Best UX Design Classes NYC: Find Courses & Onsite Training

Learn More About NYC UX Design Courses

UX design, or user experience design, is a design process that focuses exclusively on how users interact with or experience products, services, or systems. Since companies rely on users for their income, the efficiency of users’ experience with a product and its ease of use are important considerations for generating revenue. UX design is a new field that involves envisioning ways to improve user experience and creating designs that are as easy to use as they are visually appealing. This detailed process begins long before the product reaches the hands of customers.

When working with UX design, individuals or teams pinpoint the needs of their users and tailor products to better appeal to this target audience. UX Designers focus on the entire process of acquiring and integrating a product, which often requires studying how users perceive its usefulness, efficiency, and function so that branding and design can be specifically tailored to meet those needs. An increasing number of employers in NYC and beyond are recognizing the value of investing in this new field. This is why a recent study found that those who invest in UX design on a website can see a 9,900% ROI.

What Can You Do with UX Design?

The skills you learn when studying UX design are currently in-demand in any field in which it’s essential to create a positive experience for a user with a product. A background in UX design can come in handy when creating a menu for a video game, designing an elevator panel, developing products to sell on Etsy, or developing a dating app. In addition to unlocking career options in a range of fields, UX design skills like visual communication, research, and critical thinking are transferable to many professional paths. Learning UX design can also save you money and time. Rather than having to address issues, fix usability bugs, or focus on end-stage design problems, UX design training teaches you how to research user behavior before launching a product so you have a clear understanding of which design elements to implement to provide the best experience for your target audience. Strong UX design skills can prepare you to create more accessible and enjoyable products for people from all backgrounds such as individuals with visual impairments or those whose low bandwidth doesn’t allow them to view website content fully. UX design training provides an excellent way to put your creative problem-solving skills to work in a dynamic, ever-evolving professional setting.

What Will I Learn in a UX Design Class?

Although the content covered in each UX design program varies depending on the course length, the educational provider, and the difficulty level, several core skills are commonly taught in UX design classes. Some coursework focuses entirely on UX design concepts, whereas other training options, like intensive certificates, include UX and UI design training in the same program. Most classes, in particular those that are open to beginners, provide learners with training in the fundamentals of UX design. This includes strategies aimed at user research, identifying problem spaces, and creating responsive design. Students in UX design programs explore how to work with color, typography, images, and illustrations. In addition, user interface design is another concept you’re likely to encounter during your studies.

Tools like Sketch, InVision, and Figma are also often taught during UX design programs. Coursework that focuses on interface design is likely to provide learners with training in Adobe Photoshop. Classes that cover prototyping may teach students how to use Sketch or Invision. In classes that cover wireframing, participants may receive training with Adobe XD, Marvel, Sketch, Illustrator, Axure, or InVision Studio.

UX Design Industries in NYC

New York City enjoys a worldwide reputation as a leader in finance, healthcare, digital game development, and entertainment. Those who live in NYC and have a background in creating UX design can put their skills to use in a range of exciting career paths across industries.

New York is one of the leading places in the country for digital game development. Companies located in the state draw from a talented workforce of graduates from top-tier academic institutions like NYU, Rochester Institute of Technology, and Columbia. The state ranks fourth in the country for the concentration of digital game development companies. Well-known companies like Velan Studios and Take-Two Interactive are located in the state, as are key industry events like Games for Change and Play NYC. UX design is an essential component of video game design. It’s used to create elements of the user interface, customizable characters, game mechanics, and components of accessible and inclusive gaming. Those with UX design training can put it to use in NYC, working with game mechanics, virtual reality, purchase flows, or video game design workflows.

In NYC, financial services is one of the core industries. Many world-class companies like Chase, Citi, BNYMellon, Equitable, and Travelers Insurance have operations in New York. The state remains a global powerhouse in finance. It ranks second in the US for the concentration of Fortune 500 headquarters. Insurance and financial institutions in New York currently hold approximately $8.8 trillion. UX design is an essential skill in the finance industry in NYC. Those who study customer needs can craft solutions for them. Well-designed banking apps help users perform financial transactions and more easily collect the insights needed to make better financial decisions. Ultimately, UX design can give the end user more control over their finances. Additionally, UX design can help a financial institution or bank build credibility and trust by providing users with a safer and more intuitive overall banking experience.

