From first lesson to first job.

Core curriculum required for the portfolio path

1. 0

   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

   Start here No prerequisites

   Learning outcomes

   • 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.
   • Know who you will work with (product managers, engineers, researchers) and what each of them needs from you.
   • Have a written learning plan and an organised file system for your design work.
2. 1

   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

   After Stage 0: Orientation and design foundations

   Learning outcomes

   • 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.
   • Lay out screens on a spacing system and a responsive grid.
   • Critique an existing interface using principles rather than personal preference.
3. 2

   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

   After Stage 0: Orientation and design foundations

   Learning outcomes

   • 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.
   • Write problem statements, opportunity statements and measurable success criteria.
   • Choose between interviews, surveys, desk research and analytics for a given question.
4. 3

   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

   After Stage 2: UX research and problem definition

   Learning outcomes

   • 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.
   • Write clear labels and validate a structure with a tree test.
5. 4

   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

   After Stage 1: Visual design fundamentals, Stage 3: Information architecture

   Learning outcomes

   • 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.
   • Critique wireframes and move them into visual design with intent.
6. 5

   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

   After Stage 1: Visual design fundamentals

   Learning outcomes

   • 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.
   • Prototype a realistic flow and hand off a design with clear annotations.
7. 6

   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

   After Stage 4: Wireframing and ideation, Stage 5: Figma and design tools

   Learning outcomes

   • 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.
   • Document a small design system clearly enough for someone else to use.
8. 7

   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

   After Stage 6: UI design and design systems

   Learning outcomes

   • 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.
   • Build and evaluate a realistic prototype before implementation.
9. 8

   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

   After Stage 7: Interaction design and prototyping

   Learning outcomes

   • 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.
   • Show how a design changed because of evidence.
10. 9

    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

    After Stage 1: Visual design fundamentals, Stage 7: Interaction design and prototyping

    Learning outcomes

    • 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.
    • Test with tools and manual checks, and know the limits of automated testing.
11. 10

    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

    After Stage 8: Usability testing and iteration

    Learning outcomes

    • 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.
    • Recognise dark patterns and argue for ethical alternatives.
12. 11

    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 Stage 10: Product thinking and collaboration

    Learning outcomes

    • 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.
    • Manage client feedback and project scope as a freelancer.

After the core optional specialisms

1. 12

   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

   After Stage 11: Portfolio and career readiness

   Learning outcomes

   • Go deeper in one or two specialisms that match your interests or job.
   • Apply core skills to specific product types and disciplines.