Let's talk

Andrii Vyshkovskyi

Andrii Vyshkovskyi

Let's talk

Andrii Vyshkovskyi

Interface Design Program

When I joined EPAM, we had an internship program for designers that typically lasted 4-6 months and provided up to three designers each year. However, during the year I became Resource Manager, the program encountered several unfortunate coincidences and systematic issues, leading to its failure. To create a more reliable program, we launched our first Interface Design Program (Design Lab), which resulted in a predictable outcome in terms of both quantity and the level of new designers. Since then, we have been able to recruit 10+ designers every year in Lviv.

Interface Design Program

When I joined EPAM, we had an internship program for designers that typically lasted 4-6 months and provided up to three designers each year. However, during the year I became Resource Manager, the program encountered several unfortunate coincidences and systematic issues, leading to its failure. To create a more reliable program, we launched our first Interface Design Program (Design Lab), which resulted in a predictable outcome in terms of both quantity and the level of new designers. Since then, we have been able to recruit 10+ designers every year in Lviv.

Interface Design Program

When I joined EPAM, we had an internship program for designers that typically lasted 4-6 months and provided up to three designers each year. However, during the year I became Resource Manager, the program encountered several unfortunate coincidences and systematic issues, leading to its failure. To create a more reliable program, we launched our first Interface Design Program (Design Lab), which resulted in a predictable outcome in terms of both quantity and the level of new designers. Since then, we have been able to recruit 10+ designers every year in Lviv.

What We Had

The past practice of junior designer acquisition and why it went wrong:


  • Unclear way to enter a company.

  • 1 student = 1 mentor.

  • Low control of education.

  • Unpredictable attrition.

  • Only two students graduated in 2017.

What We Want

  • A precise prediction of the quality and quantity of the students.

  • A unified knowledge base of the students.

  • A unified level of the "ready for production".

  • Scalable, independent program.

Program: Lectures and Workshops

The program consists of lectures and workshops and includes a real project (with real stakeholders) picked up by the team. Each student has a mentor, and each team has a project coordinator.

The program has been adapted and evolved over the years based on feedback and performance. Also, it became more than a "design factory" but a platform allowing everyone to try new things, experiment, and share experience.

Key Results

5

Years/Seasons
of the School

10+

Associate designers
every year

20+

Designers involved in lecturing and organizing

Designers involved in
lecturing and organizing

Set self-sustainable
process

Rotation
of designers on a regular basis

Rotation
of designers on a
regular basis

Promoted EPAM
design expertise

Promoted EPAM design expertise

2024. Andrii Vyshkovskyi