Course Info

What you’ll need

• Curiosity and a willingness to experiment

• Access to the course site (assignments are posted in Google Docs embedded in the site; no account required to view)

• A dedicated space to collect and share your finished projects. Choose one that works best for you:

  • A Google Drive folder you can share as view-only

  • A Notion workspace with a page per project

  • A Google Site (free, easy to set up)

    • Here's an example Google Site you can use to build your portfolio 

  • A personal website or blog (recommended if you want a long-term public portfolio)

Tip: Keep local copies as backups, but aim to collect and present your artifacts in one digital space you can share easily with employers or peers.

How this course works

1. Open the Projects page → pick a project that fits your goals.

2. Create the artifact using the guidance on the project page.

3. Run the self-check at the end of the assignment and make any improvements.

4. Publish it to your portfolio.

5. Reflect briefly on what you learned.

Tip: You can complete the projects in any order. If you prefer guidance, see "Suggested starting points" below.

Learning outcomes and where you'll practice them

• Analyze audience, context, and purpose → Scavenger Hunt, Show and Tell, Podcast Reflection, Audience Analysis, Manual Reviews

• Design useful, effective documents → CRAP Makeover, Typeface Analysis, Document Redesign

• Understand culture & community → Intercultural Report, Cultural Analysis, Identity & Diversity Reflection

• Write, reason, inquire, and problem-solve → Instructional Sets, Usability Tests, Storytelling, Manuals, Proposals, Interviews, Videos, Learning Journeys

• Act responsibly and reflectively → Ethics Analysis, Career/Personality Assessments, Job/Grad Materials, Reflection pieces, Iteration projects

Core principles we practice

• Clarity over cleverness. Plain language comes first.

• Structure before style. Headings, hierarchy, and task flow are prioritized.

• Accessibility by default. Every artifact should be created with accessibility basics: readable text, color contrast, alt text for images, and captions or transcripts when applicable.

• Evidence over opinion. Quick tests are better than gut feel.

• Respect for people. Ethics, privacy, and cultural awareness are considered in all work.

What you’ll make

By completing projects on this site, you can produce:

• A document redesign with before/after and notes

• A short instructional set (PDF or slides) or 90–180 second video

• A mini manual for a product, game, or feature

• A usability micro-test report with findings and fixes

• An intercultural or ethics analysis

• A concise proposal or problem-and-solution brief

Suggested starting points

• Quick Win (3–4 hrs) → Intro → Scavenger Hunt → CRAP Makeover → Usability Micro-test

• Builder Path (8–12 hrs) → Quick Win path plus Document Redesign → Instructional Set (PDF/Slides)

• Capstone (20+ hrs) → Quick Win and Builder Path plus Short Manual → Proposal (or Intercultural Report)

How your work is evaluated (rubric)

Getting help

When asking for feedback, share a link to your artifact and highlight one or two aspects you’d like input on (e.g., structure, visuals). This helps you get faster, more focused responses.

• Questions: Ask about project instructions or resources.

• Feedback: Send a link to your work with 1–2 things you’d like input on. I’ll do my best to provide quick, practical notes.

• Sharing: You’re welcome to share portfolio-ready artifacts.

📧 Email: feedback@engagehumans.com (typical reply in 24–48 hours, weekdays)