Boost your design career, now with AI

Our invite-only program is transforming. Learn UI/UX design in the age of AI, build a portfolio of products, network with like minded creatives & find new opportunities.

Join waitlist
🔴 C11 applications are closed.

Current status

Cohort 11 ongoing

Next enrolment

Q1 2026

Next cohort starts

Q1 2026

Cohort FORMAT

Online

But first, it's Story time

When I started design in 2012...

I was enrolled in B. Tech. CSE, but one year into the program my GPA was suffering and I hated coding. I still loved tech, but there was no joy in learning outdated concepts.

My classmate, Varun Mayya, taught me how to use Photoshop and I began exploring what exactly design was. Within a few months, I was freelancing and starting to make some money.

Here's what it was like being a self taught designer with no mentors in 2012

I'd just bought my first smartphone, the Google Nexus 4. UI/UX design was something I'd never heard of. The App Store had launched a couple years ago. Apps like Instagram, Swiggy, Uber didn't even exist yet
I didn't know a single designer in my network. My classmates were either applying for placements or applying for tech roles. My parents were supportive, but suspicious and asked me to confirm if designers make money (lol)
There were no "design courses" on the Internet. Most content was Photoshop tutorials and other tools. Personal brand and community were alien concepts.

It took a while but...

I got the opportunity to work with some amazing people

I've worn multiple hats: hustling student, shy intern, global freelancer, team member, author, startup founder, head of design and more...

📍 Manipal, 2013

Founded a design agency called Sizr Studios

📍 Mumbai, 2015

Joined the design team at Housing.com

📍 Bangalore, 2019

Joined Unacademy as Head of Design

But let's fast forward to today

Is design still viable as a career in 2025 and beyond?

I thought I was late to design when I got started. There were folks who had 10+ years of experience, even 10 years ago. However... I had something they didn't. The ability to reinvent myself for the new world that was coming.

From software design, to web design, to app design, to... whatever comes next. Tech & design stay fresh.
Every big industry shift is a new opportunity. It clears way for new people to enter, and for existing people to redefine their careers and level up.
Tech is disruptive in its nature. Those who make it are the ones who can drop the old ways & adapt to the new.
Designers in 2010+ resisted the incoming switch to mobile. Today mobile is the dominant platform. Does it then make sense to resist AI in design?

Sooo... what's the scene?

AI assisted creativity is the single greatest opportunity of our lifetimes. But...

It requires massive emotional resilience, big identity shifts, letting go of old ways of doing things & an optimistic attitude towards the future.

Full time job as a designer?

Possible, but the definition of the roles is in flux. Product designers, product managers, developers might collapse into new roles.

Design agency and/or founder?

Possible, you can learn skills much faster than before with AI as your guide & co-founder. Why get a job when you can become the company?

Ditch careers, live life as projects?

The concept of careers might be over. Instead of a portfolio of concepts, have a portfolio of products & services that can make you money.

Let's face it

Design has changed. AI is not the future, it's the present.

"Using AI effectively is now a fundamental expectation of everyone. Frankly, I don’t think it’s feasible to opt out of learning the skill of applying AI in your craft... Stagnation is almost certain, and stagnation is slow-motion failure."

– Tobi, CEO of Shopify
‍

The bar to entry is lower. You can now make a decent website or a basic app, design and code both, within a few minutes using new AI tools. Something that previously took more than a month of effort, iterations and study.
Junior roles have dried up. True for coders, designers, many other fields. Its now easier for a non expert or senior to do the tasks that previously needed interns or juniors. Companies know this & are more cautious.
High is the new average. If you were comfy with your skills, you might have accidentally slipped below average. The expectations in the industry are sky high, yet the tools are still in an evolving, experimental stage.
Senior folks are expected to catch up. In a rapidly changing industry, you need to be running just to stay in the same position. Sounds scary, but we are expected to bring AI superpowers to the org and to teams.
Designers from design school had decent design process – but were lacking in the final outcomes, didn't understand how the industry beyond academia worked, would struggle with speed. The gap is now 10x scarier.
Degrees & certificates are useless – companies want real signals of skill. Strong portfolios are now the baseline default, with AI usage as a new expectation. Opposed to AI for ideological reasons? Good luck.
Companies want smaller teams with diverse experience, ideally people that can do multiple things. Building depth is hard though, mastery and expertise can take years to build.
AI tools are good but not great. The tools are getting better every week, but promises outweigh the reality. Good creative work requires depth, resourcefulness & taste, not just better tooling.
The design industry can be unwelcoming for those that don't live in startup hubs or lack connections with the industry. If you want to stand out online, you need to learn how to build relationships online.
Those with a good network grow faster – it can mean higher quality feedback, insider knowledge of how startup teams operate, getting internal referrals or just having other designers to talk to.

with all humility...