Another prominent industry in NYC is healthcare. As of 2021,800,000 people were employed in the NYC healthcare and social assistance industry. According to the American Hospital Directory, the city has 261 active hospitals that provide nearly 65,000 beds. UX design skills play an important role in healthcare. Some UX Designers work in a clinical setting and are involved with creating websites or online resources that provide doctors and nurses with the high-resolution clinical information needed to make time-sensitive decisions in critical care. In healthcare, good UX design can reduce human error, save time, provide essential information to hospital staff, and reduce the need for interpretation, ultimately leading to better patient outcomes and saved lives.

The New York entertainment industry is one of the leading production centers for film and TV around the globe. The state offers competitive tax credits, a talented workforce, and cutting-edge facilities. The state enjoys a reputation as a world leader in TV and film production. Many top news and entertainment companies such as the Walt Disney Company, Warner Brothers, and NBC Universal, are located in NYC. Within the city’s entertainment industry, UX design training is essential for creating a positive user experience that will foster user engagement. Focusing on UX design in film and TV production is essential to keep audience members watching. UX Designers who work in entertainment focus on creating viewing experiences that will maximize the viewer’s experience such as providing ways for them to watch entire seasons at once, automatically starting the next episode, or allowing them to skip opening credits. Additionally, AI technologies at streaming providers like Hulu provide personalized experiences for users and can offer precise user recommendations for movies and shows to watch. UX Designers help dictate these recommendations. The NYC entertainment industry also benefits from UX Designers who focus on accessibility and consistency. UX Designers who are employed by Netflix focus on improving users’ experience on over 1,000 interfaces. They work to provide accessibility features like audio descriptions of shows or closed captioning in movies.

UX Design Careers in NYC

An estimated 70% of online businesses fail because of problems with usability. Yet only 55% of companies conduct UX testing. These numbers speak to the increasing need for qualified UX Designers. The demand for individuals with UX design knowledge is strong, and knowing this skill set can lead to many fulfilling career opportunities, including User Experience Designer, UX Researcher, Designer, Digital Designer, and more. Some careers, like Digital Designer, require knowledge of coding, graphic design, and visual effects to ensure all elements of a polished website or app are accounted for.

If you are interested in pursuing a career in UX Design in NYC, there are a variety of jobs available with different pay rates depending on specialization. As more people turn to mobile devices like tablets or smartphones to perform regular tasks, the demand for UX jobs is on the rise. Organizations turn to UX Designers to ensure mobile users have a positive experience and can easily navigate their website. Not only do UX design careers pay well, but they also provide ample opportunities for personal growth. UX professional tracks are available in a range of focuses such as usability testing, prototyping, research, or data analytics.

Because there is so much diversity under the umbrella of UX design jobs, many career options are available across NYC industries. You may wish to pursue a career as a User Researcher, Usability Tester, UX Architect, UX Engineer, Product Designer, UX Analyst, or Graphic Designer. Market Measurement Firms in the city such as Antidote, ICR, and Tronvig, hire those with a background in UX design to collect and analyze data about customers, competitors, and distributors.

Pay rates vary in NYC for those with a background in UX design. Digital Designers in NYC who create animations, graphics, and visual effects make around $92,000 a year. UX Designers, tasked with prototyping, conducting research, and user testing, earn about $116,000 annually. UX Researchers in NYC, devoted to improving user satisfaction and brand loyalty, make a yearly salary of $123,000, which is well above the national average pay rate for this profession.

Is It Worth It to Learn UX Design?

Before setting off to learn UX design, you may wonder whether it’s worth it to devote your time and effort to acquiring this creative skill set. Well-executed UX design is a powerful way to ensure that users will have a positive experience with the products, websites, or services you create. This skill set can create a positive customer journey that leaves them wanting to spend more time exploring a product or interacting with a webpage. With the increase in services like online banking and shopping, it can be a daunting task to create online resources that are accessible to all users. UX Designers use their problem-solving skills to spot usability difficulties and ensure those from all demographics and backgrounds are able to perform tasks like paying bills online or ordering groceries.

