designlab
About
About
Designlab teaches in-demand UX/UI design skills online through 4-week short courses and a 15 to 28-week UX Academy. Designlab courses consist primarily of hands-on projects and 1-on-1 mentorship from expert designers so that students can master the techniques needed to design stunning web and mobile products. The Designlab community of mentors gives students timely feedback on work and Skype with students regularly to help them improve. Mentors include top industry professionals from companies like Twitter, Airbnb, Dropbox, and more. Courses are self-paced, which means students can complete the readings/projects whenever their schedules permit. Designlab is ideal for a developer, product manager, entrepreneur, marketer, aspiring designer, or anyone working on web/mobile products.
To apply for the UX Academy, applicants need to fill out an online application, and schedule a call with a Designlab representative. Applicants should have a love of good design, a grounding in design fundamentals, and commitment and resilience.
Graduates of the UX Academy work with a career coach to get help with their portfolios, job applications, and interview technique. Top graduates also get access to Designlab's hiring partners and exclusive job opportunities. Designlab offers a 6-month tuition-reimbursement guarantee for graduates of the UX Academy who are job hunting.
Recent Designlab Reviews: Rating 4.77
Recent Designlab News
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- The UX Design Career Path
- August 2021 Coding Bootcamp News
Courses
Courses
1. UX Academy Foundations
ApplyStart Date July 11, 2022 Cost $499 Class size N/A Location Online Looking to transition your career into the world of UX/UI design? Learning visual and UI design is a great place to start. Through our flexible, 4-8 week UX Academy Foundations course, you'll work 1-on-1 with an expert mentor to learn key visual design concepts and practical skills. Your mentor will give you written feedback on all your work and also meet with you for 8 personalized sessions to further discuss concepts, project work, and the UX/UI industry in general. By the end, you'll have completed a final design challenge which you can use in your application for UX Academy to showcase your newfound knowledge and skills. What's good to note is you'll receive a $500 credit on UX Academy tuition afterwards, so taking UX Academy Foundations is technically free!Financing
Deposit $0 — course fees are taken on the start date, regardless of when you sign up Tuition Plans 2-part payment plan — 50% on the start date, 50% on the end date: https://help.trydesignlab.com/hc/en-us/articles/216992247-Do-you-offer-payment-plans-on-short-courses- Refund / Guarantee $500 credit on UX Academy tuition after completion of UX Academy Foundations. Pro-rated refund given: https://help.trydesignlab.com/hc/en-us/articles/360058755134-What-is-your-refund-policy-for-UX-Academy-Foundations- Getting in
Minimum Skill Level Beginner UI/UX course, no previous experience is required. Prep Work If you'd like to get a head-start, you could take one of our free email courses on Figma, Sketch, or Adobe XD: https://trydesignlab.com/resources/ Placement Test No Interview No More Start Dates
July 11, 2022 - OnlineAugust 08, 2022 - Online Apply by August 07, 2022September 12, 2022 - Online Apply by September 11, 2022
2. UX Academy (Part-time)
ApplyStart Date July 25, 2022 Cost $7,749 Class size N/A Location Online UX Academy is a rigorous online program that has helped thousands of people land a job in UI/UX/product design since 2015. You'll work with an experienced mentor 1-on-1 to complete over 480 hours of coursework (majority produced in-house and updated in 2022) in topics that cover the full breadth of UI/UX design, including UX research, information architecture, interaction design, UI design, prototyping, testing, and handoff. Upon completion, you'll not only have a certificate of completion but also, more importantly, a professional UI/UX portfolio containing 4 in-depth projects to showcase your skills and share with future employers. Along the way, you'll participate in weekly Group Critiques where you'll share, discuss, and analyze design work live with a group of students and an experienced facilitator. The support will continue into the Career Services phase of the program, where we'll pair you with a Career Coach who will guide you through interview practice, networking, salary negotiation, and other elements of the recruitment process until you find a job in the industry. If you'd like to learn more, you can chat to one of our friendly Admissions team (https://calendly.com/designlab-admissions/schedule-call) or attend a free Admissions Open House webinar (https://designlab.com/webinars/).Financing
Deposit $399 Financing Financing available via Climb CreditTuition Plans Upfront, 6-month internal payment plan, and extended plans financed by Climb Credit: https://help.designlab.com/hc/en-us/articles/115000101533-How-do-your-payment-plans-work-for-UX-Academy- Refund / Guarantee Pro-rated refund: https://help.designlab.com/hc/en-us/articles/360015817174-What-is-your-refund-policy-for-UX-Academy- Tuition reimbursement policy: https://designlab.com/ux-academy/policies/#tuition Scholarship Diversify Design scholarship where recipients receive either a $1000, 50%, or full scholarship on UX Academy tuition: https://help.designlab.