Design Manager Foundations

4.2

(3 ratings)

·

2 Weeks

·

Cohort-based Course

Aspiring or new-ish Manager? Step into UX Mgmt with the vetted knowledge, skills and frameworks from an expert Design Leader.

Alison has led 500+ humans at:

Fallon
Target
Shutterfly
Thomson Reuters

Course overview

Join the missing training for aspiring & new Design Managers

Whether you are considering seeking your first Manager role, or are embarking on your first management role it's like stepping into a new world—one filled with opportunities, challenges, and the chance to make a real impact.


But without a map, it's easy to feel lost.


Designed specifically for first-time or aspiring managers, this course is your guide, and I can become your coach.


In just two weeks and four one-hour sessions, we'll navigate together from the basics of transitioning into your new role to mastering the art of communication, leading high-performing teams, and creating systems that work uniquely for you. Each module is crafted to transform your approach to leadership, empowering you to lead with confidence, inspire your team, and drive innovative projects to success.


You're not just learning to manage; you're learning to lead with vision, empathy, and effectiveness – which is great if you decide official Managing is not for you too.


By the end of this course, you'll not only have the tools and insights to excel in your current role but also have assessed your readiness for Management, and a plan for your next steps.


This isn't just about becoming a manager—it's about becoming the kind of leader who shapes the future of Design.

Who is this course for

01

New Managers in Design and Creative fields – UX, Content, User Research, UI, Design Systems, Creative.

02

Aspiring Managers seeking to step up into an official role within 12-18 months.

03

Managers in role, experiencing a sense of "is this right for me?" seeking a place to safely assess and plan next steps.

What you’ll get out of this course

Assess Your Management Profile

Find your new identity as you step up to a new context, even when leading former peers, or navigating complex change.

Inspire & Lead Through Others, vs Doing it Yourself

Learn to delegate effectively, confidently balancing deep critique and empowering your team, while cultivating trust in their capabilities.

Wrangle the Calendar Overwhelm

Discover how to design personalized systems and routines that elevate your management style, reduce stress, and enhance team productivity.

Meet a new Network of Peers who Get it

Learn alongside and workshop with others in your shoes, who can become go-to peer support or mentors.

This course includes

4 interactive live sessions

Lifetime access to course materials

13 in-depth lessons

Direct access to instructor

7 projects to apply learnings

Guided feedback & reflection

Private community of peers

Course certificate upon completion

Maven Satisfaction Guarantee

This course is backed by Maven’s guarantee. You can receive a full refund within 14 days after the course ends, provided you meet the completion criteria in our refund policy.

Course syllabus

Expand all modules
  • Week 1

    Apr 22—Apr 28

    Week dates are set to instructor's time zone

    Events

    • Apr

      23

      Manager Fundamentals: LIVE Session 1

      Tue, Apr 23, 4:00 PM - 4:45 PM UTC

    • Apr

      25

      Manager Fundamentals: LIVE Session 2

      Thu, Apr 25, 4:00 PM - 4:45 PM UTC

    Modules

    • Shifting from Individual Contributor to Leader

    • Effective Communication and Feedback

  • Week 2

    Apr 29—May 3

    Week dates are set to instructor's time zone

    Events

    • Apr

      30

      Manager Fundamentals: LIVE Session 3

      Tue, Apr 30, 4:00 PM - 4:45 PM UTC

    • May

      2

      Manager Fundamentals: LIVE Session 4

      Thu, May 2, 4:00 PM - 4:45 PM UTC

    Modules

    • Time Management and Prioritization

    • Mapping Your Path Forward: Decisions & Systems

  • Post-Course

    Modules

    • Provide a Testimonial

  • Bonus

    Modules

    • BONUS: Leveraging Your Ecosystem

4.2

(3 ratings)

students like you say

        This course has helped me imagine how I will show up in my next role. I start in a few days after 7 long months of unemployment from being laid off. Alison helped me find the confidence I had deep down but needed help to uncover. She is truly a calming and comforting presence.
Aspiring Manager

Aspiring Manager

Horizontal Talent
        I feel much more confident in my decisions, know what some of the biggest areas of growth are that I can focus on, and I also have several deeper questions around my career that I will be taking the time to thoughtfully reflect on and answer this year.
Experienced Manager

Experienced Manager

Thrivent Financial
        I've seen an immediate impact to my work life and improved situational awareness as a leader.
Manager

Manager

Craft
        I am so impressed with how relevant and well delivered our class content is...I have bookmarked and used so many things!
Director of UX Research

Director of UX Research

Thomson Reuters

Meet your instructor

Alison Gretz

Alison Gretz

Head of Design, Leadership Coach & Trainer

As a Design Leader, I have led global teams of humans in solving problems and creating solutions for the real world. I've built management teams from the ground up at Target, Shutterfly and Thomson Reuters. I created the first UX Manager position at Target, and then grew those Managers into Leaders who are now Director level and beyond.


Passionate about supporting whole humans at work, I gained an accreditation in coaching to compliment my leadership skills and hung a shingle as Design by Design, LLC.

A pattern of wavy dots
Be the first to know about upcoming cohorts

Design Manager Foundations

|

Bulk purchases

Course schedule

4-6 hours per week
  • Tuesdays & Thursdays

    Live at 11am CST & Recorded

    Our live sessions will focus on a single topic, collaboration with peers, and open Q&A with Alison.

  • Beautifully Crafted Workbook

    Self-paced

    Each Topic will be covered LIVE, and you have the freedom to go deep in your Course Workbook.

  • 2 Projects Your Future-Self will Thank You for

    2 hours (outside of class)

    There will be two keystone projects that are immediately applicable to up-skilling as a manager, and carving a future path of more ease and expertise.

Free resource

Leading in Alignment to Your Values

Knowing what makes you tick by discovering and exploring your values is where we begin in this course. By knowing and understanding your values you can lead more authentically, find the best environments in alignment, and uncover better ways to communicate with others.


Use this no-cost workbook to define your values and assess your current alignment.

Get this workbook

Learning is better with cohorts

Learning is better with cohorts

Active hands-on learning

This course builds on live workshops and hands-on projects

Interactive and project-based

You’ll be interacting with other learners through breakout rooms and project teams

Learn with a cohort of peers

Join a community of like-minded people who want to learn and grow alongside you

Questions You May Have

What happens if I can’t make a live session?
I work full-time, what is the expected time commitment?
What’s the refund policy?
A pattern of wavy dots
Be the first to know about upcoming cohorts

Design Manager Foundations

|

Bulk purchases