Skip to content
Design Academy My progress

Free and self-guided · no account needed

UI/UX Design Academy.

Learn design by understanding, practising, and building.

A structured path from complete beginner to portfolio-ready junior designer. Every lesson pairs a short video with a written explanation, a realistic example, a knowledge check and an exercise you can score against a rubric.

Start learning Browse courses
  • 13stages, from orientation to specialisms
  • 154lessons planned, 18 written so far
  • 4guided portfolio projects
  • 117glossary terms

Your progress.

Calculated from the lessons that are written so far. Optional specialisms are counted separately.

Progress is saved in this browser.

Progress, bookmarks and notes are saved in this browser only. They do not sync across devices and are lost if you clear your browser data. You can download a backup at any time.

The roadmap.

Full roadmap with prerequisites

Stages 0 to 11 are the core curriculum, in a recommended order. Stage 12 holds optional specialisms for after the core. Your status for each stage updates as you complete lessons.

Core curriculum required for the portfolio path

  1. Orientation and design foundations

    Not started

    What UI and UX design are, what designers do all day, and how to plan your learning.

    • Stage 0
    • Beginner
    • 8 lessons
    • about 3 h 35 min

  2. Visual design fundamentals

    Not started

    Hierarchy, layout, typography, colour, spacing and accessibility: the craft that makes interfaces readable.

    • Stage 1
    • Beginner
    • 10 lessons
    • about 5 h 50 min

  3. UX research and problem definition

    In writing

    Learn what people need, test your assumptions and define the right problem before designing.

    • Stage 2
    • Beginner
    • 13 lessons
    • about 7 h 5 min

  4. Information architecture

    In writing

    Organise content and navigation so people can find what they need.

    • Stage 3
    • Beginner
    • 10 lessons
    • about 5 h 25 min

  5. Wireframing and ideation

    In writing

    Generate ideas, sketch quickly and build low and mid-fidelity wireframes.

    • Stage 4
    • Beginner
    • 9 lessons
    • about 4 h 50 min

  6. Figma and design tools

    In writing

    Learn the concepts behind professional design tools, taught through Figma.

    • Stage 5
    • Beginner
    • 14 lessons
    • about 7 h 50 min

  7. UI design and design systems

    In writing

    Turn wireframes into polished interfaces and build a small design system.

    • Stage 6
    • Intermediate
    • 13 lessons
    • about 7 h 5 min

  8. Interaction design and prototyping

    In writing

    Design how interfaces behave: feedback, patterns, forms, motion and realistic prototypes.

    • Stage 7
    • Intermediate
    • 11 lessons
    • about 5 h 20 min

  9. Usability testing and iteration

    In writing

    Plan and run usability tests, prioritise findings and improve designs with evidence.

    • Stage 8
    • Intermediate
    • 12 lessons
    • about 5 h 50 min

  10. Accessibility and inclusive design

    In writing

    Design products that work for disabled people and, as a result, for everyone.

    • Stage 9
    • Intermediate
    • 12 lessons
    • about 5 h 50 min

  11. Product thinking and collaboration

    In writing

    Connect design to outcomes, work well with your team and make ethical decisions.

    • Stage 10
    • Intermediate
    • 12 lessons
    • about 5 h 45 min

  12. Portfolio and career readiness

    In writing

    Build case studies, a portfolio site and the skills to get hired or win clients.

    • Stage 11
    • Intermediate
    • 18 lessons
    • about 7 h 55 min

After the core optional specialisms

  1. Advanced and specialised topics

    In writing

    Optional paths for going deeper once the core curriculum is done.

    • Stage 12
    • Advanced
    • 12 lessons
    • about 11 h 30 min
    • Optional

Choose a path.

New to design

Beginner path

Learn the fundamentals from scratch in a sensible order, with short exercises after each idea. Expect around 6 to 8 hours a week for three to four months.

Aiming for a junior role

Portfolio path

Complete the core curriculum in order and build the four guided projects as you go, ending with two or three case studies you can show. Plan for six to nine months at a steady pace.

Already working, or in a hurry

Quick reference

Skip the sequence and go straight to a concept, pattern, checklist or tool guide when a project needs it.

Core courses.

All courses
Stage 0CoreBeginner

Orientation and design foundations

What UI and UX design are, what designers do all day, and how to plan your learning.

  • 8 lessons
  • about 3 h 35 min
  • all written
  • Explain the difference between UI, UX, product, interaction and visual design in your own words.
  • Describe what a product designer does across a typical project and week.
  • Walk through the design process from problem to solution, and say where design thinking helps and where it falls short.

Progress is saved in this browser.

Stage 1CoreBeginner

Visual design fundamentals

Hierarchy, layout, typography, colour, spacing and accessibility: the craft that makes interfaces readable.

  • 10 lessons
  • about 5 h 50 min
  • all written
  • Create a clear visual hierarchy using size, weight, colour, position and space.
  • Apply contrast, alignment, proximity, repetition and grouping deliberately.
  • Set up a type scale and a colour palette with semantic roles and accessible contrast.

Progress is saved in this browser.

Stage 2CoreBeginner

UX research and problem definition

Learn what people need, test your assumptions and define the right problem before designing.

  • 13 lessons
  • about 7 h 5 min
  • in writing
  • Separate assumptions from evidence and turn them into research questions.
  • Plan and run a short, ethical user interview without leading the participant.
  • Synthesise notes into themes with affinity mapping, and avoid over-claiming.
Stage 3CoreBeginner

Information architecture

Organise content and navigation so people can find what they need.

