1. Introduction to the Course

“Prototyping with Cursor” is an online course that empowers designers, developers, and anyone interested in the digital design process to create interactive, functional prototypes with ease. Created by Elizabeth Lin, an expert designer and educator, the course introduces learners to the powerful tool of Cursor, a code editor enhanced with artificial intelligence, which simplifies the prototyping process for users at all levels. This course is designed to break down the barriers to creating high-quality prototypes, offering a hands-on, practical learning experience that takes learners through every step of building real-world projects. What sets this course apart is its accessibility to individuals with little to no coding experience, making it an ideal learning platform for those looking to dip their toes into interactive design or anyone seeking to add a new dimension to their existing design workflows.

2. Goals of the Course

The course aims to equip learners with the tools, knowledge, and hands-on experience to become proficient in creating interactive prototypes, using Cursor and its AI-assisted features. Specifically, the course focuses on the following key goals:

• Familiarizing learners with the Cursor tool: Understanding how to navigate and use Cursor’s features to build interactive designs.
• Teaching the fundamentals of prototyping: Ensuring that students learn not just the technical steps but also the design thinking and strategies that go into making effective prototypes.
• Empowering non-developers: Allowing individuals with no coding background to create functional, interactive prototypes using an intuitive interface.
• Fostering creativity and hands-on experience: Providing students with opportunities to build their own projects and apply their learning to real-world design challenges.
• Helping learners develop a professional portfolio: Encouraging students to create projects that they can showcase to employers or clients, highlighting their new skills in design and prototyping.

3. Content Overview and Module Breakdown

The “Prototyping with Cursor” course is divided into several sections, each covering a different aspect of the design and prototyping process. Over the course, students will learn how to use Cursor’s AI tools to build interactive and engaging prototypes that could be used for apps, websites, and other digital platforms. Below is a breakdown of the key content:

• Introduction to the Course and Setting Up Your Environment: This module covers the essentials of getting started with the Cursor tool. Students are introduced to the interface and given a comprehensive guide on setting up their coding environment, allowing them to hit the ground running.
• Basic Prototyping Concepts: Learners are introduced to core design concepts that will inform their prototyping process. This module covers wireframing, layout design, and user flow—key skills for any designer.
• Project 1: Create a Custom Landing Page: This hands-on project teaches students how to design and implement their own landing page, incorporating different design elements like typography, color schemes, and responsive design.
• Project 2: Build an Interactive Piano: In this project, learners apply their knowledge to create an interactive piano app. This project combines design with basic interactive elements, such as buttons, sound integration, and animations.
• Project 3: Experimenting with Typography and Animations: Students dive deeper into advanced styling techniques, learning how to implement dynamic typography, transitions, and animations that bring their prototypes to life.
• Project 4: Designing a Note-Taking App: This project focuses on creating a fully functional note-taking application, complete with features like text input, editing, and organization, all designed with the user’s experience in mind.
• Project 5: Building a Digital Bookshelf: In this module, learners work with an external API to create a digital bookshelf application. This project teaches students how to handle databases and integrate them into their prototypes, making them more dynamic.
• Project 6: Creating a Design Library: This project focuses on design systems and how to use them to build reusable components. Students learn how to take their designs from Figma and convert them into usable code components.
• Project 7: Remix an Arcade Game: The final project challenges learners to remix an existing arcade game, using the tools they’ve learned to create something unique and interactive. This encourages creativity and the application of all the skills developed throughout the course.

4. Benefits of the Course

There are several compelling reasons to enroll in the “Prototyping with Cursor” course:

• Beginner-Friendly: No coding experience? No problem. This course is designed for people with little to no coding background, making it accessible for everyone, regardless of technical knowledge.
• Practical, Real-World Projects: Each module features hands-on projects that teach you practical skills, and you’ll have real-world prototypes to showcase by the end of the course.
• AI-Assisted Prototyping: Learn how to use artificial intelligence to speed up the prototyping process and create interactive designs quickly and efficiently.
• Portfolio Development: By completing the projects in this course, you’ll have a strong portfolio of work to present to potential employers or clients. These projects demonstrate your ability to think creatively and technically, both of which are highly valued in the design industry.
• Community Support: The course includes access to a community of fellow learners, where you can share your work, receive feedback, and collaborate with others. This sense of community provides extra motivation and learning support.
• Lifetime Access: Once you enroll in the course, you’ll have lifetime access to all of the course materials, meaning you can return and review lessons whenever you need a refresher.
• Certification: After completing the course, you’ll receive a certificate that can be added to your resume or LinkedIn profile, enhancing your professional credentials.

5. Target Audience

This course is designed for a wide range of individuals who want to expand their prototyping skills:

• Product Designers: Those in the product design field will benefit greatly from this course, as it teaches valuable skills for designing prototypes quickly and efficiently.
• Non-Developers: Individuals without a coding background, including those with a design-focused background, will find the course easy to follow and will be able to create sophisticated prototypes without writing code.
• Design Students: Students currently studying design or looking to add prototyping skills to their portfolio will find this course valuable for their education and future career.
• Educators: Teachers and professors looking to integrate new technologies into their curriculum will find this course beneficial for guiding their students in creating interactive design prototypes.

While the course is beginner-friendly, a basic understanding of design concepts will help learners get the most out of the material. It is an excellent resource for anyone looking to expand their prototyping and design skills.

6. Conclusion

The “Prototyping with Cursor” course by Elizabeth Lin is a highly practical and accessible way to learn the art of interactive design. By utilizing AI-powered tools like Cursor, learners can quickly and effectively build functional, real-world prototypes, even without a coding background. The course is designed to guide students through the entire process, from understanding the basics of prototyping to completing hands-on projects that can be added to a professional portfolio. With its clear structure, engaging content, and supportive community, this course is an invaluable resource for anyone looking to deepen their design skills and step into the world of interactive prototypes.