It's time to hit the reset button & think from first principles again.

I'm letting go of my identity. I had the good fortune of personally training 1600+ designers in the last 5 years, and many more via YouTube. I'm happy to say that I'm back to being a beginner. I feel like I'm back in college – excited about the future, a bit intimidated about the work that lies ahead.

I was lucky to join Unacademy as Head of Design in 2017 and build the design team there at a very early stage, to see what it was like to go from 40 employees to an ed-tech startup that's now valued over $3.4 billion. The products designed by my team and I are used by millions of students and thousands of educators. That's a life experience I'm glad I was able to get.

five years in now, we've built

The design school
of the future

More engaging than college lectures. More connection than a campus. A new kind of internet university – one that is focused on helping you build a network and build a creative foundation that boosts your career.

Annual intake

2 cohorts / year

Applications

Selective, curated

Format

Online, live

Total alumni

1512 members

Online education in 2025

It's no secret that online classes generally suck

Whether it's the poorly conducted Zooms & Hangouts, free courses with no accountability or boring self paced courses online.

Boring classes that put you to sleep
No opportunities to make new friends
Outdated syllabus that is already irrelevant
Very few or no industry connections
No real motivation or accountability
No alumni network to connect with
Info that can easily be found online for free
Hours of boring content, but no real motivation
No lasting alumni connections after grad

This is what we came up with

What you need to succeed as a designer in 2025

We applied the design process to design education (quite meta, we know) resulting in a totally unique learning experience.

Weekly LIVE sessions
No one-way monologues, we make it fun and interactive. No matter if you're an introvert or extrovert.
Make real friends
Like minded folks just like you, from diverse backgrounds and cities. We're not kidding, ask any alumni.
Real assignments
Assignments you'll actually enjoy. It's like a crash course in what it's like to work as a designer at a company.
Human centered learning
Not just GPT & Google gyaan. Deep focus on human centered instruction & learning to develop empathy.
Get shit done
Our completion rates are one of the highest in the industry, and that's not a coincidence. We've got your back.
Exclusive guest sessions
Imagine a design campus where your favourite designers hang out. That's what we've created for you.
Real design stories
Our mentors share their personal experience & insights that you won't find anywhere else.
Build your portfolio
Every assignment is a potential case study, so that you can confidently apply for roles after.
Lifetime network
Once a cohort member, always a cohort member. Make long term, positive relationships.

hands on ai

F**k stagnancy & fear. Let's embrace AI in the process

We interviewed senior designers in our network & figured out what's real and what's just noise. Be the first to experience the latest AI tools.

No tools overload
We're tired of the 1000s of tools too. Focus on what you can actually use today in your design process.
Healthy dose of reality
Yes AI is here, but so is everything else from the last 20+ years. Let's find the balance of old vs new.
Lead with curiosity
Fear and existentialism sells, but saps creativity. Approach with wonder & use as a creative partner.

who it's not for

Uncommitted people looking for a change without effort

While all of this might sound exciting, it requires commitment to put in the work and learn new skills. Our spots for each cohort are limited.

who it's for

Creative people looking for their next transformation

We want those who want to show up, challenge themselves, and deeply participate in the vibrant community of designers we have created.

MADE FOR YOU

Mentorship and personal feedback

Design courses online often miss out on one of the biggest components of learning: feedback. Don’t get stuck, receive real guidance.

Guidance in making career & design decisions
Mentorship in how to grow as a designer

GAME ON

Fortnightly design challenges

Practice with real problem statements from the industry and from our network of startups. Build your portfolio, find opportunities & get hired.

Feedback, support on all submissions
Continuous learning & upskilling

Expand your network

Meet designers at top companies

Our alumni work at some of the top companies in India and abroad. Learn from their experiences.

Make industry connections & friends
Insights about problem solving, getting hired, career growth and more

The program

What your multiplayer cohort journey will look like

We recommend allocating a minimum of 10-20 design hours per week to create stand out work & get the most out of the cohort experience.

