How IxDF’s UX Training Made Me a Better Lecturer

How IxDF’s UX Training Made Me a Better Lecturer

I was pleasantly surprised when I received an email from the Interaction Design Foundation — IxDF a few weeks ago, asking if I’d like to share my experience with their UX courses. They said my journey might inspire others, especially since I ranked in the top 10% of several courses. I’m happy to share my thoughts on what’s turned out to be one of the better career decisions I’ve made.

A Writer’s Challenge: Staying Relevant in Academia

Since 2011, I’ve worked as a university lecturer, mainly teaching various forms of writing. In my job, I benefit greatly from my previous work-life experience, as writer and editor, but it’s been nearly fifteen years since I had a job outside academia. My strategy to stay relevant and competitive has been to never really stop educating myself.

It was a colleague that recommended IxDF some years ago. When I found out that people like Don Norman and Torrey Podmajersky were instructors I was immediately interested. To continue evolving with up-to-date knowledge, I’ve since then taken several courses at the IxDF, upskilling in UX, AI, Gamification and accessibility.

From Curiosity to Certification: AI for Designers

The first course I completed at IxDF was *AI for Designers*, which provided a very useful foundation to start exploring AI in designing and writing content. The course’s focus on responsible and ethical use of AI highlights many of the risks that a UX designer needs to be aware of. The course was so interesting that it never felt difficult or tiring to complete. Afterwards, I was thrilled to show my course certificate and tell people that I was in the top 10% of the class.

UX Writing in the Digital Age: AI as a Creative Partner

For a few years now, I have been lecturing on UX writing. Teaching UX writing is different from teaching other types of writing because UX texts are part of a design. UX writing addresses the need for clear and understandable texts in a digital world. AI tools can provide great ideas for concise button labels or error messages, but for UX writing to be truly relevant to a business, it must be tailored to the specific needs, unlike generic AI suggestions, which can lack context if used uncritically. IxDF offers a wide range of superb master classes with a focus on UX methods, for example How to Design Better Error Messages UX and[ UX Writing: How to Use Words as a Design Power Tool](https://www.interaction-design.org/master-classes/ux-writing-how-to-use-words-as-a-design-power-tool?r=charlotte-von-essen).

Learning from the Best: Don Norman’s Design Principles

Another course that was a true eye-opener for me was Design for the 21st Century *with Don Norman*. Wise quotes like “Local people ought to be the leaders inside the design process” and “When you design, you have to understand what the capabilities are of the people you’re designing for” have really stayed with me. The course is quite theoretical at times, but the structure that runs through all Interaction Design Foundation courses, with knowledge checks, discussions and videos, makes the content easy to follow and is beyond motivating.

Gamification: Turning Challenges into Achievements

A course that took me a while to finish was *Gamification — How to Create Engaging User Experiences*. Halfway through the course I was sure I wouldn’t pass more than 70% of the content, which is enough to gain the course certificate. But then something happened. My vacation started, which made it possible for me to sit for longer periods of time. That’s when I realized I could achieve 90% on that course too. I put in some extra effort when answering the longer open-ended questions that can give more points, and it worked.

The Power of IxDF’s Community Meetups

Alongside these online learning experiences, I’ve also come to appreciate the opportunities for real-world interaction that are arranged by IxDF. Personal growth doesn’t just come from coursework, it often flourishes in local communities, too. And spontaneous talks and discussions can feel more relaxed in IRL. As a member of IxDF, I’ve enjoyed being part of a community that organizes offline events. The meetups are free of charge and open to non-members as well.

If you’re thinking about upskilling with IxDF, here are my 3 tips:

1. Choose topics that truly interest you.

2. Build a steady study habit (1–2 sessions/week).

3. Don’t give up if it gets tough — consistency pays off.

Grateful for the learning, the community, and the confidence I’ve gained through IxDF. 🙌

#UXDesign #UXWriting #AI #Gamification #IxDF #LifelongLearning #CareerGrowth #EdTech