$4,000+ of validation.

Hello, everyone!

I’ve loved following everyone’s stories here, especially when they hit milestones and share them, so I thought I’d share a milestone I reached. I just hit $4,000 of validation. Here’s how…

For 20+ years I’ve taught design at Belfast School of Art. This summer I decided it was time for a change: I handed in my notice and I took the plunge.

I launched The School of Design, a community for design-focused entrepreneurs building the products (and startups) of tomorrow.

From Day 1, I’ve adopted an ‘everything is a prototype’ methodology. I test out my ideas, learn from them and iterate. Instead of waiting – like I used to – until every single thing is ‘perfect’, I get on with it.

I’ve built a library of free design × business resources and the fantastic feedback from that has led to my design mentoring slowly, but surely booking up. I’ve loved mentoring, especially seeing my non-university students flourish:

• two of my mentoring clients have secured new jobs (with considerably bigger salaries);
• two of them have moved from beginner UXers, just starting out, to charging for client work; and
• one has shifted career from developer to designer, securing work with their first three clients.

The progress they have all made makes me so proud.

Two weeks ago, I advertised our first course: Sell While You Sleep, designed to help designers develop product ranges to sell while they sleep.

I’m delighted to report back that I hit revenue of $4,000+. I was joined by my first cohort of students on Monday evening and I asked them to give me a wave at the end. I’m delighted.

That $4,000 is validation that there are people who are eager to learn design and I can’t wait to teach more of them.