Erin Essex

December cohort

Cohort 1

September (Online)

This is an IN PERSON New York City based cohort

July (New York City)

September - Online

January 2026

June 2026

October 2026

March Cohort

July 2026

August 2026

Designers who craft user experiences, interfaces, and visual design.

Applying AI tools and techniques to professional workflows — assign alongside more specific AI topics.

Automating professional workflows with AI tools — productivity, operations, and task automation.

You will evolve from traditional workflows to confidently using AI as a design partner to accelerate ideas and improve outcomes.

Sr Interaction Designer Google | Youtube

Sr. Interaction Designer @Google | International Speaker | Design Director

Maximize Your Design Process With AI

Senior Product Designer

Building prototypes and MVPs to test ideas quickly before committing to full development.

Mastering Figma for design workflows — components, auto-layout, prototyping, and collaboration features.

User experience design — information architecture, interaction design, usability, and end-to-end experience flows.

Unlock the mindset of a UX designer and bring your ideas to life — faster, smarter, and cleaner in just 4 days.

15+ years in UX — now at YouTube

Design Leader at Google | Ex. Product Design Director of MongoDB & Shutterstock

Figma Crash Course: From Basics to Pro in 4 Days

Web designer

Senior Creative Marketing Designer

Project Manager

Freelance Designer

Getting promoted, navigating job transitions, and advancing to the next level in your career.

Crafting compelling narratives to inspire teams, communicate vision, and drive action.

Transform your interviews with strategic storytelling. Learn through real-world examples, deep scenario analysis, practice, & live speaking.

15+ years in Product Design | YouTube

Design Leader at Youtube | Ex. Product Design Director of MongoDB & Shutterstock

Strategic Storytelling for Product Design Interviews

Full stack engineer

School Computer Specialist

Google

YouTube

Shutterstock

MongoDB

Major League Baseball

Figma has become the go-to tool for modern design teams and solo creators. Whether you’re sketching your very first wireframe or collaborating on polished prototypes, this course will give you the confidence and skills to create, collaborate, and share ideas seamlessly. In just four sessions, you’ll go from beginner to confident user — ready to design smarter and faster.Need support?Scholarships are available for students who require financial assistance: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdsECiZlmAtg4DOSHhNVLibjCE87d92iNckLndMsHbsYiqe7Q/viewform?usp=header">Scholarship Application</a>

Ready to transform the way you design in Figma?
 

Master Figmas interface and workflow

Prototype Realistic User Flows & Present with Confidence

Create Clean, Consistent Designs with Certainty

Transform Ideas from Low-Fidelity to High-Fidelity

Build Professional, Reusable Systems

Collaborate Seamlessly in Real Time

Beginners who want to learn Figma from scratch. (PMs, engineers, rising digital designers, etc.)

Startup founders and business owners who want to be hands on and involved in the design and creation of their product.

Graphic designers looking for a new tool and skills for UX/UI, product, and collaborative design.

Let’s be honest—interviewing is tough. But you don’t have to go in unprepared. In this interactive 6-session course, you’ll learn how to use storytelling as a powerful tool to stand out in interviews, build connection, and speak with confidence.We’ll break down what interviewers are really looking for in design candidates and how to craft narratives that communicate your strengths with clarity and purpose. Through interactive workshops, practical exercises, and real-time feedback, you’ll develop compelling stories on key topics so you can walk into any interview feeling ready and self-assured.You’ll leave this course with a personalized story toolkit, polished answers, and a deeper understanding of how to adapt your message for different positions, companies, and audiences.Need support?Scholarships are available for students who require financial assistance: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeLC-fLIH_7VyIjB9C4xBvT8gCax9avoIltgTGByW7ji6f4Ew/viewform?usp=header">Scholarship Application</a>

Ready to transform the way you communicate in product design interviews? 

How to approach and navigate a design challenge

How to develop a professional resume, LinkedIn, and portfolio

Story structure and key storytelling techniques

How to create emotional connection and get buy-in

Identifying and leveraging your authentic voice

Tailoring and adapting your story during the interview process

Design Professionals Looking to land job or move up? Learn how to communicate your value strategically in this course.

Struggling Interviewees Let's build your confidence and speaking skills through proven analysis and practice.

Product ProfessionalsEverything covered in this course can be applied to product interviews. Learn how to communicate your expertise.

