Prototyping with Cursor
A self-paced online course taught by Elizabeth Lin
AI tools like Cursor are expanding what's possible for designers and non-developers. Instead of spending hours manually crafting prototypes, you can now build interactive prototypes in minutes.
Whether you want to create a custom portfolio from scratch or build with components straight from your Figma design system, this course is a great fit for you!
Explore two ways of working with Cursor
Creative exploration
How can Cursor be a creative partner in your work? What novel ideas can you generate with the help of an LLM? Design with a variety of visual styles, explore creative typography, and create a working piano.
Technical execution
What are practical ways for using Cursor in your design process? Using a Model Context Protocol (MCP), convert a design system into components for building pixel perfect prototypes. Learn to build prototypes with real data.
The curriculum in detail
Getting started
Learn the basics of Cursor, set up your development environment, and practice git basics.
Customize your homepage
Personalize your project's landing page with visual styles and creative prompts.
Debugging 101
Master essential debugging techniques to fix errors in your code.
Deploy your website
Publish your projects to the web using Vercel.
Make a piano
Create a working interactive piano.
Play with type
Explore CSS typography effects and animations beyond traditional design tools.
Rules
Learn to create global and project-specific rules to guide Cursor's behavior.
Note-taking interface
Create a window-based note app with rich text editing.
Digital bookshelf
Build a database-powered prototype using the Notion API.
Your first MCP
Connect Cursor to external apps like Figma using Model Context Protocol.
Start from scratch
Set up a Next.js project independently and connect it to GitHub.
Design library
Convert Figma design systems into reusable code components.
Remix an arcade game
Build a game using AI-generated starter templates.
Ok enough about the course, who are you?
Hey! I'm Elizabeth and I've been a design educator for 10 years. I grew up during the Neopets-era of the internet designing graphics and websites for fun. (Marquees were all the rage.) I never thought that my love for creating silly graphics with MS Paint could become a career.
When it was time for college, I decided to study computer science at UC Berkeley. (Go bears 🐻!) At the time, there wasn't an official design program or specialty. Fortunately, I found a community of design-loving students on campus who were passionate about teaching and learning from each other.
During my sophomore year, I taught my first course "Intro to Illustrator & Photoshop". I remember designing the curriculum from scratch by reading this giant textbook called "The Illustrator Bible" Although the first semester felt a little rough, I discovered a love for teaching and continued to teach design workshops and courses throughout my time in college.
After I graduated, I worked as a product designer for a few companies in education including Khan Academy and Primer. I learned a lot about the education system, read bell hooks for the 1st time, and designed tools for both teachers and students. You can learn more about my background on my website.
In March 2023, I decided to start an alternative design school called Design is a Party. I missed teaching and felt like I had something unique to say! Since then, I've launched a 2-course series on visual design, developed resources for portfolio building, and taught numerous workshops on design.
Frequently asked questions
What is Cursor?
Cursor is a code editor that uses AI to help you write code.
What type of operating systems do you currently support?
The course currently supports Mac OS users best. If you are on Windows, you can still take the course, but I am not as confident in providing support for the set up process.
Is Cursor free?
Cursor is currently free to use up to 50 searches. I recommend upgrading to the Cursor Pro free 2-week trial for the duration of the course, so that you don't run into search limits. Cursor Pro is $20 a month.
Do I need any coding experience?
No, you do not need any coding experience to do this course.
Is "Prototyping with Cursor" self-paced or live?
The curriculum is all self-paced. You will also get access to a Discord community.
Do you offer live workshops?
Yes! I offer live workshops for groups of 10+ people. Email me at elizabeth@designisaparty.com to learn more.
How long will it take me to go through the course?
When I run the live workshop, it takes 4 hours. It really depends on how much time you spend on the projects.
Do you offer a student discount?
Yes! I offer a 20% discount for students. In order to qualify, you must be actively enrolled in a full-time or part-time educational institution.
Send me an email at elizabeth@designisaparty.com with proof of enrollment. It can be a student ID or registration paperwork.
What if I don't like the course? What's your refund policy?
Yep! If you discover that the course isn't a good fit for you, reach out to me within 30 days at elizabeth@designisaparty.com and I'll refund your purchase in full. ❤️
Do I get a receipt, so I can be reimbursed?
Yes! You will get a receipt from Stripe after purchasing the course.
Does my access expire?
No, you get access to the course forever, so you can skip around and do everything at your own pace.
I have a different question!
Please send me an email at elizabeth@designisaparty.com. I'll get back to you as soon as I can!