Our Design Journey
From a small Brisbane studio to Australia's leading UI/UX design education platform, discover the milestones that shaped our mission to democratize design learning.
The Spark That Started Everything
It all began in a converted warehouse space in Brisbane's creative district. Sarah Chen, a former Google designer, and Marcus Thompson, a freelance developer, were grabbing coffee when they realized something crucial was missing from Australia's design landscape. Traditional design courses were either too expensive, too academic, or completely out of touch with what the industry actually needed.
That conversation turned into weekend workshops in Sarah's garage, teaching practical UI/UX skills to anyone willing to learn. What started with eight eager students quickly grew as word spread about their hands-on approach to design education. By the end of 2018, they'd taught over 200 students and knew they were onto something special.
- Real-world projects over theoretical exercises
- Industry mentorship from day one
- Affordable education that doesn't compromise on quality
- Building a supportive design community
Breaking New Ground
By 2022, we'd outgrown three different office spaces and established ourselves as a serious player in Australia's design education scene. This was the year everything clicked into place. We launched our comprehensive online platform, partnered with major Australian companies for student placements, and saw our first graduates land senior design roles at companies like Atlassian and Canva.
The real game-changer came when we introduced our project-based learning approach. Instead of traditional assignments, students worked on actual client briefs from real businesses. This wasn't just about building portfolios – it was about understanding the full design process from client meetings to final delivery.
- Launched Australia's first industry-integrated design curriculum
- Established mentorship program with 30+ senior designers
- Opened satellite learning hubs in Melbourne and Sydney
- Won 'Best Educational Innovation' at Australian Design Awards
Shaping Tomorrow's Designers
Today, we're not just teaching design – we're actively shaping how design education should work in the modern world. Our students don't just learn tools and techniques; they develop critical thinking skills, understand business impact, and graduate with the confidence to tackle complex design challenges.
What makes us proudest isn't our growth numbers or industry recognition. It's the emails we get from graduates who've landed their dream jobs, launched successful design agencies, or simply discovered a passion they never knew they had. Every success story reinforces why we started this journey in the first place.
Sarah Chen
Co-founder & Head of Curriculum
Marcus Thompson
Co-founder & Technical Director
- Launching specialized AI-assisted design programs
- Expanding into New Zealand and Southeast Asian markets
- Building Australia's largest design community platform
- Introducing corporate training programs for enterprise clients