Begin Your Journey into the Principles of Design
Welcome to a foundational course in creative thinking and user-centered experiences. This is your first step into the world of design thinking, play theory, and user experience through the lens of Micol Galeotti, Senior Interaction Play Designer in one of the main authorities in the world when it comes to playing: LEGO.
In this course, you’ll explore the fundamental principles of design that apply across all creative fields—from video games to toys, apps, and interactive experiences. You’ll earn 1 Credit and gain tools that will elevate how you think, design, and test your ideas.
Included in:
IVGC+ Membership
What You'll Achieve with Principles of Design
This course helps you build a designer's mindset: a way of thinking that focuses on usability, clarity, feedback, and play. Led by Micol Galeotti, Senior Interaction Play Designer at LEGO, the course combines theoretical foundations with real-world applications in product and game design.
By the end, you'll be equipped with key principles and language to analyse, critique, and improve designs in any format - digital or physical.
Complete Course Overview
The Principles of Design course is divided into a series of insightful and engaging video lectures. Here’s what you’ll explore:
Introducing Micol
Discover Micol’s journey into the design world and how she became a Senior Interaction Play Designer at LEGO. Learn how passion, curiosity, and play intersect in the path to a meaningful design career.
What Is Good Design?
Understand the differences between good and bad design, and why designing for your audience is crucial. Learn essential concepts like discoverability, affordance, signifiers, and feedback, and why consistency ties them all together.
Designing for Play
Explore what "play" truly means and how to design for it. Learn about the Faces of Fun, the psychology of mastery, and how playfulness shapes user engagement.
Case Study – Physical/Digital Toy
Analyse a hybrid product and apply the principles you've learned to evaluate its design. This section bridges theory and real-world application.
User Experience
Explore the process of user testing, from early concepts to final products. Learn how to apply the mantra "Build, Test, Repeat" and understand why testing isn't a phase - it's a loop.
4 Principles of Design
Micol breaks down the four core principles:
- Audience
- Experience
- Testing
-
Playfulness
These ideas will become your guiding compass in any future design project.
Example Curriculum
How You’ll Complete the Course
The Principles of Design course offers the flexibility to study at your own pace, with all lessons available online via Teachable. Here’s how you’ll progress:
1. Follow the Video Lessons: Access and stream professionally taught video lectures, with subtitles and transcriptions provided for an enhanced learning experience.
2. Complete the Quiz Assignment
After finishing the module, test your understanding with a multiple-choice quiz.
3. Assessment and Credits: Our instructors will assess your work, and upon passing the modules, you'll earn 1 Credit that will contribute to your overall Study Journey.
Technical Requirements
To complete this course effectively, you will need:
- A stable internet connection
- A device capable of playing video (PC, Mac, tablet, etc.)
- No specific software is required: just your curiosity and critical thinking!
Recognized Credits and Certificate
Completing this course earns you 1 Credit. You'll be eligible to request a Certificate of Studies upon completion. These credits can be part of your degree studies or serve as valuable evidence of your skills and interest when applying to European universities.
Start Learning the Core of Great Design
This course is brought to you in partnership with XAMK South-Eastern University of Applied Sciences, Cambridge Gamechanger Ltd (Cambridge Academy of Gaming and Innovation), and Cypherdelic Ltd. Join the course now and transform how you think about creating!