Stop wasting time on tedious, time consuming tasks. Automate your design process and dedicate your time to the high-impact work you enjoy most: designing, understanding your users, and shaping better experiences.Why it's Important:Tech companies have shifted to a flexible, condensed 4-day format with half-day sessions. Time is scarce and design standards are constantly increasing, leaving designers in place where we either adapt or become obsolete.Automating your design process with AI is essential to freeing up time for decision-making, understanding users, and delivering high impact design.Key Student Outcomes:📗Learn how to create with Claude Design, Loveable, AI Studio, Notebook LM, Figma Make, &amp; Antigravity📘Master the real-world capabilities of AI in design today📕Leverage AI to save time and focus on creative problem-solvingWhat to Expect📆This is a completely live 6 day course with office hours✏️You'll engage in a series of workshops and applied projects👋This is a hands on course - get ready to learn multiple programs over the next 2 weeksNeed support?Scholarships are available for students who require financial assistance: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://forms.gle/gXKo7UDjQeu5m5EKA">Scholarship Application</a>

Automate Tasks and Spend More Time on Design That Matters

How AI is used in UX today

AI tools for designers

How to incorporate AI into your UX workflow

The future of AI in UX

Creating AI Systems and Processes

How to effectively work with AI design tools

Figma

Designers looking to maximize their time

Creatives who want to learn how to integrate and use AI in their design process

Design leaders and managers who want to improve team output

Alicia Gonzalez

The Part of Design Interviews Nobody Talks About

The New Design Skill That Nobody Talks About

How AI is Changing Processes: What You Need to Know

Everyone’s Vibe Coding: Here’s What They’re Missing

How to Show Product Thinking in Design Interviews

The Psychology of First Impressions

Storytelling Recipe Card

Overview

Strategic AI advisory for founders and exec teams navigating product direction, UX, and organizational impact.

Sr Interaction Designer @Youtube | Former Design Director MongoDB & Shutterstock

Executive AI Briefing

Design Interview Secrets Nobody Talks About

Portfolio & Resume Audit

The Career Refresh

Ask Me Anything

Need industry expert advice on interviewing? I'll guide you through interviews, portfolios, career road mapping & more.

Private One-on-One Coaching

Who this is for

Product Experience Audit

Design Process & Team Workflow Optimization

AI Strategy & Implementation

Product & UX Strategy

Expert product and design consulting to improve UX, strategy, and team workflows.

Product & Design Strategy Consultation (companies & teams)

Great designers get rejected every day. Learn why.

The best candidate doesn't always get the offer — the one who understands how hiring decisions are made does.The strongest candidates know interviews are as much about psychology as they are about design. Every conversation is a chance to build trust, demonstrate judgment, and help interviewers picture you as a future teammate. You're constantly sending signals that influence hiring decisions. This workshop shows you what those signals are and how to use them to your advantage.You'll learn what hiring teams evaluate beyond your portfolio, how to build genuine rapport, and how to tell stories that stick. You'll also learn how AI is changing the hiring process, including how to confidently discuss your AI workflow, decision-making, and judgment.Finally, strengthen the soft skills that separate strong candidates from great hires, including communication, executive presence, storytelling, and influence.Need support?Scholarships are available for students who require financial assistance. You can apply for a scholarship here: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSerlTodaW98Igwxiup-EbXiqNr8SVkI4zmkhr4M7rtFEE-eTg/viewform?usp=header">Scholarship Application</a>

Why you're getting rejected, techniques that will change this, and the confidence to ace any interview going forward.

Hidden Rules of Big Tech Interviews

Evaluation Criteria

How to Connect and Persuade Your Interviewer

The AI Conversation

Communicate Your Value

Design ProfessionalsThinking about looking for a new role? Cut your prep work in half by learning vetted, industry interviewing secrets.

Active InterviewersNot sure what's holding you back? Join this workshop to learn everything you didn't know you needed on interviewing.

Team Leads &amp; Senior Level DesignersThis workshop holds recruiter secrets that'll help anyone looking to advance into more senior positions.

Learn what Config 2026 actually changes for designers.

Missed Config? No worries.In this workshop, we'll break down the biggest announcements, explore what they mean for product designers, and show you how to use the most impactful new Figma features and AI tools. Skip hours of sessions and videos and leave with the knowledge — and hands-on skills — to start applying the latest updates today.Need support?Scholarships are available for students who require financial assistance. You can apply for a scholarship here: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://forms.gle/TWimkTdQpc6EECF16">Scholarship Application</a>

Learn the biggest Config updates, master the newest Figma features, and optimize your workflow with practical AI techniques.

Understand the biggest Config 2026 announcements

Master Figma's newest features

Optimize your design workflow with AI

Prepare for the future of product design

Product DesignersToo busy to watch all of the Config sessions? Not sure what to focus on? Then this workshop is for you.

Future Focused DesignersFor those who want to stay up to date and prepare for the future of design and AI.

Product ManagersLearn the latest in UX/AI so you can stay relevant in product and design conversations.

Learn directly from Erin Essex

Erin Essex

Courses

Figma Crash Course: From Basics to Pro in 4 Days

Strategic Storytelling for Product Design Interviews

Maximize Your Design Process With AI

Workshops

The Hidden Rules of Product Design Interviews

Master the Latest Config 2026 Updates

Lightning Lessons

The Part of Design Interviews Nobody Talks About

The New Design Skill That Nobody Talks About

How AI is Changing Processes: What You Need to Know

Everyone’s Vibe Coding: Here’s What They’re Missing

How to Show Product Thinking in Design Interviews

The Psychology of First Impressions

Services

Executive AI Briefing

Private One-on-One Coaching

Product & Design Strategy Consultation (companies & teams)

Resources

Storytelling Recipe Card

The Psychology of First Impressions