How can you help shape the future of UX?

By Jessica Ivins

How can you help shape the future of UX?

We’re taking what we’ve learned through the Unicorn Institute and making a school called Center Centre! We’ve already created the structure for the school. Now, it’s time to build the course content.

We’re doing a Kickstarter and calling the project The Unicorn Institute, Courses to shape the future of UX design. We’re designing thirty courses in seven months. That’s thirty courses focused on UX topics. These courses will cover a wide range of topics—everything from interaction design to facilitating. Creating learning goals, assessments, learning activities, and resources for 30 courses is a ton of work. We need your help to fund our work to create course content to shape the future of UX.

Why do a Kickstarter?

When we talked with hiring managers and leaders about industry needs, we were overwhelmed by the significant need for well-trained UX designers. The immediate question was, “How can I help make a school happen?”

Building a bricks-and-mortar school from the ground up is a rather extensive undertaking. We could have taken a less expensive route by creating a program within an existing school. But, our research showed that many traditional academic environments don’t allow the necessary structure to produce graduates ready for professional environments. This meant for us to be able to create a learning environment that prepared students for meaningful jobs, we needed to start from scratch. But we all know a school is far from just bricks and mortar. The content taught within the walls makes it a school. And now you can help “build” it.

We’ve created this Kickstarter project as a way for people to get involved with the school (before it’s even officially a school!) so—together—we all have a hand in building the future of UX.

Why only $21,700?

Yes, it’s true, starting an entire school costs much more money than our Kickstarter goal. The funds raised from this Kickstarter project will focus specifically on the course design process. Contributions will directly allow us to afford editors and writers to join our course creation team and assist us in writing curriculum. The project, as a whole, will assist in pinpointing course content to meet both industry and student needs.

How do I get involved?

Here’s your chance to help change the future of UX education and the future of UX. We’re excited about this huge undertaking. We would love your support!

Visit our Kickstarter project, make a pledge, and ask the world #AreYouIn?

Join us on the next step of the Quest!