Essentials
Before You Start
Bring a learner’s mindset
Make a commitment, be open to unlearning and exploring design from the ground up.
Figure out Figma basics
Learn the core tool, get familiar with the interface and try making something.
Learn with Figma videos
Watch 101 tutorials and Config talks from the Figma team to get familiar with the ecosystem.
The Beginning
Find Your Rhythm
Meet your cohort
Connect with members and mentors in our private discord server & stay in sync.
Introduce yourselves
Check out different channels in the server, hang out in voice chats and plan meetups.
Map out your week
Structure your routine according to the session timings and explore designing in Figma along with other AI tools.
Process
Deepen Your Understanding
Learn core design principles
Understand why design is important and what makes designers valuable in product teams.
Develop skills to identify real-life problems
Get familiar with design thinking methodologies with behind the scenes look at design projects.
Your first design task
Apply what you’ve learned in a warmup assignment. Share your work and receive feedback from mentors.
SPeed
Design Faster with AI
ChatGPT for brainstorming & research
Learn how to prompt AI to discover user problems, make human observations via UX research and make good design decisions.
AI as your visual design intern
Use new age tools like Lovable, Sora, Visual Electric, etc. to generate ideas, iterate on diverse styles & turn rough concepts into visuals.
Your personal AI feedback system
We’ll show you how to train your AI, apply frameworks to craft strategic prompts for better insights on core UX flows and visuals.
Upskill
Design Studio Simulator
Work on a real-world website brief
Choose from web design problem statements curated by our team & practice delivering like an actual designer under a deadline.
Peek into our client files
We’ll reveal high value client projects to show you an unfiltered look at our process, start to finish, including client conflicts towards a final output.
Get your work reviewed by professionals
Join 6 hour live mega feedback sessions with Abhinav + insights from industry mentors, iterate on the feedback to build a launch-ready site.
Product LAB
Startup Studio Simulator
Work on a real-world product brief
Choose from app design problem statements curated by our team, identify user needs, design in Figma & vibe code a working MVP with AI.
Watch how we approach problems
We’ll take a real brief, create a detailed PRD, discuss the challenges and our strategies to tackle this using a balance of AI + non AI tools.
Get your prototype reviewed by professionals
Join 6 hour live mega feedback sessions with Abhinav + insights from industry mentors, iterate on the feedback to build a market-ready MVP.
THe final convergence
Capstone project
Start your capstone project
Solve a problem statement sourced from an actual startup or company.
Build your personal brand
Focus on case studies, presentation, how you show your work and how to work in teams.
Prepare for real opportunities
Learn how to dream big, apply for freelance, internship, and full-time roles.
Beyond...
Cohort once, community forever
Join the alumni network
Stay part of the community through events, meetups and ongoing conversations.
Contribute to future cohorts
Experienced alumni may get invited back as mentors, guest reviewers, or collaborators.
Get invited to community events
Access social gatherings, offline experiences as well as special mentor & alumni reunions.

design team simulator

Mentorship structure that gives you hands on project & collaboration experience

What's it like working in a design team with a lead designer? Our unique pod structure simulates this – Abhinav as head of design along with pods of mentors to give you feedback & peers to jam with.

Abhinav Chhikara

Founder & Design Educator at 10kdesigners. Previously Head of Design at Unacademy in Bangalore, India.

Alumni & Mentor Network

Design experts working in top tech companies with years of design and mentoring experience from diverse industries.

how it works

All core live sessions are conducted personally by Abhinav & team. Evenings and weekends, so that you can do this part time with work.
You will have access to pods of mentors for feedback, as well as mega feedback calls with Abhinav & team.
Industry mentors are handpicked with 3+ years of experience and are paid a stipend for their involvement. Exact list of mentors is subject to change with every cohort based on availability.
Pods are like your simulated design team to give you a real-world collaboration experience of working as a designer in an online remote environment.
We believe in learning-by-doing. You will be challenged and motivated to work on products that you can proudly launch & showcase in your portfolio.

Arpita Dhir

Design Lead at ADPList

Vaibhav Pant

Product Designer at Smallcase

Rahul Bhosale

Director of Design at PolygonLabs

Nisheta Gupta

Product Designer at Swiggy

Mayank Khandelwal

Product Designer at CRED

Sahil Pandita

UX Design Lead at Google

Sagar Bhardwaj

Sr. Product Designer at Urban Company

Prerita Yadav

Product Designer at Toppr

Siddharth Vij

CEO at Bricx

Rahul Jaiswal

Senior Product Designer at Zepto

Vishant Kumar

Product and Game Designer at Hike

Abheyraj Singh

Product Designer at Meta

Tanvi Rusia

Product Designer at Axis Bank (Freecharge)

