Designation is now Flatiron School

As of May 2019, Designation is now Flatiron School.

If you graduated from Designation prior to May 1, 2019, please leave your review for Designation. Otherwise, please leave your review for Flatiron School.

To view updated and accurate information, please visit the Flatiron School Course Report page.

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Designation

Average Rating4.8
115 Reviews
3 Courses
Designation is a 24-week program specializing in the fields of UX and UI design with the primary goal to turn you into a hireable candidate for innovative and tech-focused companies. Designation offers a hybrid of both online education and in-person immersion in Chicago. Throughout the 24 weeks of the program, students are treated to guest speakers, sponsored workshops, and lab sessions. While there is no formal grading, students are asked to create portfolio delivera...
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115 Designation Reviews

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  • Kate Doornbos
    Kate Doornbos
    UI / UX Designer • Graduate • Topaz Cohort • Chicago
    Dec 22, 2016
    Overall Experience
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    Trust the process. It works if you do!

    TL;DR: DESIGNATION can help you land a design job, but nothing's handed to you. The people that do well are the ones that have some work experience, take it seriously, trust the process, and work their asses off. The program's hard by design and constantly testing/iterating to be better.

    ---

    I worked with DESIGNATION both as a student and on staff (as a TA), and I'm super happy with the investment. I gained...

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  • Daniel
    Daniel
    Jr. UX/UI Designer • Graduate • Sapphire Cohort • Chicago
    Dec 16, 2016
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    Great Program for a Career Change

    If you have no design experience, but want to make a career change into it, you should definitely consider DESIGNATION because I was on the same boat as you. I came into the program with a background in Biomedical Engineering, while doing wedding videography on the weekends. 

    I chose this program because I wanted to learn the fundamentals of UX/UI, apply them to projects, which would help me to find a job. And that's exactly the focus of DESIGNATION. 

    A hu...

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  • Rose
    Rose
    UX designer • Graduate • Umber Cohort • Chicago
    Nov 20, 2016
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    Safe learning environment

    I valued my time at DESIGNATION. Before attending the program, I was a teacher without any formal design experience and nervous about the ambiguity of changing careers. Through its rigorous content and nurturing delivery, the program made me confident in my abilities. Working with real startup clients was an invaluable experience that strengthened my design processes. I also want to acknowledge DESIGNATION for being an incredibly inclusive atmosphere for LGBT people. I appreciate how empow...

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  • Mitch Myers
    Mitch Myers
    UI Designer • Graduate • Umber Cohort • Chicago
    Nov 08, 2016
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    A Fantastic Learning Experience

    I was looking to expand my design skills and break into the field of UX/UI, when I stumbled upon DESIGNATION on Course Report. As a web and graphic designer I had experience in design but this is a whole new level. The course is extremely challenging, but also extremely rewarding. I have learned more in the 18 weeks of this course than I did throughout a good portion of my college years. I truly believe that they have set me up, and will continue to support me, to get the best possible job...

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  • LJ
    LJ
    Graduate • Topaz Cohort • Chicago
    Nov 07, 2016
    Overall Experience
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    Well Worth It

    When I found DESIGNATION while looking for graphic design master's programs, I didn't even know what UX was. After doing research and meeting with several of the UX/UI programs in Chicago, I knew that DESIGNATION was my best option at finding a career that I would enjoy going to every day. The real world experience you get and the network that you make during the program are invaluable. I am so glad I stumbled upon their website less than a year ago and am extremely excited for my new care...

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  • Nikolas Payne
    Nikolas Payne
    UX/UI Designer • Graduate • Chicago
    Aug 26, 2016
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    Tough, Fun, Worth It

    Designation was awesome, and I think it deserves a five star rating. The instruction was mostly great, I learned a ton—in part because it was a really fun experience—and I was able to build a really strong portfolio. I also got to know a lot of great new people, make some lifelong friends, fall in love with the city of Chicago (so much so that I’m staying), and launch my career as a UX/UI designer. I really believe I got everything I wanted out of the program.

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  • Atanas
    Atanas
    UX designer • Graduate • Sapphire Cohort • Chicago
    Aug 22, 2016
    Overall Experience
    Instructors
    Curriculum
    Job Assistance

    Very promising work in progress

    THE GOOD

    Let's start by saying I would have had no idea where to start in my UX career without DESIGNATION. Their career councelor/guide is incredible and very intense. Mike is constantly pushing to make your work better and always available to review your work, and help you find a job that not only fits the companies needs, but yours as well. He helps build a portfolio, case studies, resumes, a linkedin, a perso...

