Based in the technology mecca of Boulder, Colorado for over 20 years, BDA leverages the world-class talent in the area so that our students can learn from some of the best instructors in the world! Beginning in 2004, co-founders Bruce Borowsky and Zach Daudert wanted to offer the community classes and workshops that could help people keep up with ever-changing technology.
Their first event on February 24, 2004 had 125 attendees so they figured they were onto something. Over the next 17 years, they grew BDA over years from borrowed classrooms to a 6000 square facility in east Boulder helping thousands gain transformative digital skills along the way. In early 2023 they sold the business to Galen Nathanson who now leads the future of BDA.
All BDA instructors are working industry professionals who have deep knowledge and real-world experience and insights in the subjects they teach. Many of our classes employ the "flipped classroom" approach where you'll learn and practice on your own so that there is more time for questions and interactive learning during the actual class sessions.
We offer a wide range of live, instructor-led training teaching high-demand digital skills ranging from web development to video production to UI/UX to digital marketing.
We focus on engaging classes that have been carefully crafted for the modern world to be accessible and practical. Many classes are one day or one evening so they fit perfectly into the lives of busy people who don't have the time for traditional educational programs.
All our classes are taught by industry professionals who teach cutting-edge tools and techniques with an emphasis on practical skills. In addition, our optional membership program allows you to join a unique creative community and provides you privileged access to all BDA has to offer.
We Believe in the Unique Value of Live, Instructor-Led Learning
Whether remote or in-person in Colorado, all of our classes are taught live by our expert instructors - not recorded. This dramatically improves your ability to focus and enables you to interact with the instructor and the other students to recreate the best parts of classroom learning. You can get your questions answered, engage with the other students or dive deeper into a topic. It also furthers our goal of empowering the creative and entrepreneurial community by bringing people together to create opportunities for collaboration, mentoring and simply meeting like-minded people.
Thanks For Supporting Our Local Business
Boulder Digital Arts is proud of our local roots - we were not conceived on Wall Street as an investment. We've never had plans to open campuses across the country. Rather, we've been privileged to serve Colorado's creatives, digital professionals, makers and entrepreneurs for over 18 years right here in Boulder, with students from all over the world. Over the last few years, many very well-funded organizations have moved to Colorado. Sure, their money gives them a strong voice that we don't have, but BDA is still here and we continue to evolve and grow within our community. We thank you for supporting a small, local business!
A Modern Alternative for Learning Practical Skills Quickly
We are here to help you learn specific new skills quickly throughout your career or creative process - just what you need, when you need it. Since we are not a school or academic institution, our classes and workshops are open to anyone regardless of your age, profession or background with no admissions requirements. As a non-academic organization, our sole focus is providing great learning experiences. We don't test or issue degrees or academic credentials. You can take any class at any time on any subject and in any sequence. How refreshing!
BDA also provides you with private and group training, so whether you need a quick brush-up on your tech skills, or you need to get your team trained on the latest version, our instructors can tailor the content to just what you need to learn.
In addition, BDA supports the creative and technology community in the Boulder/Denver region with coworking private offices, regular networking and social events, membership program, Digital Salon series, free creative professionals directory and mentoring/internship opportunities.
The Boulder Digital Arts Team
Galen Nathanson, Director
Galen Nathanson is a contemporary fine art photographer, based in Boulder, Colorado for the last 30 years. His story as an artist and photographer truly begins at the age of 16, when he was fortunate enough to be hired as a photo lab tech at The Denver Post. This experience gave him a first-hand look into what it means to be a working photographer: how being aware of the present moment, and finding an interesting way to tell the story of that moment, is the key to successful imagery.
His 30-year career as a photographer and photo editor included stints at everything from daily metro newspapers to glossy monthly magazines and stock photo agencies, and included sharing a Pulitzer Prize in 2013 along with the rest of the Denver Post staff.
As a parallel to this professional career, Galen's personal work is a contemplative and abstract look at the more everyday moments in life, which become compelling when described using a bold, dynamic visual vocabulary.
Galen was proud to take over the legacy of what Bruce Borowsky and Zach Daudert, the co-founders of BDA, started 19 years ago, and he looks forward to continuing the tradition of professional training at affordable prices. Email Galen.
Awards
2015 Finalist, Boulder County IQ Awards Innovator of the Year | Article
2015 Winner, Colorado Business Committee for the Arts Create Award | Article
2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2014 Winner, Boulder County Business Report Mercury Awards | Recognizing the fastest-growing, privately held companies in the Boulder Valley.