Jyotsna Vibhuti

Product Designer at Ola

Paritosh Kumra

Product Designer at Razorpay

Vanshika Nagpal

Product Designer at Disney+Hotstar

Prem Pradeep

Design Manager at Ather

Devesh Pawar

Design & Tech at Amazon

Soumya Choubey

Product Designer at Flipkart

Anish Alok Jena

Product Designer at EY

Adnan Jaweed

Head of Design at Yalah

Ankit Pandole

Head Of Design at Pratilipi

Jeevanshu Narang

Sr Product Designer at Blinkit

Nitya Gupta

Sr Product Designer at Cars24

Sagar Vijay

Product Designer at Microsoft

Rishika Gupta

Product Designer at Vymo

Shivam Jaiswal

Sr Manager UX Design at Jio Platforms

Smit Patel

Product Designer at OneCard

Vidhunnan Murugan

Product Designer at Big Basket

Yash Jadhav

Product Designer at Rigi

Yugandhar Bhamare

Lead Product Designer at Procol

Program details

If this sounds like something you've been looking for, we'd love to get to know you further and explore if you'd be a good fit!

What you'll GET

Admission into the upcoming cohort with lifetime access to sessions, full curriculum, private resources & session recordings
Personalized mentorship and guidance on building a fulfilling design career
One year complementary subscription to UI Sources Pro (worth ₹7,500)
Exclusive invites to our annual IRL Grad Party, meetups & events in our network
Access to Figma Pro plan for Education and discounted licenses from our Partners

INTERESTED?

We offer this cohort only two times a year and every application is assessed and individually handpicked based on our internal criteria.
‍
Waitlist for Cohort 12 is now open.

Submit an early application below to join the waitlist. Your application will get an early preference when enrolments begin sometime in Q1 2026.
Submit waitlist application
Please take some time to answer the questions – we use this to assess whether you'd be a good fit :)

we asked our alumni

What were your biggest wins & highlights from the cohort?

We ask all members this question at the end of every cohort. Here are some answers & recurring themes picked from hundreds of responses.

empowerment over placements

Your path to career growth is more than a placement

Our goal is to ensure you leave the cohort with a sense of confidence in your abilities, equipped with a network of professionals who will help open doors for you throughout your entire career.

Placement friendly with lifetime network
Lifetime access to members-only community.
Private job board with internal referrals from our network.
City-based WhatsApp groups for local connections.
Top hiring choice for startups, companies, agencies, and mentors seeking design talent quarterly.
Freelance & side hustle project friendly
We get it, not everyone wants a full-time job.
Our members have built their personal brands, started their own design agencies, & launched their own projects.
We provide dedicated resources & behind-the-scenes look at how we scaled our own side hustles and ventures.
Get featured on our website with shoutouts on official channels
We believe in the power of personal brand for growth.
Your finished case studies will be featured on our case study directory and alumni directory.
Dedicated 10kdesigners.com/u/yourname profile page.
We help boost your work on social media by reposting.
Top projects featured on our channels to grow your following & help you get inbound leads for freelance and full-time opportunities
Recommendation letters for masters & future opportunities
Need a completion letter for your company? We can help with that, available on request.
Planning to go for a masters abroad? We provide dedicated resources from alumni have used their cohort projects & portfolio to apply to unis in USA, Australia, Europe and more.
Abhinav & mentors can write reference letters to include with your applications – just let us know at the earliest so we can keep track of the formalities and are able to write an honest recommendation.
Dedicated resources for portfolio building and interviewing
We provide resources & training to help you craft a profile that stands out and attracts opportunities.
Insider look into how heads of design hire, what mentors look for while hiring & how past cohort members have leveraged the 10k network to grow.
Guest sessions & resources on techniques like cold DMs, content creation, storytelling, portfolios, capstone projects & interviewing pro tips to crack interesting opportunities.
Invites to private meetups & events in Bangalore & other cities
Moving to a new city? Too introverted to make connections? Don’t know how to meet designers? We got you.
Meet someone from 10kdesigners at every design meetup you attend – designers, mentors, even founders.
Our members are super active in the general startup & design social scenes, it’s a great way to make new connections and find teams that are hiring.
Lifetime access to members-only designathons, parties, online live sessions, meetups and guest events

Join our powerful
alumni network

We believe in transformations – both social and professional. Whether it's moving to a new city, or exploring an interesting startup, chances are you'll find a fellow alumni who's been there done that.

Browse alumni at over 400+ companies →

Browse cohort success stories and wins →

Frequently asked questions

If you have any questions about the program that aren't covered here, feel free to reach out to us directly.

support@airtribe.live
team@10kdesigners.com

Airtribe on WhatsApp

Who is this course for?
This course is for those who want to learn UI/UX design to transition into a new career or to build an additional skill. Whether you're a student, engineer, product manager, founder or anyone else.

