DIGITAL PRODUCT DESIGN

Kick off the course by meeting your instructor, unpacking the game plan, and getting comfy with the tools. Think of this as your warm-up lap before we dive into real design work.

• Instructor intro & design philosophy
• Course structure & project overview
• Tools: Figma, FigJam, Mural, UXPilot, AI Chat
• Student culture: Growth mindset, experimentation, collaboration

Learn where modern product design is heading and how not to get left behind. We’ll break down strategy vs. tactics, design velocity, and why impact beats aesthetics when you’re building for 2026.

• Overview: Product design role in 2026
• Design velocity as capability
• Strategic vs. tactical design
• Product market fit

Assignment #1.1: Product Context
Define your target user and the problem space. Write a short challenge statement that captures who you’re designing for and why this problem matters.

Get confident digging into real user needs. You’ll learn how to pull insights from interviews, shape them into clear personas and opportunities, and turn messy research into design direction that moves a product forward.

• Demo: Conducting & synthesising user interviews 
• Demo: Persona creation
• Case Study: Current state storyboard 
• Jobs-to-Be-Done: JTBD framework
• Case Study: Opportunity mapping using 6x3 framework
• Case Study: Product definition: Who/What/Why/How 

Assignment #1.2: Research & Framing
Conduct and synthesise user research to understand real needs. Refine your persona, complete a Jobs-to-Be-Done (JTBD) framework, and map key opportunities that set the direction for your product.

Learn to ideate quickly, test boldly, and choose smarter. We’ll use sacrificial concepts and vibe coding to gather early feedback and pinpoint the direction that deserves the next round of your energy.

• Intro to sacrificial concepts & vibe coding
• Demo: Ideation sprint: Generating concepts in Figma AI
• Annotating sketches with emotional tone
• Case Study: Provocation testing with users
• Gathering feedback & prioritising ideas
• Selecting one concept to develop into wireframes

Assignment #1.3: Sacrificial Concepts
Generate multiple sacrificial concepts in Figma Make. Gather feedback on usability and clarity. 

Turn rough ideas into clear, usable screens. You’ll learn how to map intuitive user flows, build functional wireframes, and shape a solid product blueprint — then loop back to users to make sure it all holds up.

• Demo: Figma wireframing walkthrough
• Building wireframes based on your concept
• Case Studies: Finance, Energy, Manufacturing & more
• Layout, hierarchy, interaction clarity
• Returning to users for feedback

Assignment #2.1: Concept Development & Structure
Build mid-fidelity wireframes that show core user flows in Figma.

Shape visuals that stick. Learn how typography, motion, and tone influence user perception, and practise turning moodboards into mockups that make your product both clear and unforgettable.

• Mood, typography, motion, tone
• Brand alignment vs. differentiation
• Demo: Moodboard to mockup: Figma styles & visual hierarchy
• Case Studies: Examples from Microsoft, Spotify, Dropbox

Hear it straight from a pro: learn how top designers navigate their careers, tackle challenges, and turn ideas into shipped products. Get insider tips, ask questions, and see what it takes to grow in the industry.

• Career paths & growth
• Creating & shipping The Tom
• Q&A, reflection

Build a design toolkit that works as hard as you do. Learn to create and adapt component libraries that boost consistency, speed up your workflow, and turn wireframes into polished, production-ready designs.

• Demo: Building a scalable design system
• Case Study: Component libraries from Microsoft, Apple, Google
• Using & adapting your library
• Turning wireframes into designs
• Case Study: Production-ready designs: Microsoft Design team

Assignment #2.2: Design System & Visual Identity
Translate your wireframes into cohesive, production-ready layouts. Apply or adapt a design system, set your visual language (color, typography, motion), and ensure your product looks clear, consistent, and distinct.

Bring your designs to life and see them in action. Build a testable prototype, gather real feedback, and fine-tune your interface so it actually works for users.

• Figma prototype walkthrough
• Vibe coding vs. Figma click-through
• Guided breakout sessions & usability testing

Understand how inclusive design principles create better products for everyone. Apply accessibility tools and frameworks to build interfaces that work for diverse users and test them professionally.

• Inclusive design principles: Microsoft
• Fluent UI components
• Testing with real users & tools

Push beyond today’s screens to imagine future interfaces. Investigate design challenges in XR, 3D, and emerging tech environments, and learn to think creatively about what’s next.

• XR UI paradigms: Screen, local, world space
• Typography in 3D
• Case Studies: Vision Pro (Apple) & Meta Display (Meta) 
• Designing & building 3D interfaces in Unity

Learn how to communicate your product vision through storytelling. Use visual storyboards and narratives to align emotional impact with business goals and user needs.

• What is a scenario storyboard?
• Case Studies: Examples from Airline, Automotive, & more
• Using concept art to build emotional resonance
• Structuring a product narrative for stakeholder buy-in
• Aligning storytelling with user needs & business goals
• Presenting storyboards to peers for peer feedback

Assignment #3: Prototype Narrative
Bring your design to life and tell its story. Create a scenario storyboard, and craft a short narrative or pitch that communicates your product vision to stakeholders.

Document your full design process from research to outcome. Develop a polished, professional case study and learn how to present your work effectively to employers or clients.

• Case study structure
• AI-assisted writing
• Portfolio platforms: Adobe, Behance, Framer
• Interview preparation
• Personal bio & storytelling

Final Project: A Complete Digital Product Concept + Case Study & Career Pack
Reflect on your design journey and prepare a portfolio-ready case study. You’ll document your full process, from problem to outcome, write a concise personal bio, and present your final project in class.

Strengthen and refine your final project through guided feedback from your peers and instructor. Use this class to polish your case, ensure clarity of storytelling, and align your work with professional standards.

• Optional final project presentations
• Q&A

Reflect on your learning journey throughout the course, discuss key takeaways and challenges, and share your final thoughts.

• Group discussion: Major lessons & design takeaways
• Reflection: What changed in your design approach
• Instructor insights with open Q&A
• Closing remarks & course reflection