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  • Daniel
    Daniel
    UX/UI designer • Graduate • Ruby Cohort • Chicago
    Jul 31, 2016
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    Job Assistance

    Great experience

    It was the most intense experience I've ever had and also the best. They have great instructors, always willing to help. There has not been one time when I've been stuck and couldn't find an instructor to help me, even after finishing the course. They offer top notch resources. Have no doubt that if you put the effort you will become a UX/UI designer. Most importantly, you'll learn how to be a profesional in the field. After learning for the first few weeks we then worked with real life cl...

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  • Katarina
    Katarina
    Student / Designer-in-Residence • Graduate • Chicago
    May 20, 2016
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    Job Assistance

    With enough effort, this bootcamp will be one of the most rewarding experiences

    I was a member of the Magenta cohort that graduated in November 2015. After graduating, I was hired by the program as a Designer-in-Residence.

    I can wholeheartedly say that DESIGNATION changed my life. I enrolled in the program without having had any formal design training, yet with the guidance of the instructors, the comprehensive curriculum and many late nights of effort, I am now confident in my abilities as a digital designer. 

    Having been both a student and an emp...

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  • Anonymous
    UX Designer • Graduate • Chicago
    May 14, 2016
    Overall Experience
    Instructors
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    Job Assistance

    If you put in the work and effort, its a fantastic program

    I graduated from the program in April and just got my first job offer. So I can happily say that the program is legit and would reccomend it. I think there are a few things to know/consider to get the most out of the program:

    - Know the basics of what UX is BEFOREHAND. Read as much as you can to get aquianted with terms and everything else UX so that you can hit the ground running. 

    - Be ready to work your ass off. When they say the program is intense, they mean it. Whe...

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  • Anonymous
    UX Designer • Graduate • Chicago
    May 14, 2016
    Overall Experience
    Instructors
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    A Premiere Program

    After graduating and moving back to San Francisco, one of my first design job interviews was with a hiring team that pulled my application from the applicant pool because they saw DESIGNATION on my resume. They had a great experience with another graduate and were eager to bring in someone with a similar skillset. That experience reminded me that I made the right decision to attend this bootcamp.

    A few attributes set DESIGNATION apart from other design programs, in my mind:

    ...
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  • Anonymous
    Front End Developer • Graduate • Chicago
    May 14, 2016
    Overall Experience
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    Curriculum
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    Great instructors, perfect location, and a massive network across the design community

    The instructors are great, they come from many different backgrounds, and they really know what they're talking about. With experiences in UX/UI design, advertising, graphic design, front end development, entrepreneurship, logo design, and so on, I dont remember having a question that somebody in 1871 didn't have the answer to. 

    At DESIGNATION, you're doing something productive towards your future 11+ hours every single day and that really makes you remember the knowledge you are...