By providing a better end-user experience, UX Designers can also contribute to a company’s overall success. Good design leads to fewer complaints, happier customers, increased sales, fewer abandoned carts, and higher profit margins. Customers who have a positive experience with a product or service often have an elevated perception of the brand and are more likely to choose it over the competition.

Do I Need to Be Certified in UX Design to Find a Career?

If you’re interested in pursuing a career in UX design, you may wonder if completing a certificate program or earning a certification will help you find a job. Generally speaking, employers don’t require applicants to be certified in UX design to apply for open positions. Employers in UX design typically focus less on specific educational requirements and more on ensuring that prospective employees have a noted background in the design skills they’ll need to succeed in the professional setting. However, many UX Designers and other design professionals note that earning a certification has been helpful for helping them remain competitive in their field or make a career change. In particular, for those who don’t have a four-year degree in a design-related field or may not have prior work experience in UX design, certificate study can be an excellent way to land a first job interview.

Certifications like the Google UX Design Certificate or the Nielsen Norman Group UX Design Certification can be an excellent way to acquire the training in UX design needed to distinguish yourself as a certified expert in UX design and stand out from other candidates who lack this credential. Studying UX design in a certificate program provides students with hands-on instruction from industry experts with years of experience creating effective designs. These courses also provide learners with a supportive network of creative-minded learners and mentors who can support them along their educational journey.

Additionally, good UX design programs provide learners with the opportunity to compile a professional portfolio. Most job openings in UX design require that participants bring a professional portfolio to job interviews to get an idea of the kind of designs they can create. Certificate coursework usually provides learners with the time and space needed to build, edit, and sometimes receive feedback on the projects in their portfolio.

How Long Will It Take to Learn UX Design?

The path toward becoming a UX Designer doesn’t have to be a long one. Regardless of whether you have a bachelor’s or master’s degree, most people can learn the skills needed for a career in UX design in approximately one to four years. If you come from a design-heavy background, your learning path may be faster than those who lack this training; it may take you as little as a few months to a year to become proficient in UX design and be ready to pursue an entry-level position. Whether or not you studied a field related to design in college, you can acquire hands-on training in UX design by enrolling in a certificate program or bootcamp. These classes provide learners with real-world UX design experience and can be completed in several weeks or months.

How Hard is It to Learn UX Design?

Just like any other skill set, the difficulty of learning UX design depends on factors like how much time you have to commit to your studies, how you process information, and the level of proficiency you’re ultimately hoping to acquire. Generally speaking, the skills needed to do UX design are fairly advanced because they require knowledge of design, presentation, storytelling, and data collection. Even for those who have a college or graduate-level degree in a design-related field, UX design requires time and practice to master. Additionally, because new tools, software updates, and trends are constantly emerging in this field, it’s essential for students to stay current on their UX design knowledge. New York residents interested in expediting their UX design study process can do so by enrolling in a beginner-friendly class, bootcamp, or certificate program to fully immerse in their training.

What Skills Are Related to UX Design?

As you study UX design, you may wonder what skills are related. Often, those who are interested in UX design also study user interface (UI) design. UI design involves anticipating what users may need to do and making sure the interface’s elements are accessible and that they’re easy to use and understand. The field of UI design draws from information architecture, visual design, and interaction design. The main difference between UX and UI design pertains to structure versus appearance. UI Designers are involved with developing a product’s aesthetic elements, whereas UX design focuses on how users interact with a service or product, including its functional elements.

Another field that’s related to UX design is graphic design. Graphic design involves using visual elements to convey specific messages to a target audience. These visuals may include page layouts on websites or business logos. Graphic Designers aspire to convey meaning through the designs they create and forge a connection with the consumer. This type of design has applications for promoting or selling products, breaking down complex information into a format that’s accessible and memorable, and developing a brand identity. To do so, Graphic designers work with one or more design elements when creating visuals such as form, size, color, emphasis, contrast, balance, or proportion. One of the core differences between UX design and graphic design involves scope. UX Designers typically have a broader perspective in their design process and explore how a user interacts with a product. On the other hand, Graphic Designers devote their efforts to one portion of the bigger user experience: the visual components.

Should I Learn UX Design in Person in NYC or Online?

