Program Reviews

I thought that overall iXperience was an incredibly enriching experience. I took the full stack coding course and learned so much (learning how to build front/back-end applications/APIs/databases/applications in multiple frameworks etc...). The administration was run very well. The program director and legal assistant lived very close to the accommodation and were able to tend to students very quickly should the need arise. Students mainly worked on projects/assignments throughout the program. However, weekends are free, and students are allowed to explore the surrounding towns as they wish. iXperience even provides included excursions to certain sites as well. Would highly recommend to anyone interested in getting into web/software development!

This program was very interesting and explored a variety of artistic outlets; however, the emphasis on the history and study of design was not what I anticipated. The program is advertised as an opportunity to expand ones skills in the practical aspects of digital design. In reality, there aren't many things that are taught in class that benefit your practical skills. Naturally the internship provided some opportunity for this but overall the program is centered around a more liberal arts oriented structure. The experience as far living abroad was perfectly comfortable. The city of Berlin is very livable and most areas felt quite safe relative to big cities in the U.S.A. Berlin is also in a great location for those who want to travel throughout Eastern Europe during the program.

Ixperience is a program that I recommend to everybody as I truly believe that it is an opportunity that can not be passed up. I learned more in the 6 weeks of classes than I have in my years of college combined. Although it was rigorous, the teachers all wanted you to succeed, and were all willing to stay late and meet with you early to ensure that you understand everything. IXpereince put in a lot of thought into building a well rounded community of smart and engaging people. There was not a single person that I could not stay up late talking to, or that I was not willing to go out to an event in Lisbon to. The friends I made from this program are ones that I will carry through life. Finally, the administration was very responsive to any problems or concerns that I had. Not only were the very responsive, but they actively seeked to solve the problem at hand. They were easy to talk to and became my friend at the end of the trip.

iXperience Berlin was everything I could have asked for and more. It allowed me to learn the practical and technical skills needed for my dream career path, and I can say in all honestly that I do not know what I would have done without the program. What made it so special, though, was how much care and attention was put into making sure the students were happy, safe, and had everything we needed. Our housing in Berlin was incredible, and we were in a perfect location to get to class and our internships. The teachers hired by iX to teach digital design were incredible, and the TAs were an extra cherry on top. We learned so much from our teacher and TAs, and had so much fun doing it. I left with incredible memories, new skills, and lifelong friends.

Doing iXperience was such a cool experience! Not only were we studying abroad in a cool country (ie. Portugal), but we were learning relevant skills and getting real work experience.

I learned a lot about how different other countries could be, as I hadn't traveled much before this. I also learned a lot of major-related skills that will help me in the future when looking for another internship or a full-time job.

The classes were very intensive: we went to class 5 days a week for about 2 weeks, then 2 days a week for about 4 weeks. In that timespan, we learned multiple technologies and built an entire web application with many different functionalities. It was a lot of work, but I managed to learn a lot about full stack. Afterwards, the internship during the 4 week period, my fellow interns and I created another functional web application using those technologies we had learned. It was a great learning experience.

I absolutely loved iXperience Berlin. The design class was amazing: I learned so much in the first two weeks, I almost can't believe it. From design theory to software tutorials, we covered pretty much every area of digital design. I had the most amazing professor and teaching assistants. I have never had a close relationship with any of my teachers in college until iX. They provided me with so many resources including studio visits and drop-in lecturers. Not only that, but they also provided me with thorough support and guidance. The iX staff was also nothing short of extraordinary. When I ran into a medical issue, they were with me every step of the way, helping to make sure I found a clinic where someone could speak English. Berlin is also an amazing, spunky city. I could talk about how much I loved it forever.

Journeying to Berlin with iXperience was the best experience I have ever had. The 6 week program provides a perfect balance of class, work, and fun to make your time both pleasant and fulfilling. The staff and professors are always there to answer questions or simply chat about the course/program. In class, I never felt that a moment was wasted. I learned something every day through every project and discussion. As for the internship, iX helps place students in one that fits both their goals and interests. This way, you are getting hands on experience in a field of your choosing and working in an environment that you feel comfortable in. The students I met through iX are now some of my closest friends, and the city of Berlin is somewhere I now call home. If you have the opportunity to participate in this program....do it!

This program was like no other. I expected what was written in the description - a class & an internship, but I received so much more. Digital Design in Berlin pushed me farther than any other class I've ever taken. I didn't think it was possible to learn so much so fast, but thanks to the amazing professor and TAs, I was well versed in Adobe Creative Suites, logo design, branding, and the fundamentals of design theory within 2 weeks - well prepared for my internship. The internship I had allowed me to work at a startup, giving me a huge project and all the freedom in the world. I redesigned a company's entire website from scratch using my own designs, which was extremely rewarding to see at the end of only one month. But the best thing for me were the friends I made along the way. I never expected to become close with such a big group of people in such little time, but these people have become some of my best friends in the world. iXperience was everything I hoped for and more, not to mention the city of Berlin is incomparable to anywhere else in the world. 11/10!

Six-weeks ago, I wouldn’t have been able to even tell you what a consultant does, now merely forty-two days later I am one. When I first heard about iX, from my sister, I thought it sounded too good to be true. How could I possibly be able to be placed into a consulting internship after only 2 weeks of class, when previously I knew nothing? There’s no way I would be prepared enough, right? Wrong! The iX experience is hands on and intense in the best way possible. On the first day of class I learned what a consultant does, what the consulting industry is like, learned how to define a client issue, and got assigned to a project team. Day one, I was already beginning to do the work of a consultant. A week later my team, composed of students from across the globe, and I had created a proposal and presented it to the class. That’s CRAZY! Now four weeks later, at the end of my six-week program, I’m working on my final presentation to present to my client. During my internship, my team and I were tasked with quantitatively measuring the sustainable impact of an eco-hostel in Lisbon. We researched best practices, created KPIs, and discovered the requirements necessary for the hostel to become Green Key certified. We were able to create sustainability trackers that the hostel will implement and use to increase their sustainability in the future as well as tangibly show their progress to investors. Now, that I’m at the end, I’m sad to go. I’m going to miss all the amazing people in the program and the beautiful city of Lisbon. My favorite excursion was a trip to Carcavelos for surfing lessons! Besides a few over achievers (lol), no one knew how to surf before the excursion. We showed up, put on our ridiculous looking wetsuits, and carried our boards down to the beach. We spent 10 minutes running around and stretching, in our wet suits I might add, which made us look ridiculous hahah, in order to get our blood pumping. Then they gave us a lesson on the beach where we all attempted to “pop up” into our surfing stances before being released to try it on the water. As I’m sure you can probably imagine, we fell A LOT. But, by the end of the excursion everyone had stood up and surfed for at least 2 seconds, so I’d call it a success. I’ve learned so much, gotten to know so many different people, and would do it all over again in a heartbeat!

After joining the 6-wk iXperience Berlin program, I learned that studying can be more than just staying in your room. During the program, iX people organized quite a lot of activities allowed us to explore the beauty of Berlin and have the opportunity to step outside the classroom. We got to experience the local culture and appreciate the history. It’s been a bless and a opportunity for me to cultivate myself. On this trip, I learned how to step out of my comfort zone and take care of myself. I was afraid I could not survive on my own for six weeks without knowing anyone in the program. Turns out it was just me worried too much. People from iXperience have been the biggest support I can ever have and my peers were all so welcoming and open-minded. I would definitely recommend this program to my friends.