UI design is an in-demand skill, and you'll find a variety of bootcamps catering to the demand for UI designers. UI bootcamps are accelerated programs designed to cover a broad range of skills and get students career-ready in a relatively short amount of time. They have become very popular in recent years. This article discusses some of the different bootcamp options such as in-person and online formats, and part-time and full-time programs.
What Are the Most Important Criteria to Evaluate in UI Design Bootcamps?
What Will You Learn?
The most important thing to evaluate in regards to a UI design bootcamp is what you'll learn, and whether that content will meet your needs. If you don't know much about UI design, it's a good idea to look for a class designed for beginners. Many schools offer beginner classes. In general, a beginner class will start with foundational skills and then move on to more advanced concepts. Beginner courses also vary in length. If you're a beginner, a shorter introductory class can be a good way to get a feel for this field and see whether you're interested in taking a more comprehensive course. If your goal is to become a professional Project Manager, then a longer course like a bootcamp or certificate program might be the right option for you. Bootcamps and certificate programs take weeks or months to complete and are designed to get you career-ready. If you already have some experience in UI design, a beginner class might still be beneficial as it can refresh your skills and introduce you to new technology. However, if a beginner class might be too slow, an intermediate or advanced course might be a better option.
What is Your Budget?
Budget is also an important consideration for most people. Tuition for UI design courses can vary widely. The most expensive option is usually a college degree program, which can cost tens of thousands of dollars a year. This is also the longest type of program, typically taking at least a couple of years. A shorter, more affordable option is to enroll in a bootcamp or certificate course. These types of courses generally take months rather than years to complete and cost significantly less than a college education. They cover a wide range of different skills and run in an accelerated format so that you can learn as quickly as possible. Overall, they are designed to get you career-ready in a relatively short amount of time. Bootcamps and certificate courses can cost anywhere from about $5,000 up to $30,000. In addition to college programs, bootcamps, and certificate courses, there are many shorter UI design class options. Most of these classes won't teach you everything you need to know to work as a UI Designer, but they can give you some basic skills and get you started in this field. Many shorter classes only cost a few hundred dollars.
What Other Benefits Are Included?
In comparing bootcamps, you can also consider whether they include any unique benefits. For instance, some schools—like Noble Desktop—offer students the option of a free course retake. This is an excellent way to refresh your skills at no extra cost. Many schools also offer a variety of career services. For instance, you might get help building your resume and portfolio, or tips on preparing for job interviews. Some courses include one-on-one mentoring sessions that can be used for career advice.
Enrolling in a UI Design Bootcamp Part-Time or Full-Time
When you research UI bootcamps, you're likely to find both full-time and part-time options. A full-time course will allow you to progress through the material faster than a part-time course. In addition, some people say that they like full-time learning because they can focus exclusively on their education. However, a full-time class may not be a viable option for everyone. For example, some people need time for work and other obligations and opt for part-time options. Part-time programs take longer; however, they have some unique advantages. For example, when you learn part-time, you can spread out your tuition costs and have more time to absorb the new information. Finally, when you learn part-time, you may have the opportunity to gain related work experience, which can increase your chances of finding work after you graduate.
Enrolling in a UI Design Bootcamp In-Person or Online
Bootcamps are available in both in-person and online formats. Each format has advantages and disadvantages. In-person classes are the traditional way to learn, and many people find them more engaging. Instructors say that with the in-person format, it can be easier to see whether or not students need additional help. It can also be easier to focus in an in-person class because they take place in an environment that is dedicated to learning and has minimal distractions. However, in-person learning is also the least flexible format. When students learn in-person, they must commute to a classroom and are limited to courses available in their geographic area. For students who don't want to commute and seek more flexibility, online learning may be a better option. Live online classes take place in real-time, but rather than traveling to a classroom, students attend by simply logging in via computer. With a live online class, students can still ask questions and receive immediate feedback, but they can attend from any location. A potential downside to online learning is that students need their own computer equipment and software, and they also need to deal with any technical difficulties that arise.
