UX Design Classes Charlotte, NC

User experience (UX) design is the process of making digital products such as applications, websites, and software. In particular, a UX design professional is concerned with the ease of use and consumer satisfaction rate. Through research, content strategy, and visual design, UX Designers can create a product that aligns with the needs of the company and the consumer. This involves assessing the needs and preferences of the consumer to learn what’s effective and what’s not. UX design focuses on everything from how easy it is to navigate a website to how it feels to use a mobile application for a game or service.

In today’s world, where so many services are offered online, UX design is especially important, but back in the early 20th century, UX design was just emerging as a concept. Designers of the time began working on products with the user’s needs in mind, from everyday objects to large machinery. The real shift came with the emergence of the internet Age, as tech companies worked overtime to ensure their products met consumer needs and worked as intended. Over time, this field has evolved and will likely continue to do so in the years to come.

What Can You Do with UX Design Training?

UX design is needed across all kinds of professional spaces and industries, which may not be surprising since so much of shopping today is done online or in applications. As such, the tech, ecommerce, and finance industries are all tied to UX design. Less commonly considered industries such as healthcare and education also rely heavily on strong UX design for their products, websites, and platforms.

Regardless of the industry, you may find yourself working on projects that range from usability testing and research to creating user personas. In addition, you’ll likely develop several wireframes and prototypes before landing on the best option for the company and the user. Additionally, UX Designers are also tasked with updating old websites and applications and improving the overall experience of existing products.

However, you can utilize your UX design skills in different scenarios outside the workplace. For instance, you can use these skills as a hobbyist or entrepreneur. You can create websites and applications for your personal blog, small business, or personal profile that are more in tune with the user’s needs. This can lead to a lucrative side hustle or help make your daily life more efficient by improving the user experience of items for home-based projects.

What Will I Learn in a UX Design Class?

All UX design classes vary in depth, length, and subject matter. Most will focus on the basics, like user research, wireframing, prototyping, and usability testing. Others may emphasize the importance of information architecture and design principles. The right course for you depends on your goals and the level of experience you wish to achieve.

User Research

It’s never good to prioritize aesthetics at the expense of functionality, so user research helps UX design professionals learn what to improve. In a UX design class, you’ll likely learn how to gather insights through various research methods to help you understand your audience and their needs more accurately. For instance, you’ll be able to conduct interviews, send out surveys, and make observations to gain insight into how the user experiences the product or platform. This step is essential to creating effective UX design since it ensures your products operate as intended.

Wireframing and Prototyping

Developing a blueprint or mock-up for a design is useful before diving right into the finished product. That’s why UX design classes provide ample instruction on wireframing and prototyping. You’ll learn to create simple wireframes that eventually turn into the real deal. Learning these steps in the UX design process is necessary for creating a refined, well-organized, and visually appealing design.

Information Architecture

Adequate UX design is sometimes born purely out of the page’s organization. This refers to information architecture, which consists of organizing content on a page that makes sense to the user. This practice enables you to create websites, applications, software, and other digital products that are easy for users to navigate, intuitive, and highly organized. If your content is hard to navigate, users are more likely to forgo using the product, so this skill is essential.

Usability Testing

After completing a design, you’ll want to make sure it works as intended for the users. Therefore, you’ll have to learn usability testing. In a UX design class, you’ll learn how to identify issues with the interface or specific elements and make them more optimal for the user. This helps you end up with the best design for the product that fulfills the purpose and the user's needs. Without this, you may end up with a less-than-successful design concept.

Visual Design Principles

Although UX design focuses on the user’s experience while using a digital product as opposed to the visual elements, it’s still important to apply certain design principles. You’ll likely learn the importance of contrast, alignment, repetition, and proximity. Additionally, hierarchy may be useful when designing to make it more intuitive and navigable. These principles help your design look great while also making it easy for the user to utilize the product and find information on the interface.

How Hard is It to Learn UX Design?

Learning UX design can range from relatively straightforward to rather complex, depending on your current understanding of the field and relevant skills. If you want to become familiar with the foundational material, you can expect this to be less challenging than exploring more advanced concepts. If you want to become an expert, you’ll have to anticipate encountering a few roadblocks, but the learning curve evens out with practice and patience.

What Are the Most Challenging Parts of Learning UX Design?

Because everyone views difficulty differently, it’s hard to say which part of learning UX design is the most challenging. However, across the board, many agree that balancing the user’s needs with the business’s goals is an especially challenging yet non-negotiable part of the UX design process. Furthermore, some state that conducting effective user research is the hardest part. Interpreting trends and patterns from this research is not always easy either, which is why data analytics can come with some challenges too. Overall, learning these skills is achievable with the right training and mindset.

How Long Does It Take to Learn UX Design?