The decision whether to study UX design in-person or online is an important consideration for learners. The good news is that both training formats have their own strength and can provide you with the skills and knowledge needed to get started in this field.

In-person UX design classes in NYC are available for learners at all levels, from UX design novices to experienced professional UX Designers. Students who study in-person have access to an expert instructor with real-world training in UX design. The small class setting also provides learners with a way to connect with other students in their cohort, which can provide an added sense of community and support along the way. Students have the opportunity to explore essential design concepts such as user experience research, usability testing, prototyping, and wireframes. Many of these programs also teach programs like Figma, a collaborative design tool, or Adobe XD, software for vector design. Some in-person classes focus exclusively on UX design, whereas others provide instruction on both UX and UI design principles. It’s important to consider that enrolling in-person UX design coursework in NYC requires commuting to and from class. This may mean that you have to set aside additional time and expense for the commute.

If you’re interested in studying UX design in the small class environment but don’t want to waste time commuting to class each week, an excellent alternative is to consider live online UX design programs. These courses provide students with the same benefits of learning in-person without the hassle of having to commute each week to and from class. Students connect via Zoom or a similar teleconferencing platform with a live instructor who has industry experience in UX design. This live study environment ensures all participants can ask questions as they arise and receive immediate clarification or guidance. Best of all, there’s no need to leave home to learn UX design; all that’s required is a strong internet connection on your computing device.

If you prefer online UX design study but can’t commit to classes that occur in real-time, you may wish to consider on-demand UX design training. Whereas live online UX design classes take place in real-time, on-demand coursework is asynchronous, which means that you can decide when to complete your studies, how long you wish to spend on them at a given time, and how often you want to pause or rewind content. Since no live instructor is present, you can dictate your own learning pace and devote additional time to complicated material. It’s up to you whether to devote an entire weekend to learning rapid prototyping or spend fifteen minutes a day during your lunch break at work exploring this topic. Many top educators such as Springboard, CareerFoundry, and Udemy, offer on-demand UX Design training options. Another benefit of asynchronous study is that it’s often a much more affordable alternative to in-person study. However, it’s important to consider that since you won’t have access to a live instructor, it’s up to you to find answers to questions on your own. This is why on-demand study is most suited for independent, self-motivated learners. These courses provide a great starting point for anyone interested in exploring UX design on their own time before they enroll in a more structured, live course.

Can I Learn UX Design for Free Online?

If you’re interested in learning UX design but don’t want to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on your studies, the good news is that free resources are available online. Many top educators provide video material that covers essential UX design skills and tools. These short classes, videos, and tutorials provide a great starting point for those who are just getting started in UX design and want to learn the basics before enrolling in more rigorous, live classes:

LinkedIn Learning offers learners a variety of UX design classes. They also provide a free month subscription that includes access to all of their courses.
Coursera offers both free and paid UX design coursework.
Career Foundry has a Free UX Design Short Course, which includes six 15-minute sessions that were created to provide an introduction to UX design and the skills necessary to succeed in this field.
The Gymnasium’s UX Fundamentals is a six-lesson course that prepares students to apply user-centered design concepts to mobile app and website design.
Noble Desktop’s Intro to UX Design includes eighty minutes of beginner-friendly content on UX design skills like user testing, prototyping, user research, and user flows.

In-Person UX Design Classes in NYC

Do you want to learn UX design in a traditional classroom environment? If so, then in-person UX Design classes in NYC are for you. These courses offer an immersive, hands-on learning experience in which students are taught relevant design-related skills by professionals. These dynamic, collaborative courses go beyond classroom education; they also provide an opportunity for students to network with others in their field and form connections that extend beyond the classroom.

UX Design Classes from Noble Desktop

Noble Desktop has been providing industry-relevant education for over thirty years. Through its diverse course offerings of certificate programs, bootcamps, and classes, Noble continues to provide students with an educational environment conducive to learning. Noble’s state-of-the-art facility is located in Midtown Manhattan, the country’s largest media, entertainment, and commercial center. Those attending Noble’s in-person classes can easily reach the facility via the NJ PATH, Penn Station, or Grand Central. Classes come with access to computer labs, software, and the necessary learning tools for success.

