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Flagship Program

Design the Future of
AI-Powered User Experiences

A mentor-guided experience where designers explore real product scenarios and build portfolio-ready UX case studies — while learning the AI-aware skills hiring managers want.

Register now See the 6-week structure
$200 USD · 6 weeks · 10–12 hrs/week · Remote · September 14 – October 23, 2026
Program timeline
September 14 – October 23, 2026
Format
Remote · Mentor-guided · Team-based
Time commitment
10–12 hours per week · 6 weeks
Program fee
$200 USD · Certificate included
What is the challenge?

Not a course. A design experience.

The IterateUX AI-UX Design Challenge is a mentor-guided learning experience where designers practice solving real-world UX problems in the age of AI.

Participants work on realistic product scenarios involving AI-assisted experiences — exploring human-AI interaction, trust, explainability, and ethical design — and produce a portfolio-ready case study demonstrating real design thinking and product strategy.

This is a conceptual challenge created for learning and portfolio development. Not affiliated with any real company or client project.

Register now
Designers collaborating on a whiteboard

What makes this challenge different.

Most challenges give you a brief. We give you a process, a team, and mentors who push your thinking every week.

AI-Aware UX Design

Explore human-AI interaction, trust, explainability, and ethical design — skills increasingly expected by product teams.

Structured UX Process

End-to-end: research and ideation to final presentation. Not isolated prompts — a real design journey with weekly deliverables.

Design Decision Thinking

Learn to explain the why behind every decision — connecting research, product goals, and user needs to your final solution.

Mentor-Guided Feedback

Constructive feedback from experienced UX mentors throughout — not just at the end, while it still matters.

Soft Skills & Collaboration

Practice working like a product team — peer feedback, communication, storytelling, and presenting design decisions.

Portfolio-Ready Outcome

A complete UX case study demonstrating design thinking, product strategy, and real problem solving — not just visuals.

What you'll gain.

Whether you're here to learn or to lead.

Design AI-Powered Experiences

Work on realistic AI product scenarios with team-based support.

Strengthen UX Thinking & Storytelling

Solve meaningful user problems and confidently communicate design decisions.

Learn AI-Aware UX Patterns

Trust, explainability, and human-AI interaction — built into the curriculum.

Build a Portfolio-Ready Case Study

An end-to-end UX + AI project you can defend in interviews.

Receive Mentor Feedback

Guidance from experienced UX professionals throughout the 6 weeks.

Collaborate Globally

Learn and grow with a diverse design community across 15+ countries.

Practice Real-World Problem Solving

Work through challenges similar to real product team environments.

Certificate & Recognition

Completion certificate, digital badges, and LinkedIn recommendations for top teams.

Join as a Participant

Mentor the Next Generation

Guide participants as they solve real-world AI-UX design challenges.

Establish Thought Leadership in AI + UX

Share your expertise and contribute to conversations shaping the future of design.

Expand Your Professional Network

Connect with designers, mentors, and industry professionals from around the world.

Strengthen Leadership & Coaching Skills

Develop mentoring, feedback, and design leadership capabilities.

Contribute to a Global UX Community

Help build a supportive ecosystem that empowers designers at every stage.

Mentor Recognition & Incentives

Community recognition, social visibility, and a $130 honorarium per team mentored.

Become a Mentor
Diverse design team illustration
Who this challenge is for

For every stage of the design journey.

  • UX & Product Designers — explore how AI is shaping modern product experiences and apply it in real design scenarios.
  • Junior and Mid-level Designers — strengthen your portfolio with AI-driven case studies and demonstrate future-ready skills.
  • Senior Designers & Design Leads — experiment with emerging AI-UX patterns, lead the team, and expand strategic thinking.
  • Career Switchers & Aspiring Designers — structured guidance, hands-on challenges, and mentor feedback to accelerate your UX journey.
Register now

The 6-week structure.

Each week has a focus, deliverables, and mentor checkpoints — so you always know what you're building toward.

Week 1

Kickoff, Foundations & Problem Alignment

Form your team and anchor your project in a meaningful problem space.

Defined problem statementTeam working agreementInitial project hypotheses
Week 2

Research & AI Risk Mapping

Understand user needs and the ethical boundaries of your AI solution.

Research insights summaryUser pain point mapAI trust & safety guidelines
Week 3

AI Opportunity & Framing

Identify exactly where AI adds value to the user journey.

AI Opportunity MapBehavior-focused personasHigh-level solution direction
Week 4

Concept & Interaction Flow

Translate your strategy into a tangible end-to-end user experience.

User scenario diagramsEnd-to-end interaction flowsLow-fidelity wireframes
Week 5

Design, Trust & Iteration

Refine your solution into a high-fidelity, believable AI product.

