Here's how you can acquire new skills in product design through courses and workshops.

There are 2 skillsets that any designer should acquire: the strategic and the technical. Technical knowledge is best acquired through tutorials, practice, emulation and time - best source is Behance, Youtube. Strategic, I would recommend Medium blogs and potentially IxDF.

New product development is always challenging activity firstly you must have clarity on design intent and application feasibility with respect to materials functioning finally use of CAD/CAM and CAE

I am a physical product designer, specializing in creating athletic shoes. For me, being able to learn remotely is a fantastic opportunity. I'm passionate about AI because it can make my job easier: I can quickly go from a sketch to a rendering that conveys the idea, which allows me to stay aligned with the client and the team towards a clear goal. I've recently been playing around with Vizcom, a software application designed for graphic designers and artists. A course on AI that I recommend is "Prompt chi parla" by Prompt Design. But it's in Italian, which is a beautiful language, by the way :-) and there are ai apps that translate simultaneously.

Other than courses/workshops that help improve your technical skills, design thinking process and practical applications, look for comprehensive product design programs that cover soft skills as well. This will develop soft skills like communication, problem-solving, creativity, adaptability and business acumen. These transferable skills are very crucial for product designers. Identify your specific skills gaps by reviewing job postings, and then create an action plan to close those gaps through courses/workshops, tutorials, and real-world practice.

100%. Immersion is the key to learn. One tip that’s worked for my team is the responsibility to share what you learned with the larger team next week. This show case session ends up solidifying the lessons for the learner.

Open innovation and crowdsourcing sites like Wazoku.com are the on-line version of in-person workshops. The experience of helping others, domestically and aboard is very motivating while the skillsets learned are worth the time. Even if you do not win the challenge.

As a Senior UX Designer, I’m always looking for ways to stay sharp and enhance my skills. Courses and workshops offer an excellent structured path. Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting out, there’s something for everyone—from beginner-friendly tutorials to in-depth programs. Attending design conferences and meetups is another great way to learn from industry experts and stay updated on the latest trends.

Attending in-person workshops and design-focused events can be a great way to learn new skills, network with industry professionals, and gain hands-on experience. These workshops are often led by experienced designers and cover specific design techniques or tools.

For anyone who isn’t a total beginner, workshops are way more useful than courses because they are usually focused on specific skills, processes (or a part of it), tools etc, and they are more itneraacrive than the most of the courses these days.

Networking events in product design offer valuable opportunities to connect with peers and industry experts, fostering collaboration and learning. These events facilitate sharing insights, best practices, and trends in design, enriching attendees' skillsets. They provide exposure to diverse perspectives and innovative approaches to product development, inspiring creative thinking. Moreover, networking events can accelerate career growth by connecting attendees with potential employers or freelance opportunities. Engaging in these events enhances communication skills and confidence in discussing design concepts, contributing to overall professional development within the design community.

- Professional Growth: Networking events offer opportunities to meet industry experts, gaining insights and staying updated on emerging trends. - Community Engagement: Engaging with fellow designers fosters a supportive community where you can share experiences and learn from diverse perspectives. - Mentorship Opportunities: Connect with mentors who can provide guidance and advice to further develop your product design skills. - Collaborative Projects: Networking facilitates collaborations on projects, enhancing your practical experience and expanding your portfolio. - Career Advancement: These events may lead to job opportunities or freelance gigs, making them essential for advancing your career in product design.

Networking events offer numerous benefits for anyone in product design, including: 1. **Connections**: Building relationships with industry professionals. 2. **Insights**: Staying informed about emerging trends and technologies. 3. **Learning**: Gaining knowledge from others' experiences and best practices. 4. **Opportunities**: Discovering mentorship, collaboration, and job prospects. 5. **Skill Sharing**: Exchanging your experiences and learning from diverse perspectives. Overall, these events can significantly enhance both personal and professional growth.

These types of events can also be completely spontaneous and not solely focused on development and design. They can open new doors, and sometimes extraordinary and innovative things happen in terms of creativity and collaboration.

I find that networking events tend to bring together the extroverts and those working in academia. They are not for everyone and especially stressful for those with "hidden" talents. Choose wisely.

I've had the fortunate opportunity to be both mentored and the mentor. In both of these roles I was able to walk away with greater confidence in my skills and the satisfaction of being part of a mutually beneficial relationship. In receiving mentorship, I've been able to lean on the wisdom of those that have come before. A good definition of wisdom in business, is "let me tell you about the mistakes I made". There is a lot of the "here's what worked well" but learning what not to do always seems most relevant. As the mentor, it is awesome to watch people as they start to blossom into something new. This is the best part of growing older, I have the battle scars and the wins that give me the ability to have "wisdom".

A mentor’s role is to guide and then let the mentee choose what they want to do. Good mentorship therefore affects good leadership and entrepreneurial skills.

- Personalized Guidance: A mentor offers tailored advice that addresses your specific challenges and goals in product design. - Skill Acceleration: Benefit from the mentor's expertise to enhance your technical skills and design capabilities more efficiently. - Constructive Feedback: Receive valuable critique on your work, helping you refine your designs and develop a critical eye for improvement. - Industry Insights: Gain insider knowledge and insights into the product design industry, including trends, best practices, and career strategies. - Career Development: Mentorship programs can open doors to new opportunities and networks, paving the way for career advancement in product design.

