Learn the skills to become a UX/UI Designer. This course covers design concepts, industry tools like Figma, and research methodologies. Get career-focused training, build a portfolio, and receive one-on-one mentoring and prepare for a career in UX/UI design.
Start learning Figma for UI/UX design. Gain a solid understanding of its capabilities, from creating files, to designing on a grid, working with text/photos/colors, creating components, building prototypes, exporting assets, sharing files, creating animations, and more.
Discover the essence of UX Design. From UX vs. UI to usability testing and prototyping, delve into the intricacies of user experience design. Gain practical skills in research, wireframing, and more. Elevate your design game with this comprehensive course.
User experience (UX) design is a design field that focuses on developing interfaces for a digital product or webpage in such a way that user interactions with a product or service are an enjoyable experience to which users want to return. This UX design process must be attentive to the “feel” of an interface, accounting for such factors as ease-of-use, user habits, and general accessibility while designing functional websites. By emphasizing a user-centered approach to design, making design choices driven primarily by the experience of the average user, UX Designers are able to design and create apps that are intuitive and enjoyable to use.
UX design goes hand-in-hand with user interface (UI) design; while the UI focuses on the layout and appearance of the website, UX design accounts for the functionality of the webpage and the experience of interacting with the elements of the site or service. While this close relationship between User Experience and User Interface Design pushes some Designers to account for both the functional and aesthetic aspects of a website, other Designers choose to focus on just one of these elements; this practice is especially prevalent at larger tech companies, where there are enough employees to allow for such a degree of specialization.
The end goal of UX design is to create a functional, intuitive webpage or application. This ultimate product is the result of a long process that involves conceptual design, prototyping, research, and iterative testing, allowing UX Designers to flex their muscles with multiple skills over the course of the entire design process. UX design is a multi-faceted field that incorporates elements of artistry and aesthetics, of psychology, and of analytic research, among other areas, meaning a UX Designer can take a holistic approach to design by synthesizing aspects of these diverse fields. A UX design project is in fact the culmination of many different types of sub-projects, including iterating upon a design idea by constructing functional wireframes and prototypes, conducting user research through tools like user interviews, and analyzing user data to make data-driven suggestions for future development.
Ultimately, because UX design focuses on designing websites and apps that feel good to use, the end result of UX design is not only the functional website, but also a sort of connection with the user who manifests in the form of brand loyalty and trust. Individuals frequently return to the brands, products, and services that they know are enjoyable, so designing with the user in mind is a great way to foster ever-important user relationships.
Any field of design will operate according to a set of foundational principles, so having a working knowledge of the fundamental concepts of UX design is a crucial place to start. Success in UX design relies upon cultivating a user-centric mindset; UX design is, at its core, concerned with the experience of the average user, and seeks to emphasize usability by balancing efficiency with enjoyment. Visual design principles like layout, spacing, and interactivity can be applied to an app in service of improving the user experience.
Because UX design proceeds based on a user-centered approach, it is crucial to have good data about users and their behaviors to make informed decisions regarding the direction of a design project. To collect useful data, user research skills are necessary to generate meaningful data points that actually serve as evidence when making recommendations for iterative changes. User interviews are one of the fundamental forms of acquiring user data, but it takes skill to develop and refine the questions asked during these interviews so that the responses actually yield actionable data and insights.
The design process typically begins with a wireframe, a mockup of initial design ideas. A wireframe is a barebones sketch of the intended app, meant to show where content will be displayed, how the features will work, and how users will navigate through the interface. Typically a wireframe is a collection of hand-drawn sketches on paper or a digital screen. If these rough wireframes demonstrate potential, they can then be developed into functioning prototypes, which are coded to actually function and can be tested on users to see if the design is working as intended.
Dedicated software applications like Adobe XD, Figma, and Sketch are essential tools for designing, prototyping, and testing products. While there is no single industry-standard program, with personal preference determining which app is used, these apps are essential for bringing a design from an idea to a reality by generating wireframes, prototypes, and finalized products. Each application offers slightly different functionality, which leads to Designers choosing the one that best matches their needs; Adobe XD is a page layout and UX design app, Figma is a collaborative wireframing app that allows multiple users to iterate on a design idea, and Sketch is a Mac-only vector graphics app.
Because UX design takes such a user-centric approach, Designers are typically quite adept at understanding other people. To focus on the user means to approach a project from multiple different perspectives, and to develop an understanding of how other people think and what they respond to, both positively and negatively. A UX Designer may not necessarily be a more “caring” individual, but the ability to consider alternative perspectives is certainly a boon in any professional or even personal situation.