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Designation Alumni Outcomes

Recent Designation News

Imogen Crispe
Imogen Crispe
Updated December 27, 2018
As we near the end of 2018, we're rewinding and reflecting on the most interesting and impactful coding bootcamp news of the year. Come with us as we look at trends, digest thought pieces, break down the 175 million in new funding, and more. We ll also look at our predictions for 2019 and our hopes for the future of coding bootcamps! 2018 Course Report in Numbers We added 89 new schools to our directory You (our readers) applied for 789 scholarships on Course Report and we gave away over ...
Imogen Crispe
Imogen Crispe
Updated January 25, 2018
Designation is a UX/UI bootcamp that has been building up the Chicago design community since 2013, and recently moved into a new WeWork classroom. We asked the Designation team to share their reasons behind the move, how students will fit into the larger WeWork community, and why Chicago is a great city to work in UX Design. Plus, we hear about Designation s future plans to collaborate with WeWork in other cities around the world! Schedule a 30-minute tour of the Chicago campus! ...
Imogen Crispe
Imogen Crispe
Updated December 01, 2017
On the Course Report Coding Bootcamp News Roundup, we keep you up to date with the blossoming coding bootcamp industry. This November, we're covering the WeWork/Flatiron School acquisition, over 2M in funding to various bootcamps, and why tech is booming in "Heartland" cities. Of course we also look at new schools, new campuses, and our favorite pieces to work on this month for the Course Report blog! Plus, is The Iron Yard back from the dead? Read the summary or listen to the podcast ...
Lauren Stewart
Lauren Stewart
Updated November 17, 2023
Do you want to be a front end developer or a back end developer? Understanding your career goals at the end of a coding bootcamp can make it easier to narrow down which school is best for you. This can be a tricky task if you aren t familiar with these terms but no need to worry now that you have this guide. Let s dig into the difference between front end web development and back end development which programming languages you ll learn, which coding schools teach them, and what to expect ...
Liz Eggleston
Liz Eggleston
Updated November 10, 2015
Founded in 2013, Designation offers an immersive bootcamp for aspiring UX and UI designers. Mike Joosse, their new Community Director, tells us about his transition from the design world to Designation, the most important ingredient for a successful UX designer and how Designation prepares students for post-bootcamp careers. Tell us about your background and what you were doing before Designation. I come from a design background. I went to design school a long time ago and ...
Liz Eggleston
Liz Eggleston
Updated October 07, 2015
Welcome to the September News Roundup, your monthly news digest full of the most interesting articles and announcements in the bootcamp space. Do you want something considered for the next News Roundup?  Submit announcements  of new courses, scholarships, or open jobs at your school!   This Week on Course Report Should you learn web or mobile development first? We dive into this question with advice from Atlanta's DigitalCrafts code school!  ...
Liz Eggleston
Liz Eggleston
Updated January 31, 2018
Coding Bootcamps are intensive programs- some require an 80 hour per week commitment, and all demand undivided attention in the classroom. This structure may be necessary to learn a new skill in a short time, but it can also overwhelm students and in some cases, cause burnout. Luckily, at Course Report, we get the opportunity to talk with alumni from coding bootcamps all over the world, and we always ask how they avoided burnout during their courses. We ve compiled the top eight ...
Liz Eggleston
Liz Eggleston
Updated October 02, 2014
Welcome to the September News Roundup, your monthly news digest full of the most interesting articles and announcements in the bootcamp space. Want your bootcamp's news to be included in the next News Roundup? Submit announcements of new courses, scholarships, or open jobs at your school! Bootcamps in the News Udacity Raises Fresh 35M to Expand the University of Silicon Valley In September, Hackbright Academy, Hack Reactor, Dev Bootcamp, Wyncode, Flatiron School & ...
Liz Eggleston
Liz Eggleston
Updated July 09, 2018
With a degree in Advertising Art Direction, Martha Willis was looking for a way to build on her current skillset in pursuit of a web-based career. So she enrolled in Designation , a full-time, immersive design course in Chicago. We get the scoop from Martha about the application process, her new job as a UI Designer, and how she's continued her education after Designation. Remember, the Course Report community is eligible for a 500 scholarship to Designation! What were you doing ...
Liz Eggleston
Liz Eggleston
Updated July 12, 2018
Designation is a digital design-focused school in Chicago that helps students with a technical or design background make the shift to digital design jobs. We talk with founder Kevin Yun about the differences between Designation and other web-development bootcamps, the types of applicants they look for, and why it's important to learn digital design now. Remember, the Course Report community is eligible for a 500 scholarship to Designation! Kevin, tell us about your background ...
Locations

Designation Alumni Reviews Summary

Overall Experience
4.8
Instructors
4.6
Curriculum
4.5
Job Assistance
4.5
Write A Review
More Information
Guarantees Job
Job Assistance
Includes Housing
Offers Corporate Training
Accepts GI Bill
FAQs

How much does Designation cost?

Designation costs around $15,800. On the lower end, some Designation courses like Design Essentials (Online, Part-time, begins every 6-8 weeks) cost $1,000.

Where does Designation have campuses?

Designation has in-person campuses in Chicago. Designation also has a remote classroom so students can learn online.

Is Designation worth it?

Designation hasn't shared alumni outcomes yet, but one way to determine if a bootcamp is worth it is by reading alumni reviews. 115 Designation alumni, students, and applicants have reviewed Designation on Course Report - you should start there!

Is Designation legit?

We let alumni answer that question. 115 Designation alumni, students, and applicants have reviewed Designation and rate their overall experience a 4.8 out of 5.

Does Designation offer scholarships or accept the GI Bill?

Right now, it doesn't look like Designation offers scholarships or accepts the GI Bill. We're always adding to the list of schools that do offer Exclusive Course Report Scholarships and a list of the bootcamps that accept the GI Bill.

Can I read Designation reviews?

You can read 115 reviews of Designation on Course Report! Designation alumni, students, and applicants have reviewed Designation and rate their overall experience a 4.8 out of 5.

Is Designation accredited?

While bootcamps must be approved to operate, accreditation is relatively rare. Designation doesn't yet share information about their accreditation status.

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