IxDF - Interaction Design Foundation Reviews 2,401

A few years ago, I searched for the term “design thinking” and clicked on the first result. I read the article and found exactly what I was looking for: I finally understood design thinking. In fact, all my questions were answered in that article.

After that, I browsed the IxDF blog and literature and fell in love with the free materials. Everything was logically organised and genuinely helpful. So don’t overlook the IxDF blog and literature.

Last year, I applied for a scholarship to become an IxDF member. In response, I received a warm email explaining that there were no scholarships available at that time. I was disappointed. However, two months later, I received another email — a scholarship had become available, and they offered it to me. I was on cloud nine. I started learning and enjoyed every second of it.

I found the learning paths extremely helpful. As an academic person, I really value the references and additional learning materials at the end of each lesson. I am also fond of the video lessons and the thoughtful, experienced instructors. Everything is designed to be easy to understand, which I think is the most important advantage of IxDF courses.

Another major advantage is their responsiveness. They follow up, make you feel recognised, and genuinely show that they care about their members.

In short, I truly believe IxDF is one of the best learning platforms available.

The program content is well-organized and professional. I like how the course is presented, from readings to videos, with quizzes for review as well as essay questions to encourage critical thinking.
The library is also very diverse, including articles and templates to support purposeful practice. I have renewed for a second year to experience more new courses.

The knowledge platform have is really helpful from beginner to advance level designers. Master classes by expert are with real world knowledge.

As a working Service Design practitioner, the opportunity to both learn and consolidate my practical experience across Financial Services, Government, and Health & Life Sciences is extremely valuable. The Interaction Design Foundation provides learning experiences in the strategic disciplines of Service and Experience Design that closely align with my day-to-day responsibilities and help formalise and strengthen my existing expertise through a clear, structured framework.
The content is grounded and practical; nothing feels abstract. The exposure to industry-led thinking and applied methodologies is directly relevant and immediately applicable to real-world work.

My experience with IxDF was a delightful one. I once struggled to find me a platform that gave complete and properly structured UI/UX knowledge but from my first day at IxDF I knew I had found gold.
Big cheers to the IxDF team for a job well done, I hope to return soon.

I initially put a negative review for an alleged improper charge. Fortunately, it was fixed.

I signed up for their free trial to attend a Master Class on UX writing.

I liked the Master Class. If I didn't continue after the free trial, it was because I couldn't find more specific courses for UX Writing.

Even so, the little I saw seems highly recommended if you dedicate yourself to UX design.

P.S.: I recommend informing more clearly about the "fund reservation" that is generated in the user's bank account when they register for the free trial. Not knowing it, you think you have been scammed.

I have been a member of IxDF for the last 3 years and really enjoy the courses they offer. It is all self paced learning and something I can do on the train to and from work each day. You can watch Don Norman in action and hear from other really talented designers. Even if you have designed for a long time, there is always some insight you can gain from other designers.

This is the best school everrrr!
First I love how i get to learn at my own pace ie zero pressure !
The course content is top tier .. feels like being at a dinner table with smart people without feeling dumb .
fun fact i am currently a creative director for an interactive gallery project and everything I have learnt so far mskes sense and hence i feel like learning while doing!
I have dropped out from so many schools until i came across IDF
Best school everrrr
Learning is so much fun and relatable !
A design school that lives upto its design values 10/10

Auto-renewed my membership without prior notification. Extremely dark UX for a company that preaches good design as part of it offering. They send an email titled "Get ready for another great year" as if that clearly indicates they are about to charge you. Same thing happened to all my colleagues and now we have been charged and the owner Rikke refuses to offer a refund. Scam of a company - avoid at all costs.

Terrible experience. Courses are very boring.

Really low quality teaching and videos. Would not recommend.

I am brought up in the culture where you complete your Computer Engineering degree first and then contemplate what to do in life and I chose to do the same, even though my parents were very supportive of any career choice. I started coding iOS applications and later I realised how mundane and uninterested I was in speaking the language of compilers. Disillusioned and hating every bit of binaries, pun intended, I realised the best career choice for me, would be to wear a cape, have a bat signal and fight crime at night.

To my surprise, my therapist told me that I have become really fancy and at the top of self actualisation ladder I am now in Existential Crisis.

This was a good news to me, with my new found love for pain I imagined restarting my career from scratch after 6 years of coding. I liked management as a fish likes to breathe in air and I have already told you how I enjoyed writing algorithms in Swift and Objective-C.

I almost flew away from the industry as Clarice flew away from Buffalo Bill. If you don’t understand that reference, you should be a lead character in Kafka’s book and if you don’t understand this reference, why do you even exist. So, here I am in pain about to leave my high paying job at a big product company, because I did not know what to do in the industry and enter IxDF.

From starting my first Design Thinking course to landing a job as a UX Designer in another big organisation took me just 6 months. IxDF has shaped my basic as well as advanced skills in Experience Design and gave me a lot of confidence in my design process and decision making. IxDF has a one of the Best design education from industry experts, compact and effective when applied it unleashes the power of Kraken.
Now my designs earn me good money and land others in existential crisis.

