Ask HN: Design Equivalent to MIT Challenge?

I'm currently a SWE working at FAANGMULA, feeling a bit burnt out and exploring other paths within tech. I've been paying much more attention to the design space in tech and have become enamored with the idea of learning how to create similarly beautiful experiences. I've been particularly inspired by Andrew Wilkinson/Metalab, Brian Chesky/AirBNB, Apple, Any Distance, Flighty, etc. As I pay more attention to high quality design and UX, I'm realizing that outstanding design in and of itself can be enough to launch successful and beautiful software.

I've been searching for high quality online education to study design in a more formal and rigorous manner, something equivalent to the MIT challenge, but all I've found are RISD's online certificates which cost $10k, or youtuber/twitter influencer courses. I'm willing to pay the 10 grand for those courses, but if I'm going to spend that much I'd like some validation that its really worth it.

Primarily though, I'd love to hear from any designers here about how you learned and honed your craft.