in the quality of work. Making a team contract and understanding your teammates preferable working styles, what makes them tick, and how they prefer to communicate especially when solving conflict made it easier to solve a conflict if ever there was an issue.
All in all, I learned a crap ton at Designation. I truly felt prepared for a career in UX upon graduation. I didn’t have a technical background before Designation, but I found myself confident and reassured when looking for jobs because there’s no doubt they fully prepare prepared me. Long story short, I grew both professionally and personally and learning skills like how to work in teams or how to resolve conflict are skills I couldn’t have learned in an online program.
Designation tailored me for my new role as a UX Designer. It expanded my toolbox for everything I needed to begin my new career. My confidence soared and I am forever thankful and proud to call myself an alumna of Designation.
The only con is I wish I could've learned more UI to be interdisciplinary. Yet, I understand the industry is going in a direction of specialization, and I did get UI exposure, but I want to be a unicorn!!
My timeline: I started Design Essentials in April 2017 and completed the Career Phase in October 2017. For a month after graduation, I did nothing but revise and complete my portfolio. After three months of active job hunting (A LOT of job applications, emails, networking, and interviews), I received an offer that I liked, and I began working at the end of February 2018. Now, I just finished my second week working as a User Experience Designer at a global consulting firm. ...
My timeline: I started Design Essentials in April 2017 and completed the Career Phase in October 2017. For a month after graduation, I did nothing but revise and complete my portfolio. After three months of active job hunting (A LOT of job applications, emails, networking, and interviews), I received an offer that I liked, and I began working at the end of February 2018. Now, I just finished my second week working as a User Experience Designer at a global consulting firm. This is my first position in my design career, and I couldn’t have done it without Designation.
My background: Prior to design, I was an art therapist and had worked for mostly not-for-profit organizations. After a few years of experience, I found myself burnt out and unfulfilled by the work.
How I decided on Designation: Design was a field I had always wanted to try but never got a chance to explore. Once I decided that I needed a career change, I looked into different types of design. As I learned more, I felt like UX/UI design would be a good fit where I’d be able to make use of both analytical and creative skills. To learn about design programs, I attended an info session that highlighted various tech boot camps including Designation. I had a friend who went through Designation already, and she had a lot of positive things to say about the program. I spoke with her extensively about her career change, read everything on Designation’s website, and read through each and every review I could find (on switchup, course report, quora). I made the decision after listening to and reading through first-hand accounts of designers’ experiences with Designation.
Phase 1: Design Essentials (6 weeks, ~20 hours a week)
This is a foundational course for those who has no experience with design. You have check-ins twice a week virtually to review design material and assignments. It’s a good introduction into UX and UI design, and at the end, you choose a track for the next phase of the program. Before starting this course, I was almost certain I would choose UI, but I found myself enjoying the UX material and assignments more. This course is a good way to dip your toes in design and to see if it’s something you want to explore further (you’re not committed to the whole boot camp at this point). Due to the small(er) time commitment, it’s definitely possible to complete this in addition to a full-time job, which was what I did.
The learning resources are varied—readings, videos, slide decks, podcasts, et cetera. When you submit assignments, graders review your work and give you feedback.
Pros: good introduction to UX/UI design, wealth of resources, critiques helpful (to begin developing an eye for good design)
Cons: my graders didn’t review my work in a timely manner (if you speak up about this, they’ll fix it)
Phase 2: Virtual Phase (6 weeks, ~40 hours a week)
Similar to Design Essentials, you have two virtual check-ins a week, but the material and assignments are specific to your track (UX or UI). You’re assigned a group and you work together on a project (from research and concepting to designing and validating). The assignments require more time and effort and groups often present to each other during check ins.
Pros: in-depth experience in your track, working in a group, going through an entire design thinking process
Cons: material wasn’t always the most organized, check ins weren’t always as detailed or deep as they could have been, expectations for assignments weren’t always clear
Phase 3: Project Phase (12 weeks, 70-80 hours a week / IN PERSON)
You finally get to interact with the staff and your cohort in person on site. While the other phases are more introductory and educational, the in-person phase is designing and working (as designers would work out in the field). It’s so much easier to work with teammates in person, and you’re fully immersed in the design process. There are guest speakers and workshops to supplement your experience. This phase is broken into sub phases: Immersion, First Client Phase, Second Client Phase, Career Phase.
