SUMMER 2021 UX DESIGN BOOTCAMP

ABOUT THE 2021 SUMMER UX DESIGN BOOTCAMP
AOT’s UX Design Summer Bootcamp is a 6-week long immersive program in User Experience Design for students who have completed our technical coursework. Students will work in teams throughout the bootcamp to build a market-ready, clickable design prototype of a mobile app. They will also participate in professional development lessons and company site visits throughout the program. The bootcamp consists of 3 classes and 1 career day per week, and culminates with a team competition. Prizes will be awarded for top performers in the team competition!

NOTE: Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 UX Design program will run 100% virtually. 

Benefits of Participation:

  • Students gain access to the AOT student network - More than 2,500 students from NYC interested in and/or pursuing degrees and careers in tech
  • Students gain access to the AOT professional network - Currently employed tech professionals who volunteer their time with AOT
  • AOT’s programs look good on resumes and college applications
  • Students have the opportunity to win cool prizes and present to a panel of professionals
  • Students will gain a mentor through meeting with an industry professional every week

WHAT STUDENTS WILL LEARN

Overview: AOT’s UX Design Summer Bootcamp will teach the entire cycle of user experience design, beginning with discovery and research and ending with packaging a design prototype. For the entirety of this bootcamp, students will work in a group of 3-5 students, 1 America On Tech peer mentor and 1 industry mentor. Students will immediately apply the skills they are learning to build a design prototype. Not only will students learn the technical aspects of user experience design, but they will also learn important professional skills such as teamwork, how to pitch or present ideas, and networking that will prepare them for a career in the technology industry. The bootcamp’s curriculum is laid out as follows:

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Unit 1- Discovery and Research: This unit covers the basics of the UX design process, research strategies, and developing a product strategy.
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Unit 2- Synthesize Research and Design Strategy: Learn how to use affinity mapping to synthesize research, identify the target user and create a plan to support them, and define the key problem that your design will answer, and prioritize features of your design.
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Unit 3- Placement and Layout Design: Learn and practice techniques to sketch the elements of your design on paper and using software, and investigate various methods for organizing content using information architecture.
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Unit 4- Execution: Learn about responsive design, wireframes, and prototypes, and then build lo-fi and hi-fi wireframes by hand and using software.
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Unit 5- Usability Testing: Expand your prototype into a clickable version using software, and conduct and use feedback from usability testing to improve on your design prototype.
Unit 6- Packaging and Preparing to Present: In this culminating unit, prepare your design for presentation, practice communicating the features of your design, and then present your finished design.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Applicants for our Summer 2021 UX Design Bootcamp must be: 
  • Current Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors enrolled in a NYC public or charter high school that meets our Economic Needs Index
  • Students who are interested in pursuing degrees or careers in the tech industry
  • Students who participated in and completed AOT programs during the 2020-2021 school year
  • Students who can attend virtual sessions, Monday through Thursday, 7/6 through 8/13 from 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. 
​​Note: AOT prioritizes candidates that:
  • Self-identify as LGBTQIA+ ​
  • Self-identify as females and/or girls 
  • Self-identify as Hispanic / Latinx
  • Self-identify as African American / Black

SELECTION PROCESS

Listed below is the application process for the 2021 UX Design Bootcamp:
  1. Interested students should fill out an application form by Sunday, May 30, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. EST.  Application will open in April.
  2. Applications will be reviewed by members of the AOT team.
  3. AOT will make a decision to invite selected students to the Summer 2021 UX Design Bootcamp via email. 
  4. Selected students' parents / guardians will be required to submit a parent / guardian consent form for participation in the program.