My heartfelt thanks to Rikke and Mads for creating this platform and making Design education affordable and accessible to everyone. I hope IxDF never stops growing and never stops defining careers.

I’ve been taking courses with the Interaction Design Foundation (IxDF) for a while now, and it’s been one of the most valuable investments I’ve made in my professional development. The platform offers a wide variety of UX, UI, and product design topics, from beginner-friendly introductions to deep dives into specialized areas. What I appreciate most is that the content is grounded in research but still very practical, with clear examples I can apply directly to my work.

The self-paced structure makes it easy to fit learning around a busy schedule, and I never feel rushed to complete a course. I’ve found the learning materials to be well-structured, with videos, readings, and exercises that complement each other. The certificates I’ve earned have been a great addition to my portfolio and LinkedIn profile, helping me stand out when applying for roles.

Beyond the courses, IxDF has an active global community where you can discuss topics, ask questions, and connect with like-minded professionals. I’ve gained insights not only from the official materials but also from the discussions with peers around the world. The membership also gives me continuous access to new courses and updated content, so I’m always learning something fresh.

Overall, IxDF has provided me with both knowledge and confidence in my design skills. I’d recommend it to anyone serious about improving in UX, whether you’re just starting out or looking to refine your expertise. If you’ve been thinking about taking the leap into UX education, IxDF is a great place to begin and grow.

I've had a consistently excellent experience with the Interaction Design Foundation (IxDF). What truly impresses me is the exceptional quality and comprehensive nature of their educational content. From foundational principles to more advanced topics, their courses, videos, and articles are always well-structured, insightful, and highly practical. I particularly value that IxDF brings in leading industry experts to contribute, ensuring the material is not only current but also directly applicable to real-world design challenges. It's evident that their core mission is to educate and empower designers at all stages of their career.

Given the vast library of high-caliber resources available, the membership offers incredible value. It feels less like a typical subscription and more like an investment in continuous professional development within a supportive learning environment. Overall, my journey with IxDF has significantly enhanced my understanding and practical skills in interaction design. They truly stand out for making top-tier design education accessible and impactful.

I’m honestly stunned by how misleading and manipulative Interaction Design Foundation (IxDF) is — and how confidently they justify it.

After being charged $264 for a renewal I didn’t intend to make, I reached out expecting at least a decent customer support experience. Instead, I got a long-winded response that basically boiled down to: “You should’ve known better, and no, we won’t refund you — but here’s some stuff you didn’t ask for.”

Let’s be clear: yes, I signed up for a membership. But the cancellation process is anything but reasonable. The moment you try to cancel, they warn you that you’ll lose access to your entire account immediately — even if you still have time left on your paid subscription. No pro-rated access, no grace period — just a hard cutoff, like a threat: cancel now and lose what you already paid for. So of course most people put it off, thinking they’ll do it later… and that’s exactly what they’re counting on. It’s designed to make you forget — so they can quietly hit you with another $264 when the renewal date comes around. That’s not ethical UX. That’s predatory by design.

They went on to say their policies are “crystal clear,” comparing themselves to Netflix and Dropbox — but those services have obvious cancellation options and don’t try to guilt-trip you into keeping your subscription when you ask for help. IxDF, on the other hand, refuses to give a refund and instead offers “choices” that I never asked for: like extending my membership by 3 months, or transferring it to a friend, or donating it to someone in financial need. That last one is particularly absurd — I’m being offered the chance to donate the subscription I didn’t want as if I should feel good about being stuck with it. That’s not generosity. That’s deflection.

Also worth noting: they claim they can’t refund me because of “payment gateway fees” and “staff salaries.” Come on. If a company’s business model falls apart when a customer wants their money back for something they didn’t mean to buy, maybe the problem is the business model — not the refund.

And just to be clear: I still haven’t been refunded. I asked, explained the situation, and instead got a tone-deaf marketing email disguised as support. They’ve done everything except acknowledge the core issue: I didn’t want to renew, I didn’t get a clear heads-up, and now I’m stuck with a charge I don’t want.

It’s honestly wild that a company claiming to teach ethical, user-centered design is relying on these exact kinds of dark UX patterns and manipulative retention tactics. They talk a big game about transparency and user empowerment — but when it comes to actually treating people fairly, they completely miss the mark.

Avoid this platform.

UPDATE 8/8/2025

I contacted on July 31st, the date the membership renewal charge hit my bank and was responded to on the first with all the non-refund options as I mentioned in my initial review. IxDF got back to me at 4am CST on Monday the 4th after I responded I did not want any of those supposed options, just my money back for this new membership charge and cancellation of the membership (which I had already canceled myself by then) saying, "I understand that none of the options I originally provided were quite right for you, so I went back to the drawing board and argued your case to our finance team one more time. It will require some bending over backwards from an accounting perspective, but I am happy to say that I can now offer you one extra option: a full refund." Impressive to be my defender from the indiffent finance team over the weekend and for the the co-founder to prioritize responding to me in the wee hours of the morning. They also noted they notice my review left here and given their good faith refund of my membership after I rejected their alternatives and left a bad review, they would be appreciative if I could take down this review or amend it for accuracy. I have added this update, I stand by my accuracy of this situation. Again I think the courses and services at the time I initally signed up were fine, but it was the design of the membership and how things were charged is what led to this low review, you will see I am not alone in this experience. Also wanting to improve this experience, to improve update these dark UX designs to inform and let people voluntarily renew their membership and allow options to just pay for a year ( a month by month or singular option at a higher premium like Corsea does I think is a real good standard) instead of designing to encourage people to have to remember to cancel their membership and only providing the lackluster reminder a few weeks out. This experience I am writing about is best if it could be avoided altogether, no amount of flowery smiling language will ease away the unpleasantness of a surprise bill.

