First Layer Studio
First Layer 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.

Who it's for
(01)

UX students

Build practical AI fluency before you enter the industry and learn how emerging workflows fit into the design process.

(02)

Junior designers

Add AI-assisted methods to your toolkit and build the confidence to use them thoughtfully in real product work.

(03)

New to AI tools

Start from the basics in a small, welcoming cohort. No prompting expertise or technical background required.

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.
What you'll cover

A small cohort for designers getting started with AI. Six practical hours for UX students, junior designers, and anyone ready to feel at home with AI design tools.

Tools per cohort
  • Codex or Claude Code

    A paid membership to one of these is required for the cohort.

  • Figma

    Helpful as a supporting layer, but not required.

Cohort 01Dec 12 and 13 · 6 hours

AI Basics for 2027.

$249per student
Reserve Seat
The shape of it

Small by design.

Enough structure to create momentum. Enough intimacy to make the feedback personal.

Length

Weekend-long

Focused learning designed to build momentum without stretching across weeks.

Cohort size

6 to 8 designers

A small group with room for questions, practice, and personal feedback.

Format

Virtual + live

Join from anywhere for guided instruction, conversation, and hands-on practice.

Approach

Practical by default

Useful frameworks, honest guidance, and skills you can put to work right away.

Jacki Torres
Your mentor

Jacki Torres · Designer

Eight years of hard-won lessons, shared openly.

Across health tech, fintech, AI, and developer tools, Jacki has helped designers strengthen their craft and tell better stories. Through The UX Chats and direct mentorship, she brings both practical perspective and genuine connection to every cohort.

Before you enroll

Common questions.

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 either Codex or Claude Code. Figma is helpful as a supporting layer, but it is not required for the cohort.

What happens if I can’t make it anymore?

We 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.

December 12 and 13 · 6 to 8 seats

Get ready for how design work changes in 2027.

Bring your curiosity. Leave with a practical foundation, a clear workflow, and the confidence to keep experimenting.

Reserve Seat