WISE is a two-semester program that aims to provide members with personal development opportunities related to leading industry trends.

Our program goals are focused on connecting, daring and empowering. Through our workshop series, we will be connecting members with industry professionals so that they can acquire knowledge on topics of their interest. By creating a comprehensive workshop series, we will be pushing our members’ limits by daring them to broaden their personal and professional power. As a  result of the program, we will be empowering our members to be forward thinkers, by providing them with challenging opportunities to grow. 

This year at WISE, we will be focusing on Website Building with Squarespace. The program includes 4 learning workshops and one project showcase. Adjusting to the pandemic, our goal this year is to host an online workshop series to provide students with the opportunity to learn a new skill set.

We aim to create a community of support by building student connections with industry professionals. Through our workshop series we will be connecting members with industry professionals so that they can acquire knowledge on topics of their interest. By creating a comprehensive workshop series, we will be pushing our members limits by daring them to broaden their personal and professional power. As a result of the program, we will be empowering our members to be forward thinkers, by providing them with challenging opportunities to grow. The price of this series would be $26 and would include the topics mentioned below.

Topics Include:

• Week 1: Personal Branding, Blog & Dashboard

• Week 2: Understanding Web Analytics

• Week 3: Learning about E-Commerce Website (Products)

• Week 4: Learning about E-Commerce Website (Services)

• Week 5: Project Showcase

• Saturday, February 26 - 9:00 am to 12:30 pm

• Saturday, March 5 - 9:30 am to 12:30 pm

• Saturday, March 12 - 9:30 am to 12:30 pm

• Saturday, March 19 - 9:30 am to 12:30 pm

• Saturday, March 26 - 9:30 am to 12:30 pm (Project Showcase)

Spring 2022 Workshop Instructors

Janel Lucia

Graphic Designer

I help businesses design logos, brands & websites that are beautifully simple, reassuringly smart and full of brand personality. I specialize in brand identity, logo design, graphic design and illustration. I work with businesses to design unique experiences that connect to their audience. As a designer, I love colours, layouts, images, and of course, sometimes more than anything, delivering the right message with the right tone in an effortless way.

Marya Nguyen

Founder & Squarespace Web Designer @ Yangu Web Studio

As Squarespace Web Designers go, you’ll be charmed to collab with one as creative and intentional as Marya Nguyen. In the midst of the 2020 lockdown, Marya pivoted careers, going from a digital marketing expert to a self-employed web designer. Today, she runs her studio with the goal of living a full, healthy life balanced with design work, client relations, lots of lattes, & all the good vibes. Yangu Web Studio is based out of Atlanta, GA & partners with fellow conscious creatives and entrepreneurs cultivating their jewelry, fashion, and beauty communities. Marya believes that sharing your story, struggles, and lessons is the best way to grow, both on your own and as a community. Strategic and detailed, your biz ambitions are in good hands when you partner with her.

Michelle Ta

UX/UI Designer and Front End Developer

Hi! My name is Michelle, I'm a UX/UI Designer at a software company, Front End Developer, and a third-year college student studying Information Science and Technology. Before breaking into UX/UI Design, I worked as a freelance photographer for modeling and talent agencies, getting my work featured in publications and eventually venturing out to work with brands and businesses while owning a model and talent agency. I switched careers to become a UX/UI Designer because I want to make a difference in modern technology where I hope to inspire, teach. create and share my ideas with other creators.

Nicole McDonald

Freelance Digital Marketing Expert

For over 25 years, Nicole has developed her passion for connecting technology with communications and marketing through video production, graphic design, content writing and innovation. She has worked as an entrepreneur developing over 300 websites for small businesses, has written tech made simple articles for the website MUO.com, and has worked as a digital marketing expert for government, non-profits and within marketing agencies. Currently, she freelances and shares her knowledge through webinars and guest teaching for B2B and B2C businesses on how to increase their online marketing results with a particular focus on SEO and content writing, as well as leveraging LinkedIn. Recently she has begun writing her first novel and has plans for several non-fiction books focused on supporting women in business.

