Here is how you can graduate as one of the top 1% of the IxDF students like I did (My honest Story with the platform)

As a senior product designer, I’ve always believed in the power of continuous learning and growth. Staying at the forefront of design trends and methodologies is crucial in this fast-paced industry and even though I do have a bachelor degree in product design, subscribing to the interaction design foundation was one of the best choices I have made in my professional life.

In this article I am gonna tell you about my experience with the platform and how it helped me become a better product designer and if you think what I am gonna say will only apply to senior designers that’s not exactly the case. The IxDF will help you improve no matter the amount of experience you have. frankly It will help you go from junior to senior as fast as possible of course with getting your hands dirty by applying the knowledge you learn in real projects.

If you stick around until the end of the article, I’m going to give you some tips and tricks that have helped me come out on top as one of the top 1% of the Interaction Design Foundation students.

Before joining the interaction design foundation (IxDF)

Before discovering the Interaction Design Foundation (IxDF), my primary approach to staying current in the field of product design involved engaging with various resources such as online materials, books, and attending product design events. Despite having acquired the basics of product design in college, the drawback of this method lay in its lack of organization. Information gathered through these means was occasionally incomplete or not the most up-to-date and In a dynamic industry like design, continuous and informed learning is crucial, and unfortunately, my previous methods fell short in providing a structured and comprehensive approach and obviously that wasn’t the case with the IxDF courses and information are meticulously structured and organized. The platform offers clear learning paths, ensuring a thorough and up-to-date understanding of product design. Whether you’re a product manager, front-end developer, or executive, IxDF caters to diverse professional needs. This level of organization is a testament to the platform’s commitment to delivering quality education.

in addition to that there are the masterclasses which are organized with industry experts, people who has contributed to the build of successful products that are used by millions if not billions of users worldwide, personally I learned a lot about the ethics of engagement, gamification, psychology and cognitive science from the masterclass “How to Design Engaging Products: Insights from Fortnite’s UX” which was with Celia Hodent a former director of UX at Epic Games which has talked about the UX framework behind a successful game like Fortnite, I really urge you to have a look if you really interested in gaming however one side note I would like to mention is that the masterclasses will cost you extra 5$ out of your subscription fee if you are an IxDF member and If you are not 50$, I can hear you saying I am already paying my subscription fee why I can’t have the masterclass for free and the short answer is that IxDF are really trying their best to bring successful people to the platform and delivering that in the best possible way and that’s expensive you can read the long answer in here

Discovering the Interaction Design Foundation

My former boss recommended the Interaction Design Foundation to me. usually when I do a mistake she mentions a course in the IxDF that can help me understand that area better (Stephanie if you are reading this thaaaank you from the bottom of my heart for everything you taught me I wouldn’t be who I am today without your guidance and help 😊😊).

I visited the IxDF website and was immediately impressed by the vast array of courses they offered, all centered around interaction design and user experience and In the semestrial evaluation meeting, I talked to my boss about the matter and how that may help me develop my skill set, matter of fact he was a member of the IxDF community at some point of his career and he knew already the quality of the content.

The subscription gave me unlimited access to all their courses, articles, and resources. It felt like I had just unlocked a treasure trove of knowledge.

The IxDF Learning Experience

As highlighted in the introduction, the IxDF is a valuable resource for both beginners and experienced designers, offering targeted assistance in addressing specific weaknesses. Personally, I encountered challenges with accessibility and how to design product for all in my daily job and the relevant course proved to be enlightening I learned how to optimize and design products so that people with visual, auditory, cognitive and mobility disabilities are able to use assistive technologies to navigate and operate them with ease also fostered a deeper sense of empathy for the experiences of these individuals and how one small decision from the designer could make the life of these people easier.

The Impact on My Professional Life

• Enhanced Skill Set

One of the most significant impacts of my Interaction Design Foundation journey has been the enhancement of my skill set. The courses covered a wide range of topics, from user research to usability testing. Even though it is hard to count all the areas where my skill set has been improved but to give you an example let me tell you about the “UX Design for Virtual Reality” which has taught me a lot about storytelling and empathy towards my users, especially that I work a lot on VR projects.

• Networking Opportunities

Being part of the Interaction Design Foundation community opens you a lot of networking opportunities. Through the IxDF forums and the local meetups, you can connect with fellow designers from around the world.

• Improved Problem-Solving

One of the courses that had a profound impact on my problem-solving abilities was “Design Thinking: The Ultimate Guide.” This course taught me new techniques of how to approach complex design challenges systematically and creatively. I began to apply these principles to my work, leading to more innovative and effective solutions.

• Increased Job Opportunities

With my newfound skills and the IxDF certification to back them up, I began to notice an increase in job opportunities through linkedIn. Employers are really eager to hire designers who have undergone IxDF training, knowing that they came with a strong foundation in interaction design principles.

Some tips and tricks for Organizing your learning path to get the most out of your IxDF membership :

• Set Clear Goals:
• Define specific learning objectives for each day like for example finishing the lesson one from the course “Creativity: Methods to Design Better Products and Services”
• Identify the key concepts or skills you want to grasp you can set these by reading the welcome lecture of each lesson as it will tell you what you should expect to acquire after finishing the lesson (as you see in the image below)

• Create a Schedule:
• Allocate dedicated time slots for learning each day
• Establish a routine to build consistency.
• Eliminate Distractions:
• Choose a quiet and focused environment for learning.
• Turn off unnecessary notifications and distractions
• Take Breaks:
• Schedule short breaks to avoid burnout
• Use Additional Resources:
• Supplement IxDF courses with additional reading or research
• Apply Knowledge Practically:
• Practice what you learn through real-world projects if you are already working and you will see the huge difference or exercises.
• Apply concepts to reinforce your understanding.
• Review Regularly:
• Schedule periodic reviews of previously covered material as normally the new absorbed data will be weak so you need to reinforce it through repetition and application.
• Utilize Support Resources:
• Take advantage of chatGPT when faced with challenges or when you need examples to understand the problem better

Reflect on Progress:

• Regularly reflect on your learning journey.
• Identify areas of improvement and adjust your approach accordingly.

Remember, everyone’s learning style is unique, so feel free to customize these tips to fit your preferences and needs.

Finally my journey with the Interaction Design Foundation has been nothing short of transformative. What began as a simple subscription to improve my design skills turned into a life-changing experience that rejuvenated my career.

If you’re a product designer, whether just starting out or an experienced professional, I wholeheartedly recommend the Interaction Design Foundation especially right now they have 25% discount and you will get 5 free masterclasses (for the professional membership) trust me the impact it can have on your career, skills, and outlook is immeasurable, by the way If you use this link you’ll get 3 months for free as I personally invited you.

Finally I wish you all the best in your journey with the IxDF and if you still hesitant or have some questions you can connect with me on linkedIn here and ask them to me I will be more than happy to answer them based on my experience with the platform also follow me on behance here I usually post my latest work there too so again I wish you all the best in your journey and see you in the next article 😊😊😊
don’t forget to follow me on medium tooo 😝😝.