Noble Desktop currently has several UX Design classes available. Their UX & UI Design Certificate is an intensive, 132-hour program in which you will receive the necessary training to create effective designs. Timely UX and UI concepts are covered such as how to conduct prototyping, as well as user research and testing. You’ll become familiar with Figma, a collaborative interface design tool. This project-based program includes six one-on-one mentoring sessions that can be used to revisit complicated course concepts or for professional development. Tuition is $3,495 and includes a free course retake for up to a year. This program is also available live online.

If you’re new to UX design and want to learn the basics, you can do so in Noble’s UX Design Foundations. This program will prepare you to work with core UX design skills such as wireframing, research, usability testing, and prototyping. This class costs $695 and takes 12 hours to complete. Tuition includes a free course retake for up to one year. Students can study in-person in NYC or live online.

Noble’s Figma Masterclass is another excellent learning option if you’re looking to learn how to transform the designs you create into interactive prototypes. This small class will prepare you to incorporate animations into your designs, work with advanced prototyping functionality, and make flexible design systems using variables, components, and styles. This 18-hour program costs $995. All learners receive a free course retake option for one full year. Coursework is available in-person in NYC and live online.

Other UX Design Classes

Several schools in NYC offer courses in UX design. In the American Management Association’s Instructional Design Certificate Program, participants receive comprehensive instruction on how to develop interactive programs, evaluate course effectiveness, analyze training needs, and develop engaging activities for use in an academic setting. Learners explore topics like how to sequence course content, work with accelerated learning principles, create training activities, and design meaningful learning objectives. This program is intended for trainers and course developers with less than two years’ experience in creating training courses. Tuition is $2,695 and is taught in-person in Manhattan. It takes learners three full days to complete their studies.

NYC learners can also learn UX design in NYIM Training’s Adobe Illustrator Bootcamp. Those enrolled work with Illustrator to create and edit images for icons, logos, packaging, and fashion. This 18-hour program offers students a comprehensive overview of the tools needed to design and manipulate vector art. Participants learn about compound paths, patterns, masks, and the Pen Tool. Tuition is $975 for this three-day program. Instruction is provided in-person in NYC.

Digital Workshop Center’s Introduction to UX Design is available for those who want to learn the skills needed to create designs intended for a specific action, task, or need. This program provides training in how to work with core industry software like Adobe XD and Figma. Participants explore the basics of UX Design, technical concepts, and user interface design. This program costs $5,499. It takes students 16 sessions to complete this live online program. As a prerequisite, it’s recommended, though not required, that students have an understanding of basic design concepts and Adobe software. Learners should have the most up-to-date version of Adobe Bridge, Photoshop, and XD installed prior to the first class meeting.

Virtual UX Design Classes

For those who prefer learning in an online environment, virtual UX design classes are a great option to consider. These live online courses come with the same perks as in-person study such as hands-on, interactive training by industry professionals. Since UX design is such a versatile skill set, you’ll want to be sure that you choose a course that meets your goals, whether you’re aiming to advance in your career or trying to learn the basics for your first UX design job. When choosing a live online web design course, you’ll want to focus on the tools in focus and the course duration.

DevMountain’s UX Design Remote is a 13-week, intermediate-level class. During this course, students complete three projects using wireframes, informational architecture, prototyping, and animation. Devmountain also offers UX Design Part-Time Remote, a 16-week class geared toward busy professionals who may not be able to attend full-time study. Participants learn fundamental UX Design concepts and skills, like visual design principles, prototyping tools, and informational architecture, among others. Tuition is $9,900 for either learning option.

V School’s UX/UI Design is a live online program that teaches students the core skills needed to pursue a career in UX or UI design. Participants spend 12 weeks studying fundamental visual design concepts, journey mapping, research, prototyping, and wireframing. Instruction is also provided on interviewing for UX and UI design jobs. All participants graduate with a design portfolio. Tuition is $2,100.

In Neoland’s UX/UI Design Part-Time, participants explore topics like service design methodologies, UX research, and UX/UI design. All learners complete several design projects that can be included in their professional portfolios.

