Before you scale it….
→understand it.
WHAT DOES IT look & FEEL like when something is scaled responsibly?
let’s Design digital products, platforms, and communities with scale built in from the start.
Most teams try to scale things that were never designed to scale. They move fast, ship frequently, but don’t always have the tools to move with intention.
Whether you’re working in big teams at a FAANG company, you’re a founder, dreamer, or design team of one, this often happens..
Design fast → Ship fast = Workflows break.
Experiences fragment.
Trust falls..
Customers churn.
When the system underneath isn’t understood, things start breaking over time.
We’ve all seen it..
The SCALER Framework™ helps teams ensure what gets built is structured to grow.. before complexity sets in.
Scaling Systems, Responsibly
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Scaling Systems, Responsibly 〰️
Systems that last are systems that care. Scaling your product shouldn’t just be about speed. The best experiences grow intentionally, from the jump.
The SCALER Framework™ helps teams step back and ask a better question:
Is our system built to scale repeatedly, and responsibly?
A framework for responsible scale in modern systems.
Scaling changes everything. We need to re-think this altogether, and ask ourselves more about future impact.
How do we really design for after?
Hack with us!
Hack with us!
The Access & Impact Hackathon (A.I.)
What is it? This is not just another hackathon. (Believe me, I’ve been to, and won, several in my career). While most hackathons reward speed. This one rewards intentionality.
The Access & Impact (SCALER) Hackathon is a two-day experience where designers, developers, and thinkers come together to build solutions that:
Expand access
Center underserved communities
Use AI responsibly, not recklessly
Demonstrate ethics & intentionality
Because what we build, and who we build for matters.
[WHAT YOU’LL DO]
Day 1, you’ll form teams around shared ideas and work to build something in a weekend
Build a prototype, concept, or system to be presented on day 2
Throughout, you’ll get guidance from mentors, optional add-on workshops and other learning opportunitiess
Present your solution to a panel of judges (and be 1 of 3 top winners!)
Projects will be evaluated on:
Access — Who does this include that is often excluded?
Impact — Is this meaningful and viable?
Responsible AI — Is AI used thoughtfully and ethically?
Execution — How well is the idea developed?
Storytelling — How clearly is the idea communicated?
More details coming soon, such as: Announcement of event prizes, judge and event sponsor profiles, workshop add-ons, networking activities, and other event uniques such as live poetry/music breaks, and group cooking and learning opportunities.
Who’s it for?
Everyone and anyone working in design, tech, AI, or is a student in this space, interested in using AI and scaling tech innovations responsibly. (AKA people who care about impact, not just outcome). Never participated in a hackathon before, or consider yourself a beginner? No problem! All are welcome.
Why Attend?
These events are one of a kind, and so fun! Meet new friends (network), gain mentorship, visibility, and new pathways into future opportunities. Our panel of judges and coaches will be both local and national (from orgs like Hack the Gap, Femmecubator, State of Black Design, and NYU). Folks leave these experiences feeling inspired and activated! There’s nothing like building with like-minded people from your community.
Other perks:
1st Place team: $ cash prize
2nd Place team: $ cash prize
3rd Place team: $ cash prize
Event swag + SCALER resources
Lunch and learn opportunities
Networking / access to local funds + people actively investing
Slack-community to stay in touch long after the event!
When is it?
Saturday, September 12 - Sunday September 13, 2026
Where is it?
This event will either be located in Minneapolis, MN or New York City, NY. TBD. Note: There will be virtual hackathon tickets also available for those who cannot travel to the in-person venue.
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When you add to cart/purchase this ticket:
1. You will be added to the list of hackathon participants. We will reach out to confirm.
2. We’ll send you a Hackathon packet in the mail so you have it handy/know what to expect. (You can share this with your employer or school for reimbursement purposes).
3. We will be in contact with you once you confirm your spot, and add you to the community Slack channel where you can chat ahead of time with other participants, mentors, and coaches.
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Note: Spots limited (we only have space for 20 teams to present). Save the date and reserve your spot ASAP if you want to participate in this special SCALER event.
Join us in September for our signature hackathon series, scaling responsibly in squads! Sign up to be part of a tech team, to learn and build together, and compete for 1 of 3 cash prizes!
We are still in the planning phases. This event will either be held in Minneapolis, MN or New York City (with an option to join virtually too!) Hit the button to learn more about this exciting opportunity to hack with us this fall! 👇🏽
who’s it for?
The SCALER Framework™is used by teams building complex, evolving systems:
• Founders designing products from 0 → 1
• Product and design teams scaling platforms
• Organizations integrating AI into workflows
• Community builders creating long-term ecosystems
If you're building something that needs to grow, this is for you.
Introducing..
The SCALER Framework™ the necessary next layer to your design thinking. It’s a toolset for scaling sustainable systems, with care, across six critical layers:
S • System Clarity
Structure → Standards
Understand the full ecosystem before
designing solutions.
C • Core Experience
Human → Signals
Define the moments that
create real value.
A • Accessible Architecture
Execution → Strategy
Build structures that support growth
and evolution.
L • Leverage Loops
Learn → Language
Design workflows, tools, and systems that multiply output.
E • Experiments
Test → Iterate
Test assumptions and learn quickly.
Fail and pivot fast.
R • Revenue & Reinvestment
Outcomes → Ongoing
Ensure the system sustains and
strengthens over time.
Hi 👋🏽 I’m Heatherlee Nguyen, I go by The Indie Consultant. I’m a Product Designer living and working out of the Twin Cities in Minnesota. I earned my BFA from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design and have worked in various capacities for some of the biggest companies across industries, such as Apple, Target, Mayo Clinic, UnitedHealth Care, and Capital One.
When I was scaling the Netra Design System and evolving our platform at Optum, my team focused a lot on our governance and contribution models. (We had 25+ federated product teams using, adapting, and evolving our system).
When I built the Prima Design System from scratch, as a founding designer 5 years later, I focused heavily on the operations side; integrating with AI apps, automating workflows, and working with product managers in new ways as a response to the surge of AI prototyping tools.
• •
No matter the team or platform, I obsess about how systems works (and don’t work) across product, people, and process.
I work with founders and teams to turn complex ideas into structured, scalable systems using the SCALER Framework™. I also eat my own dog food by applying this framework to all my personal projects and research studies as well. Follow along on Linkedin, where I post stories & tips @The Indie Consultant.
Happy scaling! 🚀
a note from the creator
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We are currently seeking 3-5 early partners to pilot our workshop toolkits and help pioneer this new wave of design thinking. Fill out the form here.
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Workshops kicking off this summer (2026). Stay tuned.
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Book The Indie Consultant for an introductory conversation about your unique design needs, The SCALER Framework™, and how we can help.
Note: All teams and organizations who reach out for a free consultation will receive a free SCALER strategy deck while supplies last. Let’s get to work!
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