Developing fundamental UX design skills for the purpose of a career involves training in many different areas, meaning that the learning curve is wildly different depending on any prior exposure to any of the sub-fields of design. Learning UX design fundamentals from scratch can be an incredibly taxing affair; however, the many points of training also make acquiring specific skills much more manageable. Rather than commit to learning everything there is to know about UX design as a whole, it is much easier to train in a specific skill one step at a time. It is a less daunting task to become familiar with how to create wireframes or how to use a specific software application like Adobe XD, both skills with which a student might pick up some basic proficiencies through free online resources or through a shorter formal class.
One of the greatest strengths about UX design, namely its multidisciplinary nature, is ironically one of the reasons that can make learning UX design difficult. Mastery of the subject involves a combination of theoretical understanding with practical application, and demands that a Designer be able to use both the logical left side and the imaginative right side of the brain, as it were. From the creative elements of Visual Design and aesthetics to the analytical elements of data analysis to the practical component of prototyping and iterative testing, the elements of UX design demand the ability to approach a project from multiple different perspectives and with many different investments. While a UX Designer may, of course, have stronger skills in a certain component, this comprehensive approach is absolutely necessary, and requires learning a wide range of skills, which can translate to needing to train in many different areas.
The fastest, most efficient way of acquiring UX design skills is to enroll in a formal class. In any form, a class is a great way to get immediate access to a trained instructor who can teach new skills and concepts in an understandable manner. Depending on your learning style and personal schedule, the most effective access to quality instruction may come from an in-person class, a live online class, or an asynchronous class.
An in-person class is the gold standard when it comes to acquiring new skills. Such classes offer not only an expertly designed curriculum delivered by a professional instructor, but also a learning environment specifically tailored for learning. Many who choose to enroll in in-person classes do so because they value the classroom feel of coming together as a class, an experience that simply cannot be reproduced in an online format.
In recent years, many organizations have devoted significant resources to developing online classes, which has led to competitive online programs that rival their in-person counterparts. The main benefits of enrolling in an online class relate to access and flexibility. Unlike in-person classes, which are limited by the geographic location of the provider, online classes are accessible to anybody with a computer, opening the possibility of training with prestigious institutions from around the world whose course objectives can better match your specific training needs. Live online classes are also more flexible in allowing for scheduling accommodations. In addition to removing the need to schedule time for a commute on-site, many online classes will offer more options for nighttime and weekend time slots to better accommodate pre-existing work and life schedules.
When it comes to online classes, the two major modes of delivery are live online learning and asynchronous learning. A live online class should be favored by those who value direct, immediate access to an expert instructor. While the curriculum will remain more or less the same across both modalities, one of the major benefits of formal classes comes from the in-the-moment interactions between instructor and student. In a live online class, the instructor can answer questions as they arise naturally, provide direct feedback in the moment, and assist with troubleshooting any specific issues that crop up. Though an online class may not have quite the same classroom feel as an in-person class, it certainly offers the same massive advantage of ready access to a trained professional. Asynchronous classes may be a preferred option for those with incredibly busy or irregular work and home schedules. Because many choose to pursue this sort of tech training class on their own while already working or studying full-time, finding the time to commit to a program with a regular schedule, even accounting for the more flexible scheduling times of an online class, can be a challenge. Asynchronous classes help to circumvent the difficulties of a busy schedule by offering full freedom to complete course content whenever a free moment arises, which can be a boon for those who cannot easily plan those free moments ahead of time.
Learning a new skill can be a daunting task, and exploring free online resources can be a great way to get started before committing the time and money to professional help. YouTube has made it easier than ever to find free content on just about any subject, and many organizations even devote resources to developing freely accessible teaching tools. In addition to professional classes, Noble offers a variety of free online videos that can help introduce you to the basic principles of UX Design, as well as introductions to specific programs like Adobe XD. While these types of free resources are a great way to pick up the basics, they are not quite as effective or in-depth as the structured curriculum of a professional course, so anybody who is serious about developing their UX design skills should plan to follow up this introductory exploration with further training.
