Design × AI Learning Series

Learn to design in the AI era

Practical learning themes covering the code fluency, taste, systems, agentic UX, and leadership you need next.

5 themes
100 units
106.6 hours

Featured Themes

Featured Module

macOS only90 min

Design to Ship (macOS): Zero-to-Deployed Starter

A practical onboarding module for designers moving from canvas to shipping. Set up GitHub, CLI tooling, Supabase, and Vercel on macOS, then deploy your first project with guardrails for safe AI-assisted coding.

What you set up

  • GitHub account + private sandbox repo + PAT/CLI auth
  • Homebrew, Node/npm, Git, Supabase CLI via Terminal
  • Supabase project + CLI login/link for local workflows
  • Vercel project from GitHub + env vars + deploy flow
  • Custom domain wiring with DNS record walkthrough

Safety notes

  • Use private repos for experiments and credentials.
  • Never paste secrets into prompts or public chats.
  • Review every AI-generated terminal command before running.
  • Prefer least-privilege tokens and rotate if exposed.
  • Treat AI copilots as assistants, not autonomous admins.

10 starter terminal commands

pwdcd ~/Desktop/your-projectls -lamkdir your-project && cd your-projectgit initgit checkout -b feature/first-setupgit add . && git commit -m "initial setup"git push -u origin maingit pull origin mainnpm install && npm run dev
Open full lesson page

Learning Index

All Learning Themes

Beginner90 min·Unit 1

Design to Ship (macOS): Zero-to-Deployed Starter

A practical onboarding module for designers moving from canvas to shipping. Set up GitHub, CLI tooling, Supabase, and Vercel on macOS, then deploy your first project with guardrails for safe AI-assisted coding.

Shift 6Shift 7Shift 9Shift 16Shift 20
ArchitectSystems

Open full lesson →

Beginner45 min·Unit 2

Claude Code for UI Components

Use Claude Code to scaffold components with sensible defaults and readable props. Learn to iterate on structure first, polish second, and keep diffs reviewable.

Shift 7Shift 16
Architect

Open full lesson →

Beginner40 min·Unit 3

Cursor for Designers: Fast but Governed

Set up Cursor workflows that preserve intent: scoped edits, context discipline, and prompt templates. Learn how to keep quality high while speed increases.

Shift 8Shift 9Shift 34
Systems

Open full lesson →

Beginner55 min·Unit 4

React Fundamentals for Design Output

Review component structure, state, and data flow with a designer’s lens. You’ll translate visual requirements into predictable UI behavior.

Shift 16Shift 20
Systems

Open full lesson →

Intermediate50 min·Unit 5

Tailwind for Designers: Tokens in Practice

Build premium UI using semantic classes and token-aware spacing. Learn how to avoid arbitrary styles and keep the system coherent across screens.

Shift 20Shift 25
SystemsBrand

Open full lesson →

Intermediate60 min·Unit 6

Figma-to-Code: From Layout to Interface

Map Figma structures into component hierarchies and state models. Practice carrying constraints forward so the implementation matches the design intent.

Shift 6Shift 7Shift 8
ArchitectSystems

Open full lesson →

Intermediate65 min·Unit 7

v0/Bolt Prototyping: Ship the First Truth

Use AI prototyping tools to create a usable first build, not a pretty screenshot. Learn how to validate flows and remove wireframing-by-habit.

Shift 5Shift 7Shift 9
SystemsArchitect

Open full lesson →

Intermediate45 min·Unit 8

From Local Build to Vercel Deploy

Turn a feature branch into a production-ready deployment. Learn the checks that matter: environment assumptions, build outputs, and regression sanity.

Shift 7Shift 16
Systems

Open full lesson →

Beginner30 min·Unit 9

Git for Design Iterations

Use branches and commit messages to keep your design work auditable. Learn a practical review style that makes AI-generated diffs easier to trust.

Shift 25Shift 28
Systems

Open full lesson →

Intermediate70 min·Unit 10

Debugging AI Output Systematically

Break failures into intent issues, logic gaps, and integration mismatches. Learn to regenerate with constraints rather than guessing.

Shift 9Shift 16Shift 28
ArchitectSystems

Open full lesson →

Intermediate60 min·Unit 11

Component → API Design Thinking

Design components as contracts: inputs, outputs, data shapes, and edge behavior. Practice building interfaces that AI can use reliably in downstream code.

Shift 20Shift 26
ArchitectSystems

Open full lesson →

Advanced90 min·Unit 12

MCP Integrations: Build Toolchains

Learn how to connect design intent to tool execution via MCP. Practice designing functions with predictable inputs so the system behaves consistently.

Shift 20Shift 32
Systems

Open full lesson →

Advanced75 min·Unit 13

Database Basics for Product UI

Model entities your UI depends on and keep data shapes explicit. Learn enough fundamentals to avoid mismatches between design, API, and UI state.

Shift 16Shift 20
Systems

Open full lesson →

Advanced80 min·Unit 14

API Consumption: Shape Data for UX

Turn raw responses into UI-ready models and loading/error states. Learn to treat error handling as a first-class part of the design.

Shift 16Shift 26
MediatorSystems

Open full lesson →

Intermediate60 min·Unit 15

Testing UI with Realistic Cases

Write tests that reflect how humans and agents use the interface. Learn to cover states AI tends to break: edge inputs, async timing, and accessibility checks.

Shift 16Shift 26
MediatorSystems

Open full lesson →

Advanced85 min·Unit 16

Accessibility Automation Loops

Build checks into your workflow so accessibility improves continuously. Learn to encode accessibility constraints that remain stable as the UI evolves.

Shift 26Shift 18
MediatorSystems

Open full lesson →

Advanced70 min·Unit 17

Performance Basics for Premium UIs

Practice the fundamentals that keep the experience fast: rendering discipline, network boundaries, and asset strategies. Learn to treat performance as part of taste.

Shift 34Shift 16
OrchestratorSystems

Open full lesson →

Intermediate65 min·Unit 18

CI/CD for Designer Shipping

Design a pipeline that catches regressions early and rewards confidence. Learn the minimal set of checks to keep AI-assisted changes stable.

Shift 25Shift 28
Systems

Open full lesson →

Advanced95 min·Unit 19

Building Figma Plugins that Matter

Create lightweight plugins that turn design intent into repeatable actions. Learn to keep UI small, tool logic clear, and outputs machine-consumable.

Shift 8Shift 32
SystemsArchitect

Open full lesson →

Advanced120 min·Unit 20

Portfolio Projects that Ship

Build a capstone where your design intention becomes a deployed artifact. Learn to explain your constraints, trace decisions, and show measurable outcomes.

Shift 7Shift 1Shift 17Shift 34
OrchestratorArchitectSystems

Open full lesson →

Suggested Path

Where to start

1

Take the Genome Assessment

Discover your dominant archetype and understand which skills matter most for your profile.

Start assessment
2

Begin with Prompt Engineering

The foundational skill. Learn to communicate with AI tools effectively — every other theme builds on this.

Start module
3

Pick Your Archetype Track

Based on your genome results, choose the theme track that accelerates your natural strengths.

Browse units

New themes every week

Subscribe to get notified when learning themes drop — plus weekly research signals and archetype deep-dives.

Subscribe — Free