Events to educate and inspire

🎤 DESIGN EVENTS FOR EVERYBODY

Our two weeks of design events to ring in 2025 continue next week, with a focus on career change, networking, and growth. Learn more and register below—we hope to see you there!  

From UX Academy to Gamma: Alison Bemis on Designing AI Products

Monday, January 13th, 7pm ET/4pm PT

• Join us for an engaging talk by Alison Bemis, a UX Academy alum and one of the pioneering product designers behind Gamma, the rapidly growing AI-powered platform transforming how people communicate their ideas.
  
• Alison will share insights from her career journey, where she transitioned from working in hospitality to UX design. She’ll also speak to her experience designing for an innovative and fast-growing organization, and provide a live demo of Gamma in action.
  
• This is a great opportunity to learn more about the world of AI product design, hear from someone who made a career shift to product design, and learn more about Gamma, an exciting new AI tool.

Transitioning in UX: A Panel with UX Academy Alumni

Wednesday, January 15th, 7pm ET/4pm PT

• Join us for a conversational session where we’ll sit down with four recent UX Academy grads to speak about their transition into their first UX/UI role.
  
• While these alums span a range of prior careers, pathways into the field, and current job titles, all have one thing in common: they found a fulfilling, successful career as a UX/UI designer.
  
• Participants will have an opportunity to engage in a live Q&A at the end of the session. This is a great opportunity for those considering UX design to learn from those who have gone through the transition firsthand.

The Power of Networking

Thursday, January 16th, 7pm ET/4pm PT

• Join us for an insightful session led by Shena Mistry, career and leadership coach, for an informative session focused on the power of networking.
  
• An expert in career development, Shena will draw from her experience in recruitment, leadership, and mentorship, exploring strategies to make networking more effective, especially during career transitions.
  
• This session will also discuss practical approaches on how to navigate networking with confidence in a way that feels authentic—designers of all levels are welcome to attend.

💜 PORTFOLIO INSPIRATION

Adaugo Iwaula, a UX Academy graduate, couples strong research with welcoming UI in her end-to-end design for Muse, a journaling app focused on accessibility and creativity to motivate users to stay consistent when forming a writing habit. With her redesign for The Mix Church, she creates a responsive experience for users that prioritizes clear communication, engaging branding, and ease of use.

Adaugo will be one of the alumni who will join us for our “Transitioning into UX” panel this coming Wednesday, January 15th. Register here to attend!

Got a portfolio you love that you’d like to share with our audience? Email your suggestions to hello@designlab.com.

💡 INTERESTING STUFF...

• The Design History of London’s Underground Subway System
• Negotiating Pay as a Creative
• A Photographic Exploration of America
• Recycling the Every Day Object

If it scares you, it might be a good thing to try. — Seth Godin, author

🧪 FROM THE LAB

🚀 Courses Launching Soon

Strategic Business Acumen for Designers (Launching Friday, January 17th): This 4-week course for experienced designers equips you with the business knowledge you need to enhance your impact and take your design career to the next level. Featuring practical project work, guest speakers, and expert mentorship, you’ll gain the skills and framework to become a more strategic partner in your organization.

UX Academy Foundations (Launching Monday, January 27th): For those new to design, Foundations is the perfect first step towards seeing if a career in UX is right for you. You’ll learn visual and UI design fundamentals, gain proficiency in Figma, and get support from a 1:1 expert mentor—all on a flexible schedule with a low financial commitment.

Data-Driven Design (Launching Friday, January 31st): This 6-week course for experienced designers gives you the skills and confidence to use product data in your design work. You’ll be able to run experiments better, understand metrics to fuel decisions, win over stakeholders, and more.

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