Introducing the self-paced DFTW
The web education world is noisy. There are coding bootcamps that teach code, design courses that focus on aesthetics, and endless tutorials that promise quick results. But the truth is, design and development are not separate worlds: they work together.
At Perpetual Education, we believe learning both disciplines simultaneously makes everything click into place. By connecting the creative and technical sides, you’ll not only write better code but also design with a deeper understanding of how your ideas come to life. This approach gives you a broader perspective, making you a more versatile, valuable contributor (and opens up more opportunities in your career) (meaning you’ll actually be hirable ;).
Who would you rather hire? A person with solid foundations, experience, understanding of the whole process of designing and building web applications? Or someone who knows a little about one area? Add AI into the mix, and a confident generalist product designer becomes a very valuable person.
The First Four Years
Maybe you’ve already heard about Perpetual Education, or maybe this is your first introduction. Design for The Web (DFTW) is our holistic web development curriculum. It’s been evolving through real-world practice since 2019.
We’ve worked with people from all kinds of backgrounds, refining every workshop, challenge, and resource to focus on what actually matters. The result is more than a collection of video lessons. It’s a complete system designed to help you connect design and development, think critically, and build real meaningful skills. It’s competitive out there. You need to be a little better than everyone else.
Ultimately, it’s about gaining the confidence to tackle real problems and create work (and a career) you’re proud of.
Why a self-paced program?
Years of one-on-one and group coaching have reinforced what we’ve always known: real growth has to come from you. That’s why we created this self-driven program. It lets more people take control of their learning and make visible progress.
Put simply: we believe a world with more designers is a better world (yes, that includes web developers). A good designer is a good person, and learning these skills builds a foundation that can lead to any career.
How does it work?
This isn’t a course you watch and binge. DFTW is a course of action. With milestones and feedback at every step, you won’t move forward until your work is signed off and meets our standards. Think of it as our internal (unofficial) certification for the degree of skill and experience you need to be a successful (hirable) developer or designer.
You’ll either be able to do the work or you won’t. The sooner you discover where you stand, the less time and money you’ll waste chasing a hazy dream.
Instead of memorizing steps, we help you understand why things work. The focus is on building critical thinking and problem-solving skills so you can approach any challenge with confidence. The work is web-based, but the mindset you build goes further. You learn how to create meaningful, human-centered solutions in everything you do.
Is this right for me?
If you’re the type of person who really wants to learn this, and you have the time and focus, it will be an incredible force multiplier. It’s what we wish we had when we were starting out. It’s the result of over four years of focused development, built on lessons learned since Derek started answering questions and helping people back in 2011.
This program is unapologetically simple, clever, and yes, even fun. It’s not just for superstar A+ students. (Those who are used to chasing grades often struggle most because real-world problems don’t come with a clear rubric.) This is for anyone willing to push through discomfort, tackle the real challenges of the job, and take ownership of their learning.
It’s about YOU doing the work. No shortcuts. No fluff. Just the most effective way to focus your time and energy. Everyone starts at the beginning. We make sure you’re 100% on each step before you move forward. That’s how you build real confidence.
Struggling with procrastination? Tutorial purgatory? Time management? Challenges related to neurodiversity? The structure of this program is built for that. It’s about reframing your approach, overcoming obstacles, and building a love for the work. A lifestyle that works for you.
Come talk to us about it. We can explain exactly how it works, why it works, and when it doesn’t work. We’ll help you figure out if it’s a good fit. We like meeting new people : ) And if something else would be a better fit, we’re happy to point you toward books or courses that match where you’re at.
How much does it cost?
As of today, the program is $300 a month, and that’s the price you’ll keep for as long as you’re enrolled.
Does that seem expensive? We took what the $30k coding bootcamps were trying to do, made it 10 times better, and made it 1/10th the price. What else do you want from us? It’s the same cost as a few hours of tutoring with a competent teacher. And it’s month-to-month. If it’s not working for you, pause or cancel. No guilt. No contracts. No begging you to stay.
We’re not sure how much we’ll scale this. We’re looking for the right people, not the most people. We’re going to be spending a lot of time together.
How Long Will It Take?
Unlike colleges or coding bootcamps that promise you’ll be “job-ready” by a specific date, we know it’s not about how much time has passed. It’s about your maturity as a learner and your readiness to actually contribute.
If you can dedicate 2-3 hours a day consistently, we estimate it will take about 9 months to complete the core material. That said, everyone learns at their own pace. As we get to know you and see how things are going, we’ll help you forecast a realistic timeline based on your progress, strengths, and goals.
And here’s the thing: there’s no reason you can’t start exploring job opportunities while you’re still in the program. This isn’t about checking off modules for a certificate. It’s about gaining the experience and confidence to be useful and get hired. The skills you’re building can open doors long before you’ve “finished.”
Our goal isn’t speed. It’s confidence and real-world competence. By the time you complete the core material, you’ll have the skills, projects, and knowledge to stand out and contribute as part of a team. This isn’t about landing one job. DFTW is about building a long-term career trajectory.
And it doesn’t stop there. We’re continually creating electives and additional materials. As part of the alumni network, you’ll have access to everything we build. You won’t need us forever, but we’ll be here for as long as you do.
How do you get started?
Book some time to talk to us. You can tell us about your goals, and we’ll let you know if DFTW is a good fit. No pressure! We’ll show you how the system works. We can even design or code something together.