Back in February 2021, due to my dedicated UI/UX YouTube channel covering various aspects of UI and UX topics, I was approached by the Information Technology Learning Hub (ITLH) with a proposition to start teaching their students in various UI/UX/Product Design topics.
Although the initial idea was intended to be on a weekly basis, due to my professional commitments, we agreed to conduct it on one Saturday per month. Since then, I have thought more than 1000+ students!
Due to the positive feedback from them and senior management, I currently provide classes in two different formats:
While ITLH provides the topics, I personally prepare these classes, typically encompassing over 60 slides of PowerPoint presentations. Since they already have instructors handling the UI Design aspect using tools like Figma and XD, my emphasis is primarily on UX. Some of the topics I cover include UI Patterns (providing an overall introduction, explaining their significance, and highlighting the organizational benefits), exploring cultural differences in design, how these influence information architecture, among others.
Attendance for these classes varies, typically ranging from 15 to over 40 students per session.
Every quarter, I conduct 2-day bootcamp sessions over a weekend. These sessions offer a more comprehensive and in-depth learning experience that goes beyond traditional teaching methods. In addition to delivering extensive content each day (comprising over 200 slides), these bootcamps include student workshops, discussions, and exercises facilitated by me.Each session spans over 6 hours per day, totaling 12 hours in a single weekend.
Due to my time constraints, ITLH prepares the materials under my supervision.
The attendance for these events typically ranges from 150 to 200 students per bootcamp.
Since February 2021, I have had the privilege of instructing over 1000 students in UX best practices, user research, user testing, accessibility and heuristic design principles and more. This opportunity has not only been fantastic for my career, networking, and online presence (e.g., growing my YouTube channel) but has also been essential for expanding my knowledge in UI/UX and Product Design. The continuous classes compel me to seek new information, stay abreast of the latest trends and techniques, and deliver this knowledge effectively to the students.
Moreover, this experience has contributed significantly to improving my presentation and negotiation skills. The enhancements in clarity and soft skills have proven invaluable in my day-to-day contracts. When presenting design propositions, sharing research findings, and navigating interactions with different senior management staff in various organizations, these skills play a crucial role.
The success of my projects in these contracts is heavily influenced by the stakeholders' investment, determining outcomes, directions, and even completion and so I am thankful for finetuning these soft skills..