We are very proud to have participated in the School of Code’s User-Centred Design Internship Week as Expert Partners! This collaboration was an opportunity to share our expertise and guide the next generation of tech talent through the fundamentals of user-centred design (UCD).
Our journey with the School of Code began with an immersive Day 1, where bootcampers dove deep into the core principles of UCD. From defining problems to designing solutions, the day was packed with actionable insights. A special thank you to our Methods day 1 speakers:
- Jane Fallon and Gosia Szewczuk for providing an engaging introduction to UCD, outlining team roles, and kicking off the week’s exciting project.
- Lauren Tombs and Andy Fenner for breaking down the essentials of problem-solving, tackling assumptions, and helping the bootcampers understand their users.
- Urška Tičar for an inspiring session on End-to-End Service Design.
The feedback from bootcampers was overwhelmingly positive! One participant shared,
All the speakers today were great, each gave a really insightful talk on different aspects of user-centered design. Looking forward to hearing more from Methods!
This energy and enthusiasm set the stage for a truly transformative week.
Day 3: Hackathon Launch!
By mid-week, the bootcampers took all they had learned and began turning ideas into reality through hands-on projects. This hackathon was a crucial part of the learning process, where designs were tested and prototypes refined. Massive thanks to our Methods day 3 speakers who made it all possible:
- Matthew Gough and Sienna Bailey – for enlightening discussions on how content design shapes user experiences.
- Gordon Coe – for sharing insights on Ethnicity Facts & Figures.
- Ezra Mulhern and Katja Alcock – for exploring the role of AI in User-Centred Design.
Bootcampers left inspired and ready to tackle real-world challenges, with one participant saying,
The whole Methods team was amazing! The knowledge they shared allowed us to focus on the bigger picture and understand how each role contributes to a team’s success.
As the week came to a close, we couldn’t help but reflect on the heart-warming experience of working with such a phenomenal group of future tech leaders. If you lead a government team, we highly encourage you to engage with the School of Code. Their fresh perspectives on public service transformation are something we all need to hear.
At Methods, we’re committed to continuous improvement. While we shared valuable lessons on problem exploration, user research, design simplicity, and accessibility, we recognise there’s always room for growth. As we move forward, we’re excited to continue refining our approach and supporting the next wave of innovators.
Thank you, School of Code, for an unforgettable week. We can’t wait to see the innovative solutions that emerge from these brilliant minds!