Immersion (4 weeks)
You work on a new brief with your new teammates (they try to switch up groups to give you different work experiences). Immersion phase is the time get a more thorough understanding of the design steps and the processes. The Creative Director and Designers-in-Residence are heavily involved and give you a lot of helpful feedback. You’ll get a lot of practice with presentations.
First Client Phase (3 weeks) + Second Client Phase (3 weeks)
You work on real projects with real clients. This is one of the most valuable parts of the program because the stakes are higher and your designs can make a real difference. These phases are more self-directed; you and your teammates will have more ownership over the projects and designs. These are the projects you’ll talk about as your experience in your job interviews.
Career Phase (2 weeks)
This was one of my favorite parts of the program. While group work is an essential part of the other phases, in the career phase, you’re in charge of your own deliverables. You’ll get to synthesize on the work that you’ve done so far by writing case studies on your projects. You’re given direction, feedback, and support as you prepare various materials (portfolio, résumé, personal statement, et cetera) to start applying for jobs. You’ll also start to learn about the various ways UX/UI design could look like in different settings (hearing from past graduates and going on studio tours). It’s really exciting to tangibly see all the pieces come together; you’ll directly use everything in this phase for your job search. (Trust Mike!)
Pros: working as a group in-person, being able to devote this chunk of your life to design, getting so many opportunities to practice presentations, learning from other designers in your cohort, learning about how to get a job
Cons: 70-80 hour work weeks get exhausting
Overall pros:
Time investment: 6 months of intensive experience helps you feel confident as a designer.
Staff: Everyone really cares about your development as a designer and is invested in helping you succeed. They are amazing resources and fun/knowledgeable human beings.
People: I love my cohort, and I still talk to a lot of them regularly. I didn’t expect to make friends, but I’m so glad I did.
Program: Everyone at Designation is constantly reflecting and iterating on the program. They are always interested in feedback, and they use it to make the curriculum, projects, and overall experience better and stronger.
Hard skills: You’ll get a lot of practice using different types of design software (I mostly used Sketch and Axure; now at my job, I use Axure).
Soft skills: If you're on the UX track, you'll be doing group work 24/7. You'll get practice fostering and navigating through work relationships.
Overall cons:
Time investment: 6+ months is great for learning, but it’s a long time not working/having an income.
Financial burden: It is a bit pricey, but they have different payment/loan options available. I do definitely think it was worth it, though.
Last words: As everyone else has mentioned, it’s not easy. The program got grueling at times, but Designation has been one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve ever had. At first, I was extremely hesitant when deciding on this boot camp (time and financial investment, risk, uncertainty of future). However, I will say that if you put in the time and the work, it’ll pay off. You can work to make the time, money, efforts—the sacrifices—all worth it. As far as the job hunt, no one will hand you a job; you’ll have to continue to put in a lot of work. As long as you keep putting in the effort and are patient, you’ll find a position.
When I started Designation, I just expected to learn some hard skills so that I could land a job that I wouldn’t hate. However, thankfully, I received so much more—I rediscovered what it was like to experience joy in work, I expanded my network, I created lasting friendships, and I had a lot of fun all while becoming a designer.
You will hear it over and over, but, trust the process. Designation gives you space and the tools to learn about UX and UI design in order to kick start a career in UX/UI design. But, you can't just sit back and enjoy the ride. The knowledge and skills won't come if you aren't willing to work hard and be proactive about your learning and your future career. Coming from marketing, graphic design, and sales, I could have gradually worked toward a career chan...
You will hear it over and over, but, trust the process. Designation gives you space and the tools to learn about UX and UI design in order to kick start a career in UX/UI design. But, you can't just sit back and enjoy the ride. The knowledge and skills won't come if you aren't willing to work hard and be proactive about your learning and your future career. Coming from marketing, graphic design, and sales, I could have gradually worked toward a career change, but it would have taken me years and a lot of luck. This bootcamp allowed me to make that change in just 6 months.
I chose Designation because of the Client Phase - you get to work with real clients to solve real problems that you can use in your portfolio. This gives you a leg up on your competition when you start applying to jobs because you can talk about real work experience instead of just lab work.
The career phase was the most important phase, in my opinion. Two weeks devoted to writing and thinking and talking about the work you have done over the last 22 weeks in preparation for applying to jobs when the program is complete.
I learned so much about myself and my working style in addition to a new way of thinking about and approaching human-centered design.