Do You Want to Start a New Career Using Your UI Design Training?
Since most UI design bootcamps are designed to get students career-ready, they generally include a wide range of career support. In some cases, that support is built into the curriculum. For example, class lectures might include information about successfully finding a job after you graduate, building a resume, job interview tips, and insight into employment in different design industries. Many bootcamps also include access to a dedicated career counselor who you can talk with outside of class hours to get more individualized advice on finding a job. Certain camps, like Noble Desktop, even offer a certain number of one-on-one mentoring sessions that you can use for career advice. Other types of career support that you might find through a bootcamp include access to internships and introductions to professional networks. In addition, when you take a bootcamp course, you're likely to spend time developing a portfolio, which is a collection of your best work that you can use to demonstrate your skills to potential clients or employers. With a strong portfolio, you're likely to have more success finding a job.
Which UI Design Bootcamp is Best for Me?
The decision about which UI design bootcamp is best will differ from person to person. It will be influenced by a number of different factors including experience, budget, and career goals. No matter what your needs are, however, choosing a bootcamp should start with gathering as much information as you can about cost, format, curriculum, and other benefits. After you have done your research, you can compare your options and make an informed decision.
After comparing all your options, you may decide that a bootcamp isn't the best learning path for you. For example, you may choose to begin learning UI design with a shorter class. A shorter class will be less comprehensive and career-focused than a bootcamp, but it can be a good way to gain basic skills at a much lower cost. You might also decide to teach yourself UI design skills using free resources like online tutorials. However, if you're considering that option, be aware that learning UI design without instructor guidance is usually more difficult and time-consuming.
If you choose to enroll in a bootcamp, you'll need to decide whether to attend full-time or part-time and whether to opt for online or in-person instruction. Many schools offer UI design bootcamps, and with so many options, you might feel overwhelmed trying to choose the right one. With this in mind, Noble Desktop developed the Classes Near Me tool to help narrow down your options. With this tool, you can search for classes in your area or those offered in an online format, and compare your options.
What Are the Top UI Design Bootcamps?
Noble Desktop is based in New York City and offers a number of different UI design-related classes, with both short courses that can help you quickly master the basics, and longer, more comprehensive programs that are intended to prepare you for a career in this field. Its classes are available in-person at the Manhattan facility or in a live online format.
One of Noble's most popular UI design courses is the UI Design Certificate. This multi-week course teaches composition, typography, color, interactivity, user interface elements, best practices, and everything you need to know to work in UI design. You'll learn to retouch photos in Photoshop, use Adobe Illustrator's drawing tools to create graphics, icons, and logos, and create UI designs and prototypes using Figma. You'll also create a portfolio of website and app designs to show potential employers or clients. This class includes eight one-on-one mentoring sessions that you can use to work on challenging concepts, review your portfolio, or receive professional advice about applying for jobs.
Noble Desktop also offers a UX & UI Design Certificate, covering both UI and UX fundamentals. You'll learn to conduct user research, design digital products, and build clickable prototypes using Figma. As part of the class, you'll work on projects to include in your design portfolio. The class includes six one-on-one mentoring sessions.
Another option is the Web Design Certificate, which includes UI design instruction. You'll learn Figma for UI design, build websites with WordPress, and develop coding skills. You'll also learn how to use Git to track changes and collaborate with other developers, JavaScript for animation, and Bootstrap for layouts. This course includes eight one-on-one mentoring sessions.
Noble Desktop also offers Figma courses, including the Figma Bootcamp, where you'll learn Figma skills like optimizing designs for various screens, extracting image assets, designing on grids, and sharing designs with clients. The course also covers components and team libraries.
Another option is the Figma Masterclass, which takes you from beginner to advanced level. You'll learn UI and UX design for websites and apps, optimizing layouts for different devices, building interactive prototypes, and using advanced features like components and conditionals.