Since User Interface (UI) design typically goes hand-in-hand with UX design in a professional setting, learning both skills in tandem is a common career move. While some organizations will ask an employee to focus solely on one type of design, many smaller companies will rely on a single Designer to focus on both elements concurrently. Essentially, whereas a UX Designer operates from a user-centric mindset and emphasizes the functionality and overall “feel” of an app or website, a UI Designer is primarily concerned with product aesthetics, emphasizing the visual appeal and the presentation of the product more so than the user’s engagement. On the topic of design principles operating in tandem, other fields of design like Web Design and Graphic Design can lead to a more generalized skill set and an ability to find a wider range of employment opportunities.
In addition to design concepts from other fields, it can be beneficial to pick up tangible tech proficiencies to more effectively make an idea a functioning reality. While not always necessary, some front-end development skills can be useful for the final stages of a design project where the webpage or app is turned into a finished product. While learning UX design typically involves training with specific software programs like Sketch, Figma, and Adobe XD, some coding skills in common languages like HTML, CSS, or JavaScript can help when collaborating with Developers and designing the front-end product.
Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics suggests that most UX Designers work in the tech industry, primarily as Software Developers. However, because apps and websites are common in literally every industry, it is possible for a UX Designer to find work in just about any field. Outside the tech sphere, UX Designers can find fruitful opportunities in other fields; whether in consulting where Designers work with businesses, in finance and insurance where Designers create functional apps that allow clients to manage their funds and spending, and even in the public sector where Designers work with schools and hospitals to create user portals, the same goal is applied to different ends: make interactive websites and apps that help users have productive interactions with their sought-after services.
The vast majority of UX Designers work in a tech field, with more than one-quarter of all employees working in computing and software publishing. Designers create websites, software applications, and web-based tools or services that can be accessed by computers and mobile devices.
After the tech industry, banking and insurance represent the second-largest employer of UX Designers. Due to the prominence of online banking, UX Designers are a necessary part of any financial institution, responsible for designing not just accessible but also secure online banking portals that allow users to easily manage finances, pay bills, and transfer money. Banking these days happens not only through online portals, but also mobile banking apps, which must look and function differently from the online portals while maintaining the same functionality for managing and moving money. Insurance companies employ Designers in a comparable fashion, asking them to design intuitive web portals and apps that allow users to easily manage their policies and claims.
Consulting represents the third-largest industry where UX Designers find employment, with about 10% of all Designers working as consultants. A UX Design Consultant works with businesses to help them build their online presence, a crucial component for success in the digital age. A UX Consultant can use their design expertise to generate tests for evaluating user feedback and making evidence-based recommendations to improve user experiences with products and services, ultimately helping a business to improve their offerings and start to develop a sense of brand trust and loyalty among their client base.
While UX Design jobs are not especially prevalent in the public sector, with only about 5% of UX Designers working in a government position, the broad applicability of UX Design in the digital age means that there are jobs for Designers in just about any field. Most UX Designers working a government job find employment in a public hospital or a public school. In healthcare, Designers are responsible for making wellness options accessible to the public, designing the interfaces for telemedicine services as well as online patient portals that allow users to monitor their health records and schedule appointments. In education, Designers design student portals and online learning services that allow students and families to access learning materials and access their grade histories.
Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics suggests that careers in UX Design typically offer six-figure salaries, with the national average being $110,000. While there is some salary variance depending on the specific position, UX Design Specialists can expect to earn close to that $100,000 mark, with fewer prestigious positions like UX Researcher earning $90,000 and more skilled Digital Designers earning closer to $120,000.
While not quite as large a tech hub as Silicon Valley, Florida nevertheless ranks in the top five states with the highest employers for Web and Digital Interface Designers. Miami offers particularly competitive salaries for Product Designers, Digital Designers, and UX Researchers compared to national averages.
A UX Designer is responsible for prototyping, user research, and user testing as it pertains to the design of a practical interface. For most UX Designers, this means working on individual projects, either as an in-house Designer or as a freelancer. Professionals will work alongside Interface Designers, Developers, and other stakeholders to develop a set of goals they want to achieve with their interface, and the UX Designer will handle the testing and data collection needed to make informed decisions about the interface. This means that UX Designers will need an understanding of quantitative and qualitative analysis, and they will need to know how to create and test wireframe prototypes.
UX Researchers have more high-level tasks ahead of them, and they will need to analyze customer data, use data to inform future development, and gauge brand loyalty/user satisfaction. Unlike UX Designers, who tend to work on specific projects that will be released for commercial use, UX Researchers tend to work on broader projects aiming to study consumer behavior and preferences. This means that analytic skills will be even more important for Researchers, who will be making recommendations to a wide range of different companies and institutions, ideally working to help UX Designers make specific projects better designed using common best practices.
