There are three basic avenues to learning UX/UI design: college degree programs, teaching yourself, and bootcamps and certificate courses. College takes the longest and is very expensive, but some companies are looking for people with college degrees. Teaching yourself through video tutorials and books doesn’t cost much, but it can take a long time and the quality of the materials is questionable. Bootcamps and certificate courses are a good way to learn UX/UI design if you choose a reputable program.
What is UX/UI Design?
UX and UI stand for user experience and user interface design. This is one of many rapidly growing tech fields that offer exciting, creative, and lucrative jobs in today’s market. There are numerous video courses, tutorials, and books, as well as intensive bootcamps and certificate courses to help you learn UX/UI design at your own pace.
UX design focuses on what users need, what they value, and what their abilities and limitations are. It stands at the intersection between the experiences of users and the desires of businesses. UX is made up of many interconnected disciplines like psychology, visual design, programming, interactive design, and accessibility and accommodation. UI design focuses on the visual aspects of product design such as typography, color, balance, and consistency.
College or University
You can earn a degree in UX/UI design from a college or university. You have the choice to attend full or part-time on campus or take classes online. Few colleges offer a degree specifically in UX design, but students often choose to study human-computer interaction, computer science, information, psychology, design, or anthropology for a degree with UX design classes added.
Some schools offer a certificate program, while others offer a BS or MS degree. For a bachelor’s degree, you will have to take other classes besides design and it will take four to five years to complete. If you already have a bachelor’s degree, you can enroll in a master’s program, which takes about two years to complete.
One advantage of a college degree is accreditation. This means that the school has gone through an audit process to ensure that its programs meet certain standards. Not all schools are accredited, so you should check on that before you enroll.
College is not cheap. Four-year programs at a state school cost in the neighborhood of $40,000 and one to two-year programs are around $26,000. Private institutions are even more expensive. If you are already enrolled in college or have a degree, you can use that time to gain the skills you will need to work as a UX/UI Designer by taking art and design classes, but a college degree is not necessary to get a job in many tech fields like UX/UI design. A concentrated and intensive certificate course can teach you everything you need to know.
Teaching Yourself
If college is beyond reach, it is possible to learn UX/UI design on your own. How long it will take will depend upon how much time you have to devote to study.
Free Video Courses
There are many free video courses to get you started in UX design. Some of the platforms offer the option to take paid courses after the free ones, while some offer limited-time free trials. Some of the courses are offered by companies that produce design software tools.
- Coursera offers many free and paid courses on UX design.
- LinkedIn has a 30-day free trial which gives you access to all of their courses.
- The Gymnasium UX Fundamentals teaches UX Design basics
- Career Foundary offers a 90-minute self-paced class to help you see if UX design is right for you. There are six, 15-minute daily sessions.
- InVision’s Principles of UX Design is a nine-part class delivered via email.
Books
There are many books available on the fundamental principles of UX and UI design, but here are a few that consistently appear on book lists:
- The Design of Everyday Things, by Don Norman
- Don’t Make Me Think: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability, by Steve Krug
- Change by Design: How Design Thinking Transforms Organizations and Inspires Innovation, by Tim Brown
- Lean UX: Applying Lean Principles to Improve User Experience, by Jeff Gothelf with Josh Seiden
- Thinking With Type: A Critical Guide for Designers, Writers, Editors, and Students, by Ellen Lupton
Career Centers and Technical Schools
Many privately owned career centers and technical schools offer bootcamps and certificate programs in UX/UI design. Noble Desktop falls into this category. Located in New York City, Noble offers in-person and live remote classes in UX/UI design and other tech fields. You can choose from one to two-day bootcamps or more in-depth certificate courses, which take longer to complete.
Bootcamps
In a UX design bootcamp, you will learn all of the skills you will need to find a job in the user-centered design field. In a few days, bootcamps can teach you the basic foundations and practices in user experience design and cover the basic knowledge you need to get started in UX/UI design. Noble Desktop offers bootcamps in both UX and visual design.
Certificate Programs
In a UX/UI design certificate program from a school like Noble Desktop, you will learn all of the skills you will need to find a job in the user-centered design field. You will learn how to conduct user research, create scenarios and personas, and build journey maps. You’ll learn to create prototypes using digital design tools like Adobe XD, Sketch, and Figma. You’ll conduct usability testing, then present your findings to the class. You will create a case study documenting your process, and this will go into your portfolio to help you get your first design job. This course will teach you the basic foundations and practices in user experience design.
The assignments in certificate programs are designed to create a portfolio that you can show to prospective employers and clients. You will also get a mentor, an experienced UX/UI Designer, whom you can talk to for career advice and help with your job search as part of the certificate course. This includes a critique and help with putting together your portfolio. Another advantage to taking a UX/UI design certificate course is that the instructors are professionals currently employed in the design industry. They are working with the latest technology and know about current trends. College professors are employed by the university and often are not as familiar with the rapidly changing tech world.
How Long Does It Take to Complete a Certificate?
It takes around 78 hours of instruction to complete a UX/UI design certificate. You can choose between full or part-time classes, and whether you want classes that meet during the day, evening, or on weekends, so you can work around your current job schedule. When you successfully complete a certificate course, you will receive a digital certificate that you can post on LinkedIn or your website. Noble Desktop issues a verified digital certificate of completion recognized by the New York State Department of Education. This type of certificate, along with a high-quality portfolio of work, can help you get a job as a UX/UI Designer.
How Much Does a Certificate Course Cost?
Noble Desktop’s UX/UI design certificate course costs around $3,000 for the two-four month program. Financing is available through an installment program or student loans. Some employers also reimburse for tuition. Another advantage to the Noble Desktop program is the ability to repeat a class for free during the subsequent year.
What If There Aren’t Any Certificate Courses Near Me?
If you would like to learn more about UX/UI design and possibly switch to a new career, one of the best ways to do that is to sign up for classes. Some people prefer to attend brick-and-mortar sessions when learning new information, but that isn’t always available. Live online classes have a similar set-up with a real-time, remote instructor who can answer questions and take control of your monitor—with permission—to show you how to do things. Training is part or full-time and available weekdays, weeknights, or weekends. You can choose classes that meet in-person or online to learn design software and other applications.
Conclusion
It’s easy to learn UX design and start a new career. Check out Noble Desktop’s UX design classes or visual design classes. Choose between in-person sessions in NYC at Noble’s location or sign up for live online UX/UI design coursesand attend from anywhere. Use Noble Desktop’s Classes Near Me to find other UX/UI design bootcamps in your area.