Between my second and third cohorts at Ironhack, life threw me into a period of significant transition. I was in the process of moving from Portugal to Germany, dealing with the inevitable bureaucratic hurdles while trying to settle into a new country. Despite these challenges, it highlighted the freedom of being a freelancer in Europe, allowing me to continue working and teaching even in the midst of personal upheaval.
During this time, I was asked to step in and cover the topic of design implementation for another lead teacher. Being trusted with this task was both a privilege and a reflection of the knowledge and experience I had gained from previous teaching. However, the situation was far from ideal due to my unsettled workspace. This was a test of adaptability, and the experience left me with valuable insights about my work style and teaching approach.
Finding Focus in an Imperfect Environment
While some people can work productively in a café with a laptop balanced on their knees, I’ve always needed a structured environment to focus. My ideal workspace includes:
- Ample screen space to handle multiple windows and tools.
- Wired internet for stable connectivity.
- A sound-controlled room to avoid distractions, especially when teaching.
Unfortunately, I had none of these conditions at the time, as I hadn’t yet fully settled in Germany. I found myself setting up a makeshift workspace at a countertop by a window in a temporary house. Despite this less-than-perfect setup, I managed to pull off the teaching sessions, and it was a reminder of how much can be achieved with a little improvisation.
Design Implementation: A Closer Look
Design implementation is a critical aspect of the UX/UI process, where the creative work done in design tools (like Figma) is turned into tangible, interactive web experiences. This involves taking the design file—in this case, a Figma project—and translating it into a fully functional web model. The process requires converting design elements into HTML and CSS, incorporating images and assets, and ensuring the design is responsive across different screen sizes.
A key part of this process is understanding how to use breakpoints to adapt the design for various devices, from mobile phones to desktops. Additionally, concepts like flexbox come into play to ensure that the layout adjusts fluidly based on the screen size. Flexbox is a layout model that provides more flexibility in designing responsive layouts without relying on fixed dimensions. This allows elements to shift and resize based on the available space, maintaining the integrity of the design across multiple platforms.
For students, learning these tools and concepts is crucial because it bridges the gap between design and development, ensuring that what they envision in Figma can be accurately translated into a working, responsive website. This process is about problem-solving and iteration—testing the design in different environments and refining the code to meet both aesthetic and functional goals.
The Joy of Teaching, Despite the Hurdles
Despite the challenges of working in a temporary setup, I was able to deliver a comprehensive lesson on design implementation, teaching the students how to:
- Write HTML & CSS to bring their designs to life.
- Use Figma’s Dev Tools to ensure smooth handovers from design to development.
- Build responsive prototypes that adjust seamlessly across different screen sizes.
Although I didn’t have the opportunity to get to know this cohort as well as I had with previous ones, I took satisfaction in seeing how the classroom dynamics shifted depending on the teacher’s approach. It was also gratifying to meet Zeynep again, as she was now working as a TA for the lead teacher in this cohort. It was a nice moment of continuity, reconnecting with a colleague and seeing her continued development.
Final Reflections
Teaching this interim cohort taught me a lot about the importance of adaptability—both in life and in education. While the circumstances weren’t ideal, the experience reinforced that good teaching doesn’t rely solely on the environment but on the content and delivery. It also highlighted the importance of having a structured space to work, something I will always prioritize going forward.
Ultimately, the experience of teaching design implementation—a topic that is essential for bridging the gap between design and development—was incredibly rewarding. Seeing students grasp the importance of responsive design, and equipping them with the skills to create functioning prototypes, is what makes this teaching journey so fulfilling.