UX Design Bootcamps in NYC

Bootcamps provide an intensive learning experience for those dedicated to learning UX Design. They are a great way to prepare students for careers such as UX Researchers, UX Designers, and UX Strategists. Unlike college degrees that take four or more years to finish, these UX Design bootcamps in NYC can be completed in a few months and provide skills-oriented training that is directly applicable to the professional sector. Their project-oriented format ensures that students receive industry-relevant skills training that allows them to practice what is being taught.

In General Assembly’s UX Design Short Course, participants spent 40 hours acquiring introductory-level UX design training. The program’s curriculum includes lessons on UX research, wireframing, content strategy, usability testing, and prototyping. Those enrolled work with core industry platforms like InVision and Sketch. All students graduate with a capstone project that showcases the UX design projects they completed during the program. Tuition is $4,500. This class is available in-person inNYC and live online.

Noble Desktop offers a Figma Bootcamp in which you have the opportunity to create designs and transform them into interactive prototypes. Instruction is provided on how to incorporate animations into designs using smart animate. By the end of this program, you will know how to create files, work with photos and text, create prototypes, export assets, create components, and share files. This 12-hour program costs $695 and includes a free course retake for one full year. Instruction is provided in-person in NYC or live online.

If you’re interested in learning Adobe XD, you can do so in Noble Desktop’s Adobe XD Bootcamp. This hands-on program takes you from beginner to advanced training in UX and UI design. Instruction is provided on how to create wireframes that will ultimately become complete designs for tablet, mobile, or desktop screens. You’ll have the opportunity to extract image assets, create realistic prototypes, and design high-resolution 2x graphics. Coursework also covers how to work with vector graphics, import photos, share XD files, and work with shared XD libraries. Topics include new files, grid design, photo importing, vector graphics, repeat grids, prototypes, asset exporting, XD file sharing, stacks and padding, interactions and animations, 3D transforms, and shared XD libraries. It takes learners 12 hours to complete this class. Tuition is $695.

Corporate & Onsite UX Design Training in NYC

Would the employees at your office benefit from learning the basics of UX design? If so, Noble Desktop provides onsite and corporate UX Design training to ensure that your employees who are interested in this new field can receive the necessary training to advance their careers. Several options are available depending on your employees’ preferences and needs. Training is available at Noble’s offices in Manhattan for those in the city. Noble’s instructors can also provide instruction at your own office or workplace, or virtual training via WebEx or Zoom. In addition, Noble has vouchers for open enrollment courses, which provide a convenient alternative so employees can select the training format that most suits their needs.

If you would like to learn more about the different UX Design training options Noble Desktop can provide for the employees at your workplace, don’t hesitate to contact Noble for additional information.

Richelle Longan

Richelle Longan is a content writer for Noble Desktop, covering creative tech content such as Adobe Premiere Pro, Illustrator, Graphic Design, and UX & UI Design. She earned a Master's in Professional Creative Writing with a concentration in creative nonfiction from the University of Denver. She has over eight years of writing experience, with several years of writing in the tech scene. Her writing now specializes in data analytics, WordPress, programming languages, and web design and development.
More articles by Richelle Longan

Top Certificate Programs

Top Courses

Top Certificate Programs

Top Certificate Programs

Top Courses

Top Certificate Programs

Top Courses

UX & UI Design Certificate Learn The Skills Guarantee™

Key Insights

Learn More About NYC UX Design Courses

What Can You Do with UX Design?

What Will I Learn in a UX Design Class?

UX Design Industries in NYC

UX Design Careers in NYC

Is It Worth It to Learn UX Design?

Do I Need to Be Certified in UX Design to Find a Career?

How Long Will It Take to Learn UX Design?

How Hard is It to Learn UX Design?

What Skills Are Related to UX Design?

Should I Learn UX Design in Person in NYC or Online?

Can I Learn UX Design for Free Online?

In-Person UX Design Classes in NYC

UX Design Classes from Noble Desktop

Other UX Design Classes

Virtual UX Design Classes

Corporate & Onsite UX Design Training in NYC

NYC UX Design Corporate & Onsite Training Noble Desktop

UX Design Training Locations in or Near NYC

NYC Careers & Salaries Related to UX Design

Related Classes

NYC UX Design
Corporate & Onsite Training