Context
From the course syllabus: This introductory design studio will guide students through the digital product design process, mimicking industry practice: user research, ideation, visual design, prototyping, user testing, interaction design, and creating final mock-ups and presentations. Classes will introduce various tools and techniques of the trade, and provide smaller individual exercises for practice while culminating in a semester-long team project. Students will be expected not only to get hands-on in Figma creating designs, but also engaging in design critique sessions to help train their visual and interaction design craft. Ideal for aspiring product designers and entrepreneurs seeking to create early mock-ups, it also benefits students interested in understanding the design process for roles like product managers or software developers.
Impact
This course was taught once per academic year in Spring 2023, Spring 2024, and will be taught in Fall 2025 (and subsequent Fall semesters). As the sole professor, I'm responsible for developing the curriculum, delivering a weekly lecture, and evaluating and guiding students through their group projects. The course is consistently highly reviewed by students, who are often not familiar with the design process or design industry before coming into the course.