Elsa Musah
Sophomore · Product Design
This semester I'm focused on strengthening my web design skills, deepening my CSS knowledge, and building more engaging, interactive experiences.
Course Assignments
| Week | Assignment | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Week 2 | Website Analysis | 5% |
| Week 3 | Midterm Worksheet (8 Steps) | 5% |
| Week 3 | Responsive Mockup | 5% |
| Week 3 | CSS Selection Exercise | 5% |
| Week 4 | Grid Exercise | 5% |
| First Quarter Assessment | 25% | |
| Week 5 | Responsive Wireframe | 5% |
| Week 5 | Code Portfolio Front Page | 5% |
| Week 5 | Quiz | — |
| Week 6 | Typography Poster | 5% |
| Week 7 | Current Topic Website | 5% |
| Week 8 | Portfolio: Class Presentation | 5% |
| Second Quarter Assessment | 25% | |
| Week 9 | Final: Worksheet | 5% |
| Week 10 | Final: CSS3 Collateral | 5% |
| Week 11 | Final: CSS3 Animatic | 5% |
| Week 12 | Final: HTML/CSS | 5% |
| Week 12 | Final: Modular Navigation | 5% |
| Third Quarter Assessment | 25% | |
| Week 13 | Final: Multimedia | 5% |
| Week 13 | Final: Alternatives | 5% |
| Week 13 | Final: Peer Review | 5% |
| Week 14 | Final: Forms | 5% |
| Week 15 | Alternative | 5% |
| Final Quarter Assessment | 25% | |
| Week 15 | Final: Presentation | 10% |
| Two assignments dropped | −10% | |
| Total | 100% |
Google Gemini Design Q&A
What projects should a product designer include in their portfolio?
A strong portfolio tells the story of how you think, not just what you made. Include end-to-end case studies that walk through your full process — from research and problem framing through to a final, tested solution. Show at least one redesign project where you clearly articulate what wasn't working and why your changes improved the experience. Feature-level case studies (like a sign-up flow or checkout process) are great for demonstrating precision. Round it out with a collaborative project that highlights how you work with engineers and stakeholders, and a personal or passion project that shows your genuine interests and creative range.
What are the most important design trends in product design right now?
The biggest shift is toward intentionality over decoration. Designers are stripping away excess and focusing on clarity — interfaces that do exactly what they need to and nothing more. Alongside that, AI-assisted personalization is changing what "one-size-fits-all" means; products are increasingly adapting to individual users in real time. Accessibility has moved from checkbox to core requirement, with inclusive design shaping decisions from the start rather than being retrofitted. Motion design is also getting more nuanced — micro-interactions that feel natural rather than showy. And sustainability is entering the conversation, with designers thinking about the environmental cost of the products they build.