Our two fixed pre-requisites are commitment and understanding of the basics of Figma so you can keep up and don't get stuck at the tools stage.
Does everybody that applies get in?
Unfortunately, no. Every cohort has limited seats, so please take some time to fill out your application and answer the questions to your best ability.

Members are hand picked by the team to create an intentional community.
Who are the mentors for this course?
The core instructors are Abhinav Chhikara and team. In addition, feedback sessions and guest sessions will be conducted by our mentors.

Besides that, for every project you will have access to pods mentors to simulate how a design team operates.
How much does the cohort cost overall?
The cohort costs $1,400 for upfront payments paid via Stripe.
For India, the cost is at ₹95,499 + GST. Subject to change.

For Indian users, the amount can be paid upfront or in 3 installments on the first of every month. There are also 3mo, 6mo, 12mo and 24mo EMI options available offered by Razorpay for eligible banks and cards. Check out the EMI FAQs here.
How much time do I need to dedicate every week?
The curriculum has been designed to allow people to participate part-time.

However, you must be able to dedicate a minimum of 10 hours every week to attend the live sessions and work on assignments. We recommend 15-20 hours per week for those that want to go even deeper, work judiciously on assignments, get feedback from mentors & create stand-out work for their portfolio.
When & where are the classes conducted?
Live sessions are typically conducted on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Wednesdays (7-9PM) for the core sessions, Fridays (selected weeks, 7-9PM) for tool workshops, Saturdays (between 12-6PM_ for mentor interactions and feedback. All sessions are on Zoom, for a duration of 120+ minutes each. Time table is subject to change and will be communicated in advance.

Beyond that, there will be lots of opportunities for unscheduled peer interactions that you can immerse yourself in based on your availability.
Can I do this course at my own pace?
No, the course can’t be done at your own pace. The program has a structured schedule and requires your active participation every week to get the most benefit.
What if I miss a live session?
You are encouraged to attend the sessions LIVE to participate in discussions. However, you will have access to all class recordings.
Will I be guaranteed a job after graduating the course?
Nope. The training and community is designed to help you achieve your goals and make you a better designer. For those that make it through, success is highly likely but not guaranteed.  

You will however have lifetime access to the 10kdesigners Network. To receive guidance and confidently apply for internships, freelance and full-time roles.
Can I cancel or apply for a refund?
If you’re not happy with the course, or realize that it's not for you within the first 7 days, you can request a full refund.
Will I get a certificate on completing the course?
Yes, you will have a unique link that you can embed on your LinkedIn profile and a public profile in our Alumni Directory that you can use to get design opportunities.

We're also happy to provide recommendation letters to share with your employer or apply to higher education programs.
What computer specs and software do I need for the course?
You need a Mac or Windows computer capable of running a web browser. Figma will be the primary tool in this course and it works on most computers. Check compatibility here.

Beyond that, we will have a 24x7 Discord classroom to interact with your fellow cohort members and talk to our mentors.
Do I need to know programming?
No, you don’t need to know programming or be a Science or Computer Science graduate to do this course.
Can I apply if I’m a student?
Yes, you can apply even if you’re a school or college student. The program is designed to be beginner friendly – however we will not spend time going through each feature in Figma. We recommend joining with a basic understanding of it.

Your focus with the course will be to learn design fundamentals, work on projects, build a portfolio and apply for internships and freelance projects.
Can I defer my enrolment to a future cohort?
if due to some reason you have a personal emergency during the cohort, or are not able to keep up due to life/work/college pressure, you can reach out and we’ll defer your application to the next cohort at no extra cost. We care about getting you the transformational outcome, so if anything gets in the way, we’re on your side.

The timeline to request deferral is upto two months into the cohort start. To request a deferral, email team@10kdesigners.com with the reason.
How do I know if UI/UX design is right for me?
UI/UX design might be the choice for you if you’re interested in the intersection of design, technology and business.

You want to work in the tech industry and want to build products for web and mobile. Check out my free videos on YouTube to learn more.

no fluff, no bluff

Our unfiltered take on design, AI & what’s coming next

To live in the future, we must fully come to terms with the present. Welcome to the rabbithole, let's dive in.

It's time to develop your taste

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Future of design from Silicon Valley

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The big reset happening right now

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Your transformative design journey starts here. Are you up for it?

Learn more
🔴 C11 applications are closed. Join the waitlist for C12 to be notified.

Current status

Cohort ongoing

Current cohort

Aug to Nov 2025

Next cohort

Waitlist open

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