Intelligence++ Hosting No Code Design Sprint
Syracuse University Libraries, College of Visual and Performing Arts and the School of Education, in partnership with Intelligence ++ and the Blackstone LaunchPad, are hosting a competitive, fast-paced seven-day No Code Design Sprint for up to 20 Syracuse University student teams. The competition was created to harness the power of design thinking, user experience (UX)/ user interface (UI) research and design, and rapid development technology. Traditionally taught and practiced in silos, these skills and tools hold the potential for unparalleled innovation when combined. Intelligence ++ aims to bridge these gaps by providing students with a holistic experience working alongside top alumni industry professionals.
The hybrid week-long event will commence with an intensive workshop on February 2, 2024, from 2p.m. to 5 p.m. in the Whitman School of Management. It is being led by Kai Alexander Patricio G’23 (College of Visual and Performing Arts), a design consultant in research and experience design at Matchstiix in Brooklyn, NY. Patricio is renowned for his expertise in design processes utilizing no and low code. He is also the author of the published methodology "Design Led No Code" and consults businesses ranging from start-ups to mature companies. Patricio will be joined by industry professionals Samantha Calamari (Senior Learning Experience Designer, Microsoft), Quentin Fletchall (Senior Design Researcher, Conifer Research), Andrew Tsao (Founder, Codeless Coach) and Max Mirho (Founder, Make with Max), as collaborators in the design sprint. The workshop will guide students through the process of testing an idea and building a fully functional prototype or MVP (Minimum Viable Product). Activities will include multi-level mind mapping, empathy structuring, journey sketching, no-code wireframing, API binding, back-end creation and business logic creation.
Teams interested in participating can register online. Selected teams will be assigned a design challenge related to the Intelligence ++ initiative. For those aspiring to develop platforms beyond the design brief, an opportunity to apply for an exception for a prototype build based on their own research will be provided.
The competitive sprint will culminate on Friday, February 9, 2024, at 2p.m., with a pitch event at the Whitman School of Management. Teams will present their prototypes to a distinguished panel of successful Syracuse University alumni judges working in the field. The winning team with the best prototype will be awarded a $500 grand prize and $5,000 in AWS credits from AWS Activate.
Intelligence ++ is a collaborative program involving the College of Visual and Performing Arts School of Design, the School of Education’s InclusiveU initiative of the Taishoff Center for Inclusive Higher Education, Syracuse University Libraries and the Blackstone LaunchPad. The Whitman School of Management is hosting the event in partnership with the Couri Hatchery.
This initiative represents a significant step towards fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and preparing students for the dynamic challenges of the ever-evolving technological landscape.
About the Collaborators:
Samantha Calamari, Sr. Learning Experience Designer, Microsoft
Samantha Calamari has worked in the fields of media production, education, and learning design with LinkedIn, Brown University and NYC's Department of Education, as well as a number of nonprofits, tech startups and as a Fulbright Specialist before joining Microsoft in 2019. Her practice spans global online platforms with the goal of creating equitable access to learning and transformative experiences for adults and children. While at Microsoft, she has developed human-centered learning programs and designed instructional experiences for several internal teams. She also is leading an effort to shape and implement an Inclusive Learning Design framework with the Global Learning and Development organization.
Quinton Fletchall ’13, G’15, Senior Design Researcher, Conifer Research
Quinton Fletchall is passionate about design research as it provides opportunities to be curious and explore different topics. As a researcher, he has worked on a wide range of topics including personal finance, medical diagnostic testing, ethics in tech innovation, health insurance, automotive design and manufacturing, company culture and various consumer products. While in Syracuse, Quinton taught in the Syracuse University Industrial and Interactive Design program and was a project coordinator for Syracuse University’s Connective Corridor. Quinton graduated from Syracuse University’s College of Visual and Performing Arts.
Andrew Tsao, Founder, Codeless Coach
Andrew Tsao is a no-code coach who specializes in guiding aspiring and non-technical entrepreneurs in developing and launching digital products. He is the creator and host of the 'Joy of Building' podcast, where he interviews founders and innovators to learn about their journeys of creating impactful and transformative products. Andrew also serves as a startup mentor to students at the National University of Singapore, where he teaches them the ins and outs of building a successful product. His background includes working five years as a Product Manager in diverse sectors such as eCommerce and healthcare, where he helped turn conceptual ideas into successful digital ventures.
Max Mirho, Founder, Make with Max
Max Mirho is a content creator and educator specializing in building business ideas from scratch without programming or code. He builds tiny startups every week, usually in under 90 minutes, to teach how entrepreneurship functions in the real world. Max has spoken at over 80 schools around the world, including Harvard and Princeton, and regularly mentors students on how to start their own companies. His goal is to democratize entrepreneurship for all and make building projects and companies more accessible.