Timelines will always vary when it comes to learning a new skill, especially one as involved as UX design. You will need to learn a wide range of skills, which will take time, regardless of what level of proficiency you are trying to attain. If you want to gain a foundational understanding of UX design, this will take a few weeks to a few months. On the other hand, if you want to become an expert, you can expect to spend months or even upwards of a year mastering the material. It truly depends on several personal factors, but this is a good expectation to go in with based on your goals.

Should I Learn UX Design in Person or Online?

You may wonder which delivery format is best for your needs and preferences. However, you’ll want to consider your schedule and goals as well. Each format has advantages and disadvantages. For instance, in-person training allows you to learn through more immersive methods. You’ll gain hands-on practice and study in a neutral environment that’s free of distractions. Furthermore, you’ll have more direct interaction with the instructor, which can be essential when receiving feedback and resolving technical issues. However, the schedule is rigid, which can make it hard to fit into your weekly routine. Plus, commuting isn’t always preferable or possible for everyone.

This is where live online classes come in. This method allows for far more flexibility for the student while still offering hands-on, interactive training. It may feel slightly less immersive, but the live online format still allows for interaction with the material, peers, and your instructor. Technical issues can deter your learning, but this is not guaranteed to happen. Moreover, you may encounter distractions while learning at home. Still, if you have reliable internet and a quiet space to learn, live online options bridge the gap between flexible learning and immersive practices.

The most flexible option is asynchronous classes, which are self-paced and require the student to teach themselves the material. This may work for someone who already has UX design experience and just wants to brush up on their knowledge. In addition, someone learning as a hobbyist may benefit, since there is not as much at stake. However, if you are a beginner and want to become a pro, an asynchronous class will not offer adequate training since there’s an entire lack of interaction and no one to offer you personalized feedback on projects.

Can I Learn UX Design Free Online?

There are several ways to learn about UX design for free. There are an unimaginable number of free resources available online, ranging from discussion boards and social media pages to blogs and video tutorials. You can explore the online resources offered on training center websites such as the Free Seminar page from Noble Desktop. In addition, you could explore the Noble Desktop YouTube channel, which is full of playlists related to UX design concepts and tools. Investing in a formal training method, however, is the real way to gain professional skills that can take you from a beginner to a professional.

What Should I Learn Alongside UX Design?

To become a well-rounded UX Designer, you’ll want to learn adjacent skills that can help you further develop your portfolio, improve your products, or give you a wider skill set to share with potential employers. For instance, many UX design students learn UI design and front-end development. This helps them understand how certain design elements work best for the finished product.

Furthermore, studying data analytics and project management can be useful as well. Data analytics helps you understand more about the user’s experience through research methods and other compiled data. This can help you understand user behavior and work accordingly. On the other hand, project management skills such as budgeting, time management, and organization help you stay focused and on schedule while juggling several UX design projects at once.

Industries That Use UX Design

Since UX design is so necessary across different industries, you can find work in anything from finance and technology to retail and even automotive. Read ahead to learn about the different uses for UX design in these major Charlotte industries.

Finance

The finance industry is part of everyday life and is closely bound to other sectors as well. Charlotte is considered a major financial hub in the state of North Carolina, with major companies such as Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. Whether it’s a bank, investment firm, or insurance company, consumers likely utilize a tool, mobile application, or online portal to access their information, so proper platforms and websites are essential to the overall finance industry and consumer experience.

For instance, if a bank offers a mobile application where consumers can view their funds, manage transactions, and keep their financial information secure, they want an application that is easy to navigate and ensures a seamless experience. A UX Designer will provide this for the company and ensure the products are easy to use and that sensitive financial information is easy to access.

Automotive

Charlotte is home to several automotive companies, including General Motors and Hendrick Automotive Group, as well as tech-related companies and startups offering innovations in automation, electric cars, and embedded technologies. As cars are a near necessity in the United States, and the user experience is of utmost importance, UX Designers are hired in the field as well.

UX design is used to create intuitive car systems that range from voice activation to user-friendly digital interfaces. Designers focus on ensuring a seamless experience while using interior technology such as the radio, map systems, and automated features. Moreover, UX Designers ensure that systems are consistent and accessible for a wide range of users.

Technology

Another industry that is up and coming in the Charlotte area is technology. It’s becoming more of a tech hub due to its connection to other prominent industries such as finance. There’s a heavy focus on FinTech, cybersecurity, data analytics, and cloud computing, which mixes in with other companies and broadens the pool of tech talent. Between startups and big-name companies, Charlotte is an exciting place for new tech advancements.

Technology and UX design are tightly intertwined as UX design is all about making sure applications, websites, and software are easy to use. For instance, UX Designers can ensure websites and applications are user-friendly and intuitive. Furthermore, Charlotte UX Designers create prototypes, interact with products, and make changes based on user feedback.