other sites felt like endless theory dumps. IxDF courses taught me how to actually solve problems. I used their design thinking tools in my freelance projects. These weren’t abstract ideas. The platform focused on what works in real UX. That gave me the confidence to take on bigger clients.

IxDF's courses taught me how to actually solve problems. I used their design thinking tools in my freelance projects. These weren't abstract ideas. The platforms focused on what works in real UX. That gave me the confident to take on bigger clients.

My Review of IxDF 🌍

As a UX designer working on high-stakes systems like Ground Control Stations for drones, I often need to blend usability, human factors, and systems thinking — and IxDF was one of the best stepping stones in that journey.

What I loved most about IxDF

The course content is well-structured, in-depth, and grounded in research. It helped me move from just designing interfaces to understanding behavior, cognition, and the principles of human-centered design.

The self-paced model was perfect for a working professional like me. I could pick up a lesson during commutes or late at night without pressure.

Topics like usability heuristics, design psychology, and interaction models directly shaped my thinking as I transitioned into more complex design work.

Would I recommend IxDF?
Absolutely. Whether you're a beginner trying to break into UX or a mid-career designer aiming to deepen your knowledge, IxDF offers immense value at a very accessible cost.

Big thanks to the IxDF team for keeping UX education accessible and meaningful!

As a product designer with over five years of membership at the Interaction Design Foundation, I can confidently say that the courses offered have been transformative for my career. The depth of knowledge provided in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) has equipped me with invaluable insights and practical skills that I apply daily in my work. The expertly crafted content, delivered by knowledgeable instructors, has not only enriched my understanding but also significantly shaped my professional journey as a product designer.

Additionally, I want to commend the exceptional support provided by the Interaction Design Foundation team. Their consistent follow-ups and dedication to fostering a positive learning experience make it clear that they are always ready to help. This commitment creates an encouraging environment that truly enhances the learning process. My name is Mohammadreza Soltani, and want to thank you for your outstanding efforts in supporting learners like me!

I made the huge mistake of subscribing to the Interaction Design Foundation (IxDF) for a one-year membership at €260. What I expected was high-quality UX education. What I got was outdated content, a clunky platform, and the most frustrating user experience I’ve ever had — from a UX company, no less.

Let’s start with the content: it’s either so basic it’s insulting, or so repetitive you feel like you’re taking the same course five times under different names. On top of that, several materials and references are outdated, which is ridiculous for a field that evolves as quickly as UX.

Now for the platform: it’s an absolute UX disaster. It’s ironic and pathetic. Navigation is confusing, interface elements are inconsistent, and the overall experience feels like a relic from the early 2000s. This is supposed to be a user experience organization? What a joke.

But here’s where things get truly unethical. They use every single shady, manipulative “dark UX pattern” in existence to trap you in an auto-renewal cycle. Cancellation is intentionally hidden and confusing, and of course — they don’t notify you clearly before charging you another €260.

And when you try to reach out for help? You’re met with robotic, dismissive replies saying there are no refunds. Instead, they “generously” offer to let you gift your subscription to someone else. Imagine being scammed and then being told to pass the scam on to a friend. Absolutely insulting.

Let’s also talk about the certificates. Yes, you can “earn” certificates — but here’s the catch: they are only valid and verifiable while you continue to pay their annual fee. So the moment you stop paying? Your credentials disappear into the void. What kind of professional certification vanishes unless you pay a yearly ransom? It’s a scam disguised as education.

I eventually forced them to refund me by threatening them. And you know what they did after finally giving in? They had the audacity to email me and ask me not to tell anyone they refunded me. Seriously. They literally said, “please don’t tell others.” What kind of company behaves like this? Not one that understands UX. Not one that deserves any trust.

If they actually understood UX, they’d know that a transparent, ethical refund would make me more likely to say something positive. Instead, they showed their true colors — manipulative, shady, and deeply unprofessional.

IxDF is a case study in everything NOT to do in UX or business. Avoid them at all costs. Don’t be fooled by the academic-sounding name — this is a glorified blog behind a paywall, covered in dark patterns and desperate sales tactics.

Interaction Design Foundation SCAM SCAM SCAM. They charged me for a full year for what was advertised as a free trial in the email they sent me and now they won't answer my emails. I've filed a complaint with my bank, but you'd better be answering. What sort of dark patterns are you using in your designs? and to think you are an UI/UX course provider. LOL!