Mid-fi prototypeAI communication patternsEdge case & failure state designs
Week 6

Storytelling & Final Showcase

Package your process into a professional case study and present to the community.

Portfolio-ready case studyProfessional presentation deckCertificate of completion
Register for the next cohort
September–October 2026 cohort

Expert workshops built in.

Each cohort runs a curated series of workshops led by practicing designers and strategists.

W1
The AI Job To Be Done (JTBD)
Mike Donahue
W2
AI for Research & Problem Framing Pt. 1
Letícia Braga Maestri
W3
AI for Research & Problem Framing Pt. 2
Letícia Braga Maestri
W4
AI Feature Augmentation: Designing Practical AI Experiences
Pushkar P
W5
The Architect's Inquiry: Orchestrating AI Agents for System Prototyping
Rodrigo Engell
W6
From Work to Wow: Crafting a Portfolio-Ready AI Case Study
Padma Shetye
Key dates
Kickoff EventMon Sep 14
Final PresentationsOct 21–23
Wrap-up PartyMon Oct 26
Registration status

Registration is open for the September–October 2026 cohort. Spots are limited.

Register now

The numbers speak for themselves.

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Designers supported
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Mentors globally
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Countries represented
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Design challenges organized
AI-UX Design Challenge Alumni

In their own words.

Straight from designers who completed the challenge.

On the experience
"

Overall my experience with the challenge was very great. My team was very supportive, everybody was helpful and respectful.

Shaunak Chattopadhyay
On why to join
"

If you're looking for an opportunity to not just watch YouTube videos, not just take courses, but actually develop real-world exposure and stand out from competitors, especially when AI is moving rapidly — take this challenge.

Shaunak Chattopadhyay
On AI-UX growth
"

Before the challenge I was maybe a two or three out of ten on AI in UX. After it, I'd say I'm a solid seven. I'm very confident I can deliver in half the time I would have before.

Nima (abolfazl khanli)
On applying AI in design
"

It made me get into a rhythm of how AI can actually help — not just in the design process, but in the products I'm designing. It gave me experience on how to do that with a real client, which was very helpful.

Mark Kirkland
On the case study
"

I completed the case study, and I think it's one of the best, very strong case studies I can show to recruiters — it covers every key point an employer may ask for.

Si-xian Chen
On the portfolio
"

What we built is cool and unlike anything else in my portfolio — that's exactly what I was looking for.

Alicia Marisal
On mentorship
"

My mentor was almost always available, even with the time difference. The practical knowledge he had about prompting and how to communicate with AI was exactly what I needed.

Nima (abolfazl khanli)
On mentorship
"

My mentor was a good guide — always gave us things to think about, always available. He'd stay online with us hashing out ideas even on his work breaks.

Mark Kirkland
On team experience
"

The team collaboration was good — we communicated well and contributed a lot. When I had to be away for a couple of days, they just said don't worry, they'd cover it.

Si-xian Chen

Frequently asked questions.

What is the AI-UX Design Challenge?
A 6-week, mentor-guided learning experience where designers solve real-world UX problems in the context of AI — producing a portfolio-ready case study showcasing design thinking, product strategy, and AI-aware UX skills.
Is this a real project or a conceptual challenge?
This is a conceptual challenge grounded in real-world product scenarios. You won't build actual AI models — you'll focus on designing thoughtful, ethical, user-centered experiences around AI systems, just like real product teams do.
Do I need prior AI or UX experience?
No AI experience required. The program teaches AI-aware UX concepts (trust, transparency, ethical design) from the ground up. Basic UX familiarity is helpful but mentorship and a structured framework guide you throughout.
How much time do I need each week?
Plan for 10–12 hours per week, depending on your pace and depth of exploration.
Will I work alone or in a team?
You'll work in a collaborative team environment, similar to real product teams — building skills in collaboration, communication, and presenting design decisions.
How is this different from other design challenges?
Unlike typical challenges, this offers: a structured end-to-end UX process, mentor-guided feedback throughout, focus on AI + real-world scenarios, emphasis on design thinking & decision-making, and a portfolio-ready outcome — not just visuals.
What is the cost?
$200 USD for the full 6-week experience, including mentorship, workshops, and the final showcase.
Will I receive a certificate?
Yes — a certificate of completion, plus community recognition, LinkedIn shoutouts, and recommendations for top teams.
Do mentors receive compensation?
Yes — mentors receive a $130 honorarium per team as appreciation for their contributions.
How do I contact you with more questions?
Email design.challenge@iterateux.com or join the IterateUX Discord and drop a message in #ai-ux-design-challenge.

Ready to design the future of AI?

Registration for the September–October 2026 cohort is open — spots are limited.

Join as a Participant Become a Mentor
Questions? design.challenge@iterateux.com