Cohort 01Dec 12 and 13 · 6 hours
AI Basics for 2027.
$249per student
- LengthWeekend-long
- Cohort size6 to 8 designers
- FormatVirtual + live
Full refund with 24+ hours notice before the cohort begins.
First Layer Design UX Academy
Learn what design school could not see coming.
Live, practical education for designers who want useful skills, honest guidance, and room to practice.
Upcoming cohorts
Choose what comes next.
Six practical, live hours for UX students, junior designers, and anyone ready to feel at home with AI design tools.
Who it's for
UX students
Build practical AI fluency before you enter the industry and learn how emerging workflows fit into the design process.
Junior designers
Add AI-assisted methods to your toolkit and build the confidence to use them thoughtfully in real product work.
New to AI tools
Start from the basics in a small, welcoming cohort. No prompting expertise or technical background required.
Tools per cohort
Required — choose one
Optional
Who it's not for
- Designers already fluent in AI-assisted workflows and looking for advanced depth.
- Anyone seeking a certification-style credential rather than hands-on practice.
- Engineers looking for a traditional, syntax-first coding course.
The shape of it
Small by design.
Enough structure to create momentum. Enough intimacy to make the feedback personal.
Weekend-long
Focused learning designed to build momentum without stretching across weeks.
6 to 8 designers
A small group with room for questions, practice, and personal feedback.
Virtual + live
Join from anywhere for guided instruction, conversation, and hands-on practice.
Practical by default
Useful frameworks, honest guidance, and skills you can put to work right away.
Jacki Torres · Designer
Eight years of hard-won lessons, shared openly.
Across health tech, fintech, AI, and developer tools, I have helped designers strengthen their craft and tell better stories. Through The UX Chats and direct mentorship, I bring both practical perspective and genuine connection to every cohort.
Before you enroll
FAQs.
Do I need to be a design expert?
Not at all. This cohort is designed for UX students, junior designers, and people who are still building confidence with AI tools. Curiosity and a willingness to experiment matter more than years of experience.
Do I need to have vibecoding or coding experience?
No prior vibe coding or traditional coding experience is required, and we will not be coding from scratch. A little previous play with vibe coding can be helpful, but it is absolutely not a prerequisite.
Which AI tool memberships will I need?
You will need a paid membership for Claude Code, Codex, or Cursor — pick one. Figma is helpful as a supporting layer, but it is not required for the cohort.
What happens if I can’t make it anymore?
I offer a full refund when you cancel with at least 24 hours of notice before the cohort begins.
Will this be recorded?
Yes, the cohort will be recorded. Keep in mind that the experience is highly interactive, and many lessons will be tailored to the students in that specific cohort.