BECOME A DESIGNER

about

Meet The Designation, a purely design-focused school in Chicago. There's a beautiful revolution happening in entrepreneurship where design is now more important than ever, and we want you to be a part of it. It's no wonder that designer-founders are generating billions of dollars in growth. From Apple, Airbnb, and Instagram, to Path, Pinterest, and Twitter, the best companies in the world are the most design-driven ones.

Here's what top designers of the world are saying about the future of entrepreneurship:

Design is the missing link

"Design is the link missing from your founding team. The perfect balance of business, tech, and design is an incredibly powerful tool..." ¹

Wells Riley, Design at Kicksend

Times are changing

"Designers are treated more and more seriously when it comes to building up tech teams. Why is that? Well, we reached a level where technology starts to get out of the way. What counts is the experience, nobody will care about technology in the first place." ²

Benedikt Lehnert, Design at 6Wunderkinder

A bet on talent

"The world's most talented entrepreneurs are betting... on design's role as an essential element within the startup to create positive impact in the world." ³

Elle Luna, Design at Mailbox

PROGRAM

The Designation offers an intensive summer design course in Chicago. For two nights a week for nine weeks, you will be taught in-person all the fundamentals of web and graphic design. By the end of the course, you'll be a master of design and have a stellar portfolio to prove it. It doesn't matter if you've never coded before -- we'll teach you everything there is to know in order for you to become a great designer.

Here's our talented team of instructors:

Zeke Franco

Zeke is an experienced interaction designer and front-end developer whose been designing and coding for seven years. He currently works at GrubHub.

@quasarkitten

JJ Lee

JJ is a story teller and brand strategist who combines creativity and design to create great experiences. He's a social entrepreneur and founder of Chicagood.

@312chiboi

Kevin Yun

Kevin is passionate about beautiful, responsive websites and poignant mobile design. He co-founded and designed Fitsby, and loves working with other startups.

@kevinsyun

Here's what you'll learn:

FAQ

How much does The Designation course cost?

Class tuition is $3,000. We offer only the top quality of instruction and cover a vast amount of design topics in a short timeframe. The experience you will receive and the potential opportunities upon completion of the course will undoubtedly trump the initial costs.

Is The Designation online or in a classroom setting?

You will be taught in-person in Chicago, IL. We've partnered with Manifest Digital to host classes. They are located on the north side of the Loop:
35 E. Wacker, Ste. 1000
Chicago, IL 60601

When does the program start, how long does it last, and when are the classes held?

The program runs from June 4, 2013 - August 1, 2013 (nine weeks). There will be mandatory classroom sessions held every Tuesday and Thursday from 6:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M.

How much time do I need to commit to the course?

You must commit six hours of classroom time per week, as well as twenty hours of your own time. We will give you the groundwork and concepts on design, but you must be able to dedicate time to outside readings and work.

How many courses does The Designation offer?

We offer one exclusive course that entails all the topics of digital design.

What can I expect to learn?

HTML, CSS, JavaScript, front-end frameworks, responsive web design, version control, iconography, typography, spacing, color and balance, wireframing, UI/UX, introduction to mobile design, design philosophy, and A/B testing among other subjects.

Why should I learn design over programming?

Not everyone is meant to be a programmer, but if you want to be involved with startups, you should have some sort of technical skill. There's a shortage of design talent out there. Read what everyone else is saying about the design revolution: Fast Company, The Next Web, PandoDaily, Medium, VentureBeat.

Why should I take The Designation when I can learn from books or online?

Design can be overwhelming, especially if you don't know where to begin. If you want a structured program that will teach you everything there is needed to become a master designer from scratch, hold you accountable, and be taught to you by talented designers with industry experience, then The Designation is for you.

How do I register for the class?

You must apply to be a part of the Summer 2013 cohort.

What's the application process for?

We only want to work with people who are passionate and dedicated enough to become designers. You don't have to have any prior knowledge of coding or design at all, but what we're looking for are people who want to be great designers. You should understand that great design takes a lot of time and effort, and that it doesn't happen overnight. The applicants who do get accepted are in for an intensive nine weeks of their lives.

What do I need to start this course?

You'll need a working laptop (Mac or Windows).

Are there any other fees I need to pay?

You will need to purchase a one-year account with Adobe Creative Cloud, but we will reimburse you the full amount.

Is there a refund policy?

Full refunds will be given up to June 5, 2013 (two days from the program start date).

What can I expect to get out of the program?

By the end of nine weeks, you will have obtained a solid education in digital design and have a stellar portfolio to showcase your project(s) from the course.

How do I know if I'm the right fit for taking the class?

You will know that you are the right fit if you are one of the following:
- Someone who is new to the world of technology (you don't know HTML from CSS)
- Someone who has very basic skills in design
- A programmer who wants to refine their design skills, obtain UX training, and learn the Adobe suite
If you are already a designer who is seeking to level up your skills, please contact us to learn more about how we can help take you from being a good designer to a great designer.

Who can I contact if I have more questions?

You can send us an email at crew@thedesignation.co and we'll get back to you within twenty four hours.

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