Retail

With such a well-supported economy, it’s no surprise that the retail industry is a key player in Charlotte. The city has massive malls such as SouthPark and Carolina Place, along with local boutiques and online businesses alike. The city’s central location also means people from all around the state come to shop—whether it’s tech products, apparel, or other services.

UX Designers working in the retail industry help design ecommerce websites and applications that make the shopping experience seamless. This includes integrating an easy-to-use checkout process and creating intuitive navigation. UX Designers also help personalize the shopping experience based on user behavior and testing data, ensuring that recommendations and promotions align with past purchasing trends.

UX Design Job Titles and Salaries

After completing a UX design bootcamp or program that emphasizes career-developing skills, a world of professional opportunities will open up for you. For instance, you could dive right into UX design work or explore other relevant or adjacent roles such as UI Designer, UX Researcher, or Product Designer.

UX Designer

With thorough training, you can work as a UX Designer to ensure the products you help create are user-friendly and intuitive. Your goal is to make sure the product aligns with business objectives and that the consumer has a pleasant experience while using it. According to Indeed, the average base salary for a UX Designer in Charlotte is roughly the same as the national average, landing at a little over $121,000.

UI Designer

While a UX Designer focuses on the user experience, a UI Designer prioritizes the visual aspects of a product. For instance, they use typography, color schemes, layouts, and interactive elements to ensure the product is both functional and aesthetically pleasing without sacrificing one for the other. A Charlotte-based UI Designer earns anywhere between $72,000 and $124,000, with an average of close to $94,000, per data collected on Glassdoor.

UX Researcher

If you want to focus on the research aspect of UX design, you could become a UX Researcher. This role is tasked with conducting surveys, giving interviews, testing products, and interacting with the product in other ways to gain more insights into its effectiveness. Their findings help UX design teams make better decisions in the future and fix usability issues in current products. According to Glassdoor, the average salary for a UX Researcher in Charlotte is close to $93,000. However, a realistic range may be anywhere from $76,000 to $114,000 per year.

Product Designer

Product Designers approach each product differently but ultimately focus on both UX and UI design. They often oversee the entire end-to-end user experience and take on greater responsibility for the product’s overall design and performance. According to Glassdoor, a Product Designer in Charlotte earns anywhere from $73,000 to $116,000 annually, with the average salary around $92,000.

UX Design Classes Near Me

Noble Desktop offers a wide variety of UX design classes, including the UX and UI Design Certificate program. Here, you will learn how to design websites, applications, and other digital interfaces as well as conduct research, perform data analysis, and design prototypes. You’ll complete various UX design case studies and explore tools like Figma, where you’ll create portfolio projects. Students also receive one-on-one assistance in job preparation and are awarded a certificate of completion as proof of their newly acquired skills.

If you want to focus on one skill such as Figma, consider the Figma Bootcamp from Noble Desktop. Students in this bootcamp learn all about the user interface and user experience and complete projects that involve creating animations, designing on grids, using components, and working with Team libraries. You’ll learn to create working prototypes for mobile or desktop platforms and discover everything from basic to advanced features and tools.

In the UX Design Foundations course, you’ll learn all the essential concepts behind UX design and design principles. This is the perfect course for beginners or those who just want to understand the basics of UX design. You’ll learn research methods like interviews and heuristics, as well as all the relevant terminology, like personas. Moreover, you’ll learn how to document and present your work to others for approval.

The UX Design Short Course located in Charlotte comes from General Assembly and offers 40 hours of hands-on instruction in important tools and techniques related to UX design. You’ll learn everything from research methods and content strategies to wireframing and prototyping. In addition, you’ll explore platforms like Sketch and InVision.

General Assembly also offers a UX Design Bootcamp for beginners where you’ll spend six hours working alongside a professional who will help you practice design, research, sketching, and testing skills. By the end of the bootcamp, you’ll feel well-equipped to perform basic UX design practices.

In addition, students in the UX/UI Design Flex course from Thinkful will spend six months (on a part-time basis) learning UX and UI design principles. Through different projects, you’ll learn to create wireframes and refine designs as you go through the entire development process.

UX Design Corporate Training

Once your organization decides to take the first step in skill advancement, you’ll want to consider all your options. Noble Desktop corporate training in UX design offers a personalized approach to the subject, so whether your team wants to learn more about prototyping or gain useful research techniques, your group will gain the skills needed to succeed in their current role. This approach helps everyone learn alongside one another and apply their skills to real-world scenarios post-training.

If some employees want to continue learning even after the training is over, your organization can purchase bulk vouchers for regular classes at a discounted rate. This allows your teams to continue learning without financial strain. Corporate training is worth the investment, so reach out to Noble Desktop at corporate@nobledesktop.com today to take the first step in providing your employees with the most updated knowledge in UX design.