Build a career in product design

Our invite-only program returns for its sixth cohort. Discover UI and UX design, find new opportunities and kickstart your career.

Learn more
Applications for the next cohort will be announced in Q2 2023.

Next cohort

Cohort 7

Applications open

Q2 2023

Cohort Duration

3 months

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 had been inspired by Zuckerberg in the Social Network, but all we were doing in college was C++/Java, command line programs and ancient microprocessors.

My classmate taught me how to use Photoshop and I began exploring what exactly design was.

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. 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 wanted to go abroad to study
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.

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, 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

At this poinT, you might be wondering...

What was the problem?

I had the good fortune of hiring designers, mentoring them and building the design team at Unacademy, 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.

It has helped Unacademy grow & raise investment from global investors like SoftBank, Sequoia Capital, Facebook, General Atlantic etc.

However, something was still missing.

In conversations with experienced designers in my network, we all agreed on a common problem: the state of design education in India was broken.

After 8 years in the industry,

I realized that things hadn't gotten any better.

Having been on both sides of the equation – as a designer as well as a hiring manager, I realized that there was a big gap.
‍

Self taught designers had amazing work – but were lacking in process, didn't quite understand how team dynamics worked, and would often struggle to communicate their ideas to stakeholders.
Designers from design school had amazing process – but were lacking in the final outcomes, didn't understand how the industry beyond academia worked, would struggle with timelines & working with startups.
Startups don't care about degrees – but want to see equivalent experience: in the form of case studies & portfolios. Most designers struggled with putting themselves out there, making it hard to get noticed.
Companies want to hire freshers with under 1 year of experience – but find it really challenging to filter out real designers from those that just know how to use Photoshop, Adobe XD, Figma or other tools.

That's when I quit my job to build

The design school
of the future

A new kind of internet university – one that is focused on helping you build a network and discover not just skills, but the right mindset.

Online education in 2022

Let's face it, online classes can really suck

Whether it's the poorly conducted Zooms & Hangouts by, 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 isn't relevant anymore
😐
Very few or no industry connections
😓
No help with motivation and accountability
😭
No alumni network to take help from
😕
Info that can easily be found online for free
😔
Hours & hours of content, but no real outcome
😳
No support & help after you graduate

This is what we came up with

Everything you need to succeed as a designer

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.
😊
Mentor based learning
Receive personalized feedback from our mentors and develop a long-term working relationship with them.
😤
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.

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

More than just design

We'll start with design tools but you'll discover mindset, frameworks and skills that will benefit you for years to come.

What you will learn

What is design? Discover the depths of the design process & how to apply it
Fundamentals of color, layout, design process, visual design & prototyping
The tools of the trade including Figma, Webflow, ProtoPie etc.
How to validate features, conduct competitive analysis & user research
How to interact with design managers, stakeholders and get feedback
Communication skills and articulation, even if you consider yourself an introvert
How to build a personal brand, get opportunities & make more money
How to write effective case studies & build a portfolio that converts
The fundamentals of freelancing, where to find projects & how to talk to clients
How to evaluate offers & increase the odds of getting into your top companies

Foundation

Month 1
This stage is your orientation: meeting your cohort mates, understanding the history of design & getting your mindset and habits right. Discover the fundamentals of visual design & Figma & get thrown head-first into your first design project. Receive feedback & iterate.

Process

Month 2
Beyond fundamentals, it’s now time for frameworks. Understanding the design process, mental models, research, metrics and product. A mix of case studies & one in-depth assignment to apply theory to practice.

UPSKILL

Month 3
Conceptualize your final capstone project to apply everything you've learnt. This stage also focusses on personal brand, preparing case studies with your projects so far and how to start finding opportunities – freelance, internships & full time roles.

GRADUATION

Once a cohort member...
Always a cohort member. Our alumni is invited to return to future cohorts as designers in residence or as alumni mentors. With invitations to social events, dinners and more, you're now a part of 10kdesigners.

Learn from the best

We have an active network of industry and alumni mentors that work at some of the best companies in the world.

Abhinav Chhikara

Founder at 10kdesigners

I got my start in design in 2011 designing iOS apps for freelance projects on oDesk. Since then I've worked with 50+ founders and startups across USA, Europe and India.

I've been a startup founder myself & co-founded a music chat app called Lisn that had its moment of virality with 8k+ users. I'm also the author of the Amazon bestseller Pyjama Profit, a book about building a freelancing career.

Most recently I was an early employee & the Head of Design at Unacademy, an ed-tech startup that's now valued over $2.1B & has raised from global investors like SoftBank, Sequoia Capital, Facebook, General Atlantic etc.
‍
After helping build one of the biggest live learning platforms in the world, I realized I wanted to fix the state of design education – that's when I founded 10kdesigners.

Jayneil Dalal

Founder at Design MBA

I moved from Gujarat to the US in 2012, transitioning from a Linux developer to a UI/UX designer at AT&T where I got promoted to Lead UX Designer and worked for about 5 years solving B2B problems.

I've also been in an active teaching role, as an Instructor at SMU University in Texas and as a Sr Design Instructor at CareerFoundry.

While I was teaching and networking, I realised the gap between business and design that exists in the industry. That led me to start the Design MBA podcast where I've interviewed over 100+ design leaders.

People starting off in their careers don’t understand how the business works and how they can level up on a financial, professional and personal front.

This got me to collect all my experiences and learnings to teach at 10kdesigners.

Browse all our Mentors and Alumni →

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 of designers, access to curriculum & training
Personalized mentorship and guidance on building a fulfilling design career
One year complementary subscription to UI Sources Pro (worth ₹7,500)
Exclusive invites to physical meetups & events in our network
Exclusive freebies and discounted licenses from our Partners

INTERESTED?

We offer this cohort only a few times a year and every application is assessed and individually handpicked based on our internal criteria.
‍
Applications for Cohort 7 will be announced in Q2 2023.
$1,200
₹95,499 including 18% GST
Join the waitlist
Join our email list to be notified of the next cohort.

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 all alumni at over 200+ companies →

Frequently asked questions

If you have any questions about the program that aren't covered here, email me at support@airtribe.live or on WhatsApp and we’ll be in touch!

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.

There are no fixed pre-requisites, however we strongly recommend learning the basics of Figma so you have an advantage in the assignments.
Does everybody that applies get in?
Unfortunately, no. The course 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 Jayneil Dalal.

Besides that, for every project you will be assigned a Pod of 7-8 members that is meant to act as a design team. Every Pod will have Alumni Mentors and Industry Mentors to give you guidance and feedback.
How much does the course cost overall?
The course costs $1200 (around ₹95,499) which needs to be paid upfront before the start of the course. There are also 3mo, 6mo, 12mo and 24mo EMI options available offered by Razorpay for eligible banks and cards
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 10-12 hours every week to attend the live sessions and submit your assignments on time.
When & where are the classes conducted?
All live sessions will be conducted on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 7PM IST on Zoom, for a duration of 90 minutes.

Beyond that, we will conduct activities like Q&A, mentor conversations etc which are optional for you participate in.
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.

Your focus with the course will be to learn design, build a portfolio and apply for internships and freelance projects.
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.
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