Digital Designers are the artists and Graphic Designers who work on producing the samples and outlines of a user interface or asset that UX Designers will test and modify to make them more accessible and easy-to-understand. These Designers will benefit from learning the standards and best practices associated with UX Design to account for human behavior when they are building their initial designs. In addition to learning the basics of UX Design, Digital Designers will need to know how to use tools like Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, and Figma to create the mock-ups of these digital assets and interfaces.
UX Design is also a useful skill for anyone operating in an oversight or management role on projects that require the creation and refinement of a user interface. Knowing standards and best practices will help your Designers and Developers avoid making common mistakes, saving time and energy on the part of those tasked with designing the user experience. Project Management requires significantly more training and a diverse skill set, but learning the essentials of UX Design looks good on a resume and can help greatly improve the pace and output of any given project.
Because UX Design covers such a wide range of skills, the most common class offerings involve an intensive time commitment over the course of multiple weeks, if not months, and often combine both UX Design and UI Design into a single training program.
Noble Desktop offers a comprehensive UX and UI Design Certificate designed to provide a solid grounding in the UX and UI Design skills necessary to start a career in the field. Though this course represents a significant time commitment, with options for schedules of both full-time over the course of six weeks and part-time over the course of six months, this commitment will be rewarded with strong foundational skills and improved job prospects for starting a design career. While UX Design focuses on interactivity and creating websites that are intuitive and feel good to use, UI Design emphasizes the appearance of the product, ensuring that it is aesthetically pleasing and visually effective. You will learn the design principles to plan attractive and effective layouts, as well as the technical skills to create and iterate upon projects by incorporating user data gathered through research and iterative testing. Moreover, this certificate program is designed around the completion of a personal portfolio of projects that can be used to tangibly demonstrate your proficiency in UX Design skills to potential employers. This portfolio, in addition to the individual career mentoring sessions included in the course, means that you’ll leave this program with not only the skills to succeed in the field, but also a head-start in transitioning those skills to a career.
Noble also offers a shorter UX Design Foundations course, which can be completed over the course of two days full-time or four days part-time. Though not as exhaustive an education as the above-mentioned certificate program, this course will provide basic skills in research methods, wireframing and prototyping, and usability testing that form the foundation of a UX Design career.
Another option to train for a career in UX Design is to gain proficiency in one or many of the commonly used software applications like Figma, Sketch, and Adobe XD. These classes represent a greatly reduced time commitment when compared to the comprehensive UX Design classes, making them an attractive option for those who just need to quickly pick up some new skills. Noble offers short boot camps in all the major UX Design programs, including an Adobe XD Bootcamp, a Figma Bootcamp, and a Sketch Bootcamp.
Ironhack, an international tech school with its U.S. headquarters located right in Miami, offers a UX and UI Design Bootcamp that can be pursued on either a full-time or a part-time schedule. This course covers the major fundamentals of UX Design and provides students with hands-on training in applications like Figma and the data collection aspects of User Experience Design.
General Assembly, a world leader in tech education that offers bootcamp programs in coding, design, and data, offers a UX Design Course focusing on the research and prototyping aspects of the UX Design process. With an emphasis on practicality, this course focuses on using real-world examples to practice design concepts, and students can expect to leave the course with concrete strategies for producing design deliverables like wireframes, prototypes, and usability test reports. For those who cannot commit to a full-time class, General Assembly also offers a shorter UX Design Bootcamp, a day-long workshop designed to teach the basics of UX Design in an accessible manner.
While classes and intensive bootcamps can be a great option for individuals to acquire new skills, they’re not always the perfect option for an existing workforce. To better accommodate work teams looking to hone their UX Design skills, Noble Desktop offers customizable onsite and corporate UX Design training that can be tailored to best suit your specific training needs. Noble is willing to work with you to build a custom curriculum to address your organizational goals, and can conduct an in-person training onsite at your offices or arrange for a private live online virtual training that your team can attend from anywhere. Should your team members desire a chance to pursue training on their own rather than as a group, Noble also offers organizations bulk discounts on vouchers that can be distributed to your individual team members and redeemed to enroll in any of Noble’s public-enrollment courses.
For a free consultation with a Noble representative who can advise you on your options for corporate training or can start scheduling a UX Design class for your workforce, you can reach out to Noble Desktop today.