Python Training - Art Direction
Building Design Systems and Narrative for Technical Content
In 2022 Cloud Academy planned to release a suite of over 20 courses on mastering the Python programming language within a 3 month span. This was the first time Cloud Academy released programming courses at scale.
While this was an exciting new avenue for the team to explore, it presented a new challenge for us in Creative Services as our typical release schedule was mostly developed in small batches. It became evident that it would be an “all-hands-on-deck” situation (our team of 8 + over 10 contractors) when the courses were ready for production.
I provided art direction and design for Cloud Academy’s Python video-based training that takes learners on a journey from novice to intermediate Python programmer. I developed a narrative-focused framework for crafting the journey of a novice developer building the skills to become a professional Python programmer. We decided early on to make this course much more approachable than the average tech course by simplifying complex topics with high fidelity visuals and characters, Every course had recurring characters including the Developer, the Interpreter (a Python function personified as a translator), Ada the cat, the Object/Container (blue glowing cube, and several easter eggs peppered throughout the series
Design System Document
The Python design system is a set of guidance I developed for creating visuals for Cloud Academy’s Python courses. It contains templates, color guidance, iconography, character design, and other visual references.