Cindy Wu

Lead UX | UI Designer at Cuboh | Instructor

Currently, I am the lead UX | UI Designer at Cuboh - an online order consolidation company. It all started with painting from when I was little and my fascination for people and portraits. Later on, I went to University for visual arts and sociology out of interest. After earning both degrees from UBC, I worked as a qualitative researcher for theJohn Howard Society and was part of many group showcases at local art galleries. This led to my newfound passion for UX | UI where research and design meet. I'm an avid learner who loves to explore the world. I have many interests but traveling and painting have been with me throughout my lifetime. Also, I love chasing waterfalls. That is when I'm out hiking!

David Mai

UX Designer at Inuit | SFU Student | Instructor

David is in his final year at SFU, majoring in Business and Interactive Arts & Technology. He recently completed an internship at SAP as a UX Designer, where he worked on SAP Analytics Cloud. Currently, David is a UX Designer at Intuit, working on the TurboTax Canada team. In his spare time, you can find him hiking beautiful BC mountains or searching for the best espresso in Vancouver.

Fun fact: David completed a study abroad term in Singapore!

Mandy Cheung

UX Designer at Microsoft | SFU Alumni | Instructor

Hello! I’m Mandy, nice to meet you! I studied UX in the SIAT program at SFU. I graduated last year. In the past I have interned at IBM, Blackberry and SAP as a UX designer. Currently I’m designing at Microsoft on a product called Yammer. In my free time I like to draw, dance and play computer games! Feel free to ask me any questions you may have :)

Anuri Shah

Product Designer | Instructor

Anuri Shah graduated from Loyola University Chicago with a Bachelor's in Biology and attended Springboard for UX/UI Design. She is now a product designer. In the past year, she has worked with numerous companies helping them enhance their UX.  Outside of design, she is an Indian Classical and Contemporary Dancer and teacher. She loves to try new things, eat food, and travel.

Shivam Tiwari

Instructor

Shivam is an Electrical Engineer who graduated from the University of Calgary but found his dream of becoming a UX/UI Designer. Having worked in electronic and software product development after graduation, Shivam loved the idea of creating products and experiences that work for the user. As such, he has found his love in combining his technical background with creative human-centric design. Shivam is a life-long video gamer, an enjoyer of board games and loves to go on the occasional hike. Hit him up if you have any questions, or maybe want to geek out with him on the latest video games! 

Fun fact: he can make his eyebrows do the wave!

Nikita Parmar

Instructor

She has a self-taught background in coding and a professional background in criminal justice and law enforcement. She made the pivot to User Experience Design in 2020. She is currently a Junior UX Designer at Blackline Safety and a volunteer UX Designer at Immigrant Care. She loves storytelling, constantly learning, and anything having to do with career development, as she likes to keep things interesting. Outside of UX Design, she lives in her kitchen. Whether it’s cooking, baking, food/wine festivals and tours, she’s there. Also a fan of Star Wars, DC, and Marvel, and may or may not have dressed up on occasion for the Calgary Expo.

Spring 2021 Project Showcase - TABLEAU SERIES

What Does It Take to Be a WISE Member?

• Positive Attitude. Having a positive attitude when it comes to learning is very beneficial as it will enhance your productivity, performance and self-confidence. It will also allow you to actively see to learn more about new knowledge and skills. We would love to see our members bring their active and curious minds to our workshops.

• Interact Actively. You are encouraged to engage with other members and instructors by asking questions, participating in discussion, and sharing your thoughts. Having great interactions with everyone will contribute to making the workshops more efficient and productive.

• Be Open. You will encounter a large number of different ideas that you have never thought of or considered from other workshops attendees and instructors. As a program member It is highly important to be open-minded and to respect diverse ideas and opinions.

• Be Prepared. Knowing what is to come and getting your mind thinking about the topics will help you learn and absorb them in an efficient and effective manner throughout the workshops. The more prepared you are for the subject matter, the more you will gain at the end of the workshop.

• Be Coachable. Being a member of our program means that you aiming to grow, learn, improve, excel, or peak perform. It is important to have the interest and willingness to learn, the ability to seek out, accept and integrate feedback without being defensive, and finally acknowledging and prepare to demonstrate numerous attempts on creating your design/product.

Invest in your professional skills
and development with WISE.