Mentorship offers several additional benefits and opportunities: Accountability Emotional Support Career Advancement Resource Sharing Perspective Problem-Solving soft skills Portfolio Development inspiration Lifelong Learning

I would 100% recommend this as the #1 most beneficial part of your journey. Choose your mentors wisely if they’ve chosen you. It will open all the doors and leave you with life long friends.

In the start of my career, it was the easiest way to showcase my capability and my potential in the absence of live project and their relative results. This challenged me to try new approaches in my attempt to stand out and be different. I recommend to time gate it to emulate how you would work with an actual client.

When I want to become entrepreneur I have no clue how and what to start during 1994. Then I decided to restart the “waste to wealth” concept left to shelf in Thapar Group. Started Prathista with 2 products using plant based proteins into Protein Hydrolysate for agriculture applications which is now recognised as Bio stimulant after 30 long years and another product is enriched protein (60%) from 33-34% through biotechnology process.Later diversified into Biopharma activity with many failures but never gave up. From 2 products now Prathista have 100+ products to meet requirements of all important segments like Agri / Food / APIs and Organic Nano fertilizers but all are plant based products through fermentation techniques. So never give up

self-directed projects are invaluable for translating theoretical knowledge into practical skills, providing a comprehensive and personalized learning experience in product design.

- Hands-On Learning: Self-directed projects offer practical application of theoretical knowledge acquired from courses and workshops. - Real-World Challenges: Tackle genuine design problems, mirroring scenarios encountered in professional settings, to sharpen problem-solving abilities. - End-to-End Design Process: Manage projects from ideation through execution, gaining comprehensive experience in all stages of product design. - Skill Refinement: Experiment with diverse design strategies, refining skills in aesthetics, functionality, and user-centered design. - Portfolio Enhancement: Showcase completed projects in your portfolio, demonstrating practical skills and illustrating your design capabilities to potential employers or clients.

Self-directed product design projects are crucial for designers to enhance skills, foster creativity, and build portfolios. These projects allow freedom from client constraints, enabling deep exploration of design techniques and innovative ideas. They serve as a platform for learning new tools and methodologies while tackling real-world challenges independently. Additionally, self-directed projects contribute to personal growth by honing project management skills and fostering confidence in decision-making. Ultimately, they empower designers to showcase their capabilities through diverse and impactful design solutions, preparing them for future professional endeavors with a strong portfolio and refined expertise.

Creo que la lista de referentes del dise?o es algo fundamental antes de iniciar un proyecto. Recopilar información a través de libros, documentos puede ayudar a categorizar y formar un proyecto.

Reading is such an ancient human activity that it cannot be replaced by anything that emerges as a possible replacement. Rather reading keeps getting better and better. Initially humans would read letters and words and images. Now with the advancement of AR and VR reading is getting fused with experiencing. The quintessential help that someone can get from reading is to keep one’s mind in the thinking mode. The more we think deep and think different, the better we become at doing what we do.

Reading only does not help. Reading and doing will only help. So learn do relearn change apply again do. Keep this cycle running.

I believe understanding human behavior is key for UX designers. Reading books on this topic reveals what drives users' decisions, builds empathy, improves usability, and keeps you updated on trends. These insights help you create user-friendly, engaging designs that truly connect with people. By learning about human behavior, you can craft experiences that users love and find meaningful.

Here are several books that run the gamut of skills and context to understand product design. About Face: The Essentials of Interaction Design" by Alan Cooper "Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness" by Richard H. Thaler "Understanding Context: Environment, Language, and Information Architecture" by Andrew Hinton "Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion" by Robert B. Cialdini "Sprint: How to Solve Big Problems and Test New Ideas in Just Five Days" by Jake Knapp "Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products" by Nir Eyal "Actionable Gamification: Beyond Points, Badges, and Leaderboards" by Yu-kai Chou

During my early career as an industrial designer, I had to transition from a 3d skill set to a 2d environment that was only “supported” by models and prototypes (my comfort zone). I had to relearn many skills and learn news ones like marker renderings. Being “forced” to transition due to internal corporate reorganizations, motivated me to learn on my own, as well as seeking “peer support” both inside and outside of my organization. Over the years, I’ve found that I enjoy the opportunity to continually challenge myself, especially as technologies progress. Sometimes it can be daunting - especially when you start from scratch. Learning new skills should not be a chore, as long as you are in the right “head space”.

After you have learnt a skill. Visit expos/ trade shows/portfolios to see how the best of the best execute those skills and bring them to life. Pick two of the things that inspire you the most and break it down, study it, analyse it and copy it. Again. and Again and Again. Till you are fed up. And then do it again for kicks. Repetition is an underrated task and perfection requires it. The best designs fall short of perfection. But it’s having that goal that gets you there.

Avoid getting fixated on trends from dribbble, behance etc. Product design is ultimately rooted in problem-solving and customer context. Sometimes designers get lost in trends and lose sight on the ultimate goal of building and communicating tools to drive action and adoption.

Learning Through Failure One of the most profound lessons I've learned in my career is the value of failure. Early in my career, I worked on a project that was overly ambitious and ultimately unsuccessful. While it was a setback at the time, it taught me invaluable lessons about project scope, risk management, and the importance of iterative testing.This experience has made me a more cautious and strategic designer, and I now view failures as opportunities for growth. The Power of Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration In one of my previous roles,I had the opportunity to work on a project that required collaboration between the design, engineering, and marketing teams.This experience underscored the importance of cross-disciplinary collaboration

There is no substitute for hands-on work that gives you exposure to real life challenges in building digital products. Once you acquire the basic skills, look for ways to work on real projects with real users and real constraints. That experience will teach you a lot.