  • 10 lessons
  • about 5 h 25 min
  • in writing
  • Run a content inventory and group content using evidence from card sorting.
  • Draw a sitemap and a task flow for a small product.
  • Choose navigation, search and filtering patterns that fit the content.
Stage 4CoreBeginner

Wireframing and ideation

Generate ideas, sketch quickly and build low and mid-fidelity wireframes.

  • 9 lessons
  • about 4 h 50 min
  • in writing
  • Generate several distinct solutions before choosing one.
  • Sketch and wireframe responsive screens with clear content hierarchy.
  • Design empty, loading, success and error states, not just the happy path.
Stage 5CoreBeginner

Figma and design tools

Learn the concepts behind professional design tools, taught through Figma.

  • 14 lessons
  • about 7 h 50 min
  • in writing
  • Organise a Figma file with pages, frames, naming and sections that others can navigate.
  • Build responsive layouts with auto layout and constraints.
  • Create components with properties and variants, and use variables for tokens.
Stage 6CoreIntermediate

UI design and design systems

Turn wireframes into polished interfaces and build a small design system.

  • 13 lessons
  • about 7 h 5 min
  • in writing
  • Translate wireframes into polished UI with a consistent visual language.
  • Design buttons, inputs, cards, navigation, dialogs and menus with all their states.
  • Structure tokens into primitive and semantic layers, including a dark theme.
Stage 7CoreIntermediate

Interaction design and prototyping

Design how interfaces behave: feedback, patterns, forms, motion and realistic prototypes.

  • 11 lessons
  • about 5 h 20 min
  • in writing
  • Use affordances, signifiers and feedback so actions are obvious and confirmed.
  • Design forms and validation that prevent and explain errors.
  • Apply motion purposefully and respect reduced-motion preferences.
Stage 8CoreIntermediate

Usability testing and iteration

Plan and run usability tests, prioritise findings and improve designs with evidence.

  • 12 lessons
  • about 5 h 50 min
  • in writing
  • Write a usability test plan with unbiased tasks and success criteria.
  • Moderate a session without leading the participant.
  • Rate the severity of issues and turn findings into prioritised recommendations.
Stage 9CoreIntermediate

Accessibility and inclusive design

Design products that work for disabled people and, as a result, for everyone.

  • 12 lessons
  • about 5 h 50 min
  • in writing
  • Explain WCAG principles and conformance levels accurately.
  • Design for keyboard, screen reader, zoom and motor accessibility.
  • Write accessible form labels, errors, instructions and alternative text.
Stage 10CoreIntermediate

Product thinking and collaboration

Connect design to outcomes, work well with your team and make ethical decisions.

  • 12 lessons
  • about 5 h 45 min
  • in writing
  • Connect design work to product goals and measurable outcomes.
  • Prioritise and make trade-offs with product managers and engineers.
  • Understand A/B tests and analytics well enough to use them responsibly.
Stage 11CoreIntermediate

Portfolio and career readiness

Build case studies, a portfolio site and the skills to get hired or win clients.

  • 18 lessons
  • about 7 h 55 min
  • in writing
  • Choose portfolio projects that show reasoning and range.
  • Write concise case studies with context, process, trade-offs and outcomes.
  • Present work and handle design challenges in interviews.

Optional and advanced

Stage 12OptionalAdvanced

Advanced and specialised topics

Optional paths for going deeper once the core curriculum is done.

  • 12 lessons
  • about 11 h 30 min
  • in writing

Build real projects.

All projects
Project 1Beginner

Improve a local service business website

Redesign the website of a small home-services business so local customers can understand the services, trust the business and request a booking.

  • 3 to 4 weeks part-time
  • 7 milestones
  • 8 deliverables

Progress is saved in this browser.

Project 2Intermediate

Design a mobile habit-tracking or wellness app

Design a calm, honest mobile app that helps people build one healthy habit without guilt, streak anxiety or manipulative notifications.

  • 4 to 6 weeks part-time
  • 6 milestones
  • 8 deliverables

Progress is saved in this browser.

Project 3Intermediate

Design a responsive e-commerce experience

Design product discovery, product detail, basket and checkout for an independent shop, driven by usability testing and measured iteration.

  • 5 to 6 weeks part-time
  • 6 milestones
  • 8 deliverables

Progress is saved in this browser.

Project 4Advanced

Design a data-rich dashboard or SaaS product

Design a dashboard for a small clinic network that turns appointment data into decisions, with roles, tables, filters and clear metrics.

  • 5 to 7 weeks part-time
  • 7 milestones
  • 8 deliverables

Progress is saved in this browser.

Short challenges

Practice library
Visual designBeginner

Rebuild a visual hierarchy

A class booking card where everything shouts at once. Decide what matters and make the layout say so.

  • 45 min
  • 3 deliverables
Forms and interactionBeginner

Improve a sign-up form

A newsletter sign-up form that asks for too much, hides its rules and blames the user. Make it easy to complete.

  • 45 min
  • 2 deliverables
Information architectureIntermediate

Redesign a confusing navigation menu

A council recycling website with 11 menu items named after departments. Restructure it around what residents need to do.

  • 1 h
  • 3 deliverables
AccessibilityBeginner

Fix contrast and colour-only problems

A status dashboard that uses pale grey text and only red and green to show state. Make it readable and colour-independent.

  • 30 min
  • 3 deliverables
Visual designBeginner

Create a type scale

Build a small, consistent type scale for a blog and apply it to a real article page.

  • 30 min
  • 2 deliverables
Design systemsIntermediate

Build reusable components

Turn a messy set of buttons and inputs into a small, documented component set with every state.

  • 1 h 30 min
  • 2 deliverables

Quick reference.

Glossary117 terms with examples Templates14 copyable templates and checklists Resources72 trusted external references Career guidePortfolio, interviews and freelancing