Instructors:
• The group of instructors really care about your learning and want to see you succeed. They work hard to give you all the tools you need to strategically accomplish each step of the program.
• Unfortunately, I felt that some of the instructors lacked sufficient real-world experience to be truly effective in some cases. I was disappointed to learn that it wasn't a requirement to have at least some experience outside of the program before being offered a job as an instructor.
Curriculum:
• I have spoken to this a bit already, but I like how the curriculum is built. Each phase of the program thoughtfully builds upon the next so that when it comes to the end of the program you feel confident and knowledgeable in your new field.
• Most importantly, I think, you leave knowing what you don't know and having a really good idea what role or area in UX/UI you want to focus on in your career.
Career Prep:
• I found the final two weeks to be the most valuable portion of the program. It was worth all the time and money just to be able to leave the program ready to start the job search with a solid portfolio, resume, and game plan. Also, take full advantage of your time in this phase with the instructor(Mike). He knows his stuff from years of experience and will give you great guidance and advice. I was the only member of my cohort to finish my portfolio in the two weeks provided. I would say, if you make it a goal to finish before the two weeks are up, you will. But, know that there are resources available to you even after you finish the program – Designation ultimately wants you to succeed and do well as designers.
• After graduation, I jumped right into job hunting and treated that like an extention of the curriculum. That dedication paid off because I found a great job as a UX designer for a startup in just under a month.
Final Thoughts:
• You will not do well in this program if you are not self-motivated and willing to work hard for the career you want. This is not your typically learning environment where the instructors feed you all the information. You are expected to be hungry to learn and find the answers you are looking for. They will give you the tools you need, but if you want to do really well and excel, you will need to put in some work too.
• The price of the program is considerable. You are not only paying $15,000, but you are also taking 24 weeks out of your life. But, what I can say is that if you have the means or have the support that allows you to take the time and you really do want to make a career move to design; do it. This program will kick start your career.
• And finally, if you are having any questions as to whether you want to do the UX or UI track, take stock of your current skill set and if you think you could teach yourself what you want to know about Sketch, Illustrator, and Photoshop follow the UX track. You will get so much more for your money following the UX track, but this comes with a caveat: You will have an easier time finding a job if you can do both User Experience and User Interface design to some degree. It is much harder to find a position that is strictly one or the other, so consider your skill set and where you feel you need more work before choosing one track or the other.
Let me start by saying a little about my background.
I worked in PR agencies for 3 or so years then decided to switch into something more creative. I looked into GA and even went through their application process, but it ultimately wasn't for me. DESIGNATION sold me on the client-facing projects that they had to offer as well as the extended length of the program. The 94% job-success rate also was in the 'pro' column.
Now that you know what led to my decision, here's h...
Let me start by saying a little about my background.
I worked in PR agencies for 3 or so years then decided to switch into something more creative. I looked into GA and even went through their application process, but it ultimately wasn't for me. DESIGNATION sold me on the client-facing projects that they had to offer as well as the extended length of the program. The 94% job-success rate also was in the 'pro' column.
Now that you know what led to my decision, here's how that decision panned out.
INSTRUCTORS (4 stars):
The staff help you recognize different approaches to a problem, not necessarily give you direction. I know some people have a hard time with not getting a direct answer. But the more you figure out your process, the less you need a definite answer.
The first in-person phase (Immersion) felt light on instruction. After talking with other cohorts and with the staff, I've learned that this immersion phase is meant to be more exploratory so you define your own process. It also didn't help that our part-time UX instructor was mentally checked out even when she was there. They have since hired a full-time UX/UI creative director who I can attest has a vast amount of experience.
The client portion - the reason that I chose DESIGNATION - definitely proved to be the most beneficial. We were given 2 client projects to do in 3-week sprints, solving real world problems. And each week, we sat down with our clients to talk about our process and our design decisions based on user research. I learn by doing and this gave me that context of working with clients as a UX design consultant. Additionally, my creative director pushed me to think in terms of different use cases, levels of knowledge, even accessibility. She helped me become more strategic with my curiosity.
CURRICULUM (4 stars):
I mentioned before that the program is structured to give you the tools and the projects encourage the reps. I do believe there could have been more opportunities to do workshops with Axure and Sketch during the in-person portion. In hindsight, I could have done more during the virtual phases, but I still would have liked more opportunities to practice the different dynamic panels and variables in Axure specifically.
JOB ASSISTANCE (5 stars):
Mike is one of the greatest assets DESIGNATION has to offer. He's thoroughly connected in the design industry in Chicago and across the globe. He's also been in the business for years, so he knows his shit. When he gives feedback, it's never fluff. It's direct and actionable.
His career phase decks are FILLED with invaluable resources and data. And you always have access to them!
I know some people think he's intimidating and unapproachable. I sort of see why. He's knowledgeable and very well connected and he does have this system of 5-then-me. But honestly, just because he's intimidating, doesn't mean he's unapproachable. If you don't approach him for feedback or help, that's on you. He helps those who want to be helped. And the 5-then-me rule is so he can be the most value to people instead of just giving you answers that you could have Googled.
OVERALL EXPERIENCE (5 stars):
As you can see from the variety of other reviews, you reap what you sow at DESIGNATION and my experience is no different. I wanted to soak up as much as possible and because of that, I got a lot in return. The program is about exposing you to design thinking and showing you the tools that help people become successful. It's YOUR job to put in the work, do the reps and become the designer that YOU want to be.
One thing I got out of it that I didn't anticipate was such strong friendships. I knew I'd make connections in the field, but I didn't know I'd develop such strong relationships with my fellow designers. I'm amazed at the level of support I still get from my cohort/friends.
While this program does equip you with the knowledge and tools to become a UX or UI designer, you don't just get a job right afterward. You still have to make a portfolio, network and HUSTLE. But after going through the program, I definitely feel equiped and confident as I start my career as a UX/IxD Designer. DESIGNATION is a great start for those looking to transition into a new career within UX or UI.
If you have no design experience, but want to make a career change into it, you should definitely consider DESIGNATION because I was on the same boat as you. I came into the program with a background in Biomedical Engineering, while doing wedding videography on the weekends.
I chose this program because I wanted to learn the fundamentals of UX/UI, apply them to projects, which would help me to find a job. And that's exactly the focus of DESIGNATION.
A hu...
If you have no design experience, but want to make a career change into it, you should definitely consider DESIGNATION because I was on the same boat as you. I came into the program with a background in Biomedical Engineering, while doing wedding videography on the weekends.
I chose this program because I wanted to learn the fundamentals of UX/UI, apply them to projects, which would help me to find a job. And that's exactly the focus of DESIGNATION.
A huge highlight for me was the client phase because the clients that I worked with were working towards impacting Chicago. One was working to shake-up the education space, to help teachers be able to focus more time on their students and another client was working towards minimizing food waste in the city. I think having opportunities like this makes DESIGNATION a lot more valuable, especially since it's in the 1871 space.
Design is constantly changing, and so is DESIGNATION, for their students, which I appreciate. They have built a process that does help students to find jobs, AS LONG AS you do your part in putting together case studies and a portfolio, so don't slack on that.
How much does Designation cost?
Designation costs around $15,800. On the lower end, some Designation courses like Design Essentials (Online, Part-time, begins every 6-8 weeks) cost $1,000.
What courses does Designation teach?
Designation offers courses like Design Essentials (Online, Part-time, begins every 6-8 weeks), UI Design Intensive (begins every 6-8 weeks), UX Design Intensive (begins every 6-8 weeks).
Where does Designation have campuses?
Designation has in-person campuses in Chicago. Designation also has a remote classroom so students can learn online.
Is Designation worth it?
Designation hasn't shared alumni outcomes yet, but one way to determine if a bootcamp is worth it is by reading alumni reviews. 115 Designation alumni, students, and applicants have reviewed Designation on Course Report - you should start there!
Is Designation legit?
We let alumni answer that question. 115 Designation alumni, students, and applicants have reviewed Designation and rate their overall experience a 4.8 out of 5.
Does Designation offer scholarships or accept the GI Bill?
Right now, it doesn't look like Designation offers scholarships or accepts the GI Bill. We're always adding to the list of schools that do offer Exclusive Course Report Scholarships and a list of the bootcamps that accept the GI Bill.
Can I read Designation reviews?
You can read 115 reviews of Designation on Course Report! Designation alumni, students, and applicants have reviewed Designation and rate their overall experience a 4.8 out of 5.
Is Designation accredited?
While bootcamps must be approved to operate, accreditation is relatively rare. Designation doesn't yet share information about their accreditation status.
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