The digital industry underwent a paradigm shift during the pandemic in India and around the world. Today, we live in a digital ecosystem, and shortly, we can expect to interact with our physical surround- ings almost exclusively through digital means. Knowledge of user interface and user experience design principles is becoming increasingly important for career progression in design and tech positions. There has been a rise in interest in User Interface and User Ex- perience design programmes in India as more and more working adults seek to advance their careers by transition- ing into this promising field.

Some of the best places to get real-world expe- rience also serves as a kind of incuba- tor for aspiring user interface and user experience designers. Training in UI and UX today prepares students for a career path with virtually no limits. AND Academy is one of a kind de- sign upskilling platform launched in 2022 by the Indian Institute of Art and Design (IIAD), New Delhi, a leading design school established in collabo- ration with Kingston School of Art, London. It is committed to providing students with industry-relevant skills and knowledge enabling their career transformation through professional up-skilling in coveted fields of design.

The live and interactive courses of AND Academy steer away from tradi- tional learning models by optimizing accessibility and convenience to let students learn and work together. "Our course material has been created and is taught by industry

professionals , so students can feel assured they're learn- ing from people who know the current and future of their field. Working pro- fessionals teach our students. Master- classes and Guest Lectures by experts in respective disciplines also add to the students' learning experience. AND academy emphasizes hands-on learn- ing to prepare students for the creative workforce. Our students work on real- world design problems and briefs, with presentations and critiques by industry professionals. Our course material is designed to give students a solid foun- dation and long-term understanding. We help students establish a designer's attitude by encouraging openness and experimentation", says Dr. Jitin Chadha.

Backed by a decade of experience in design education, the academy of- fers professional design courses for graduates and working professionals from varied backgrounds. AND Academy offers a range of remote learning opportunities in the form of upskilling courses in Graphic Design, UX UI Design, Interior Design and Motion Graphics. Dr Jitin went on to mention, "We promote `learning by doing' by including carefully crafted project briefs that emulate real-world challenges of the industry. With sup- port in the form of live interactive sessions with instructors, mentors and in- dustry exposure, we equip our students not just with a diploma, but job-ready skills. Furthermore, a dedicated career service division supports the student's journey to recruitment. Students com- pleting this course will be eligible for a placement guarantee".

AND Academy is headed by Dr Jitin Chadha, who has more than 14 years of experience in the field of higher educa- tion. The academy follows a practice- based approach where courses take a `learning by doing' approach and cre- ates opportunities for active learning so that students are constantly interacting and collaborating with their instruc- tors/mentors and peers. AND Academy has a vibrant community of designers, thinkers and educators. The batch sizes are capped at 25 to 30 learners, thereby, enabling sessions to be taught in the meeting mode with conversation and opportunities to discuss concepts as well as work in progress. The academy combines expert mentorship, practical training, industry exposure and career support to help individuals transform their careers. academy Academy of- fers a placement guarantee for specific courses based on their quality and in- dustry readiness. The academy is associated with IBM, COGNIZANT, GARTNER and many more.

Future Roadmap
AND Academy strives to offer education that is easily accessible from anywhere, reasonably priced and up- skills the workforce in the creative domains. The student retention rate is over 90 percent which is significantly greater than the typical retention rate for an online course.

The academy's long-term goal is to become the premier provider of design professional development opportuni- ties not only in India but also around.