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Short course

Human-led AI Short Course

<p>Human-led AI Short Course | On campus<br><br>Image: Students working on laptops | UAL</p>
Learn how to design AI-powered products, services and experiences with a focus on real human needs, not technology. Develop and test your own AI-driven concept.

Next start months
December 2026
April 2027
April 2027
Tutor(s)
Kara Prosser
Price
From £470.00

Course description

Course overview

This course explores how to design AI-powered products, services, and experiences starting with real human needs, not technology. As AI rapidly becomes embedded in everyday life, many solutions are being built without a clear understanding of the people they are meant to serve. This course equips students with the tools and mindset to design AI in a way that is useful, ethical, and grounded in real-world contexts.

Drawing on global industry experience across healthcare, technology and social impact, the course combines human-centred design, rapid prototyping and practical application to help students move from idea to tangible concept.

During the course, students learn how to identify meaningful opportunities for AI, frame the right problems, and design solutions that are useful, ethical and grounded in real-world contexts. The course combines human-centred design with practical AI application, covering tools and methods such as qualitative research, journey mapping, problem framing, ideation, rapid prototyping and concept testing. Students explore how to translate insights into AI-enabled concepts, and how to evaluate where AI adds value versus where it doesn’t.

Through a combination of hands-on exercises and real-world case studies (including healthcare and complex systems), students develop and test their own AI-driven concept. The focus is on building confidence in applying design thinking to emerging technologies, and creating solutions that balance human needs, business goals and technical possibilities.

This course is available both on campus or online.

Who this course is for

This course is aimed at designers, creatives, and professionals who want to better understand how to apply AI in a meaningful, human-centred way. It is particularly relevant for those working in or moving into roles across design, innovation, product, strategy or customer experience.

It would be an excellent fit for:

  • Designers (UX, service, product, experience) looking to integrate AI into their work
  • Creatives and makers interested in the future of design and emerging technologies
  • Innovation, strategy and product professionals wanting to better understand how to apply AI in real-world contexts
  • Entrepreneurs and founders exploring AI-enabled ideas or ventures
  • Professionals from sectors such as healthcare, technology, government or social impact working on complex challenges
No technical or coding experience is required, but students should have an interest in, and basic understanding of AI. The course is focused on mindset, tools and application, making it accessible to those from both creative and non-technical backgrounds who want to design more relevant, responsible and impactful solutions.

Key information

Topics covered

  • Design AI powered products, services and experiences starting with real human needs
  • Learn how to spot meaningful opportunities for AI and solve the right problems
  • Use practical tools including research, journey mapping, ideation, prototyping and testing
  • Build trusted, ethical and commercially valuable AI solutions
  • Develop and test own AI enabled concept
Learning outcomes

  • Have the confidence and capability to design AI-enabled products, services and experiences grounded in real human needs
  • Understand where and how AI can add meaningful value (and where it doesn’t)
  • Be able to frame problems and identify real opportunities for AI
  • Apply human-centred design methods to emerging technologies
  • Develop and test an AI-enabled concept using practical tools such as journey mapping, ideation and rapid prototyping
  • Build a clear, tangible concept that could be used in a portfolio or workplace
  • Gain confidence in discussing and shaping AI within design, innovation or product teams
  • Leave with a practical toolkit, a tested idea, and a stronger ability to bridge the gap between human insight, business needs and technological possibilities
  • Digital badge and certificate of attendance
Materials

On campus

Required:

  • A laptop (Mac or PC) suitable for online research, collaboration and light prototyping
  • Access to cloud-based tools such as Google Drive or similar for sharing coursework
  • Notebook and pen for sketching, mapping and workshop activities
Recommended:

  • Access to AI tools such as ChatGPT, Claude or other generative AI platforms
  • Access to design or collaboration tools such as Figma, Miro, or similar
  • Existing business, startup, workplace, or social impact challenge you would like to explore during the course
Online

If you are taking this course online, please see our Guide to taking online short courses

Tutor

Kara Prosser

Kara is a London-based design and innovation leader using design to tackle some of the world’s most complex and human challenges. With over 15 years’ experience across 40+ countries, her work sits at the intersection of healthcare, technology and social impact, helping organisations create solutions that genuinely improve people’s lives.

Her career shifted after a personal experience with the healthcare system revealed just how little had been designed around real human needs. Since then, she has focused her work on designing for people and for humanity, partnering with organisations including AstraZeneca, the World Health Organization, Google and governments to address challenges such as cancer care, mental health, access to medicine and climate resilience.

Kara brings deep industry experience across human-centred design, service design and innovation strategy, working from early insight through to real-world implementation. She has built and led global programmes, influenced policy, and helped organisations turn ambitious ideas into tangible outcomes at scale.

She previously taught Design Thinking at RMIT University and now works with students and organisations to build the confidence, skills and mindset needed to use design as a force for meaningful change. Her teaching style is practical, energetic and hands-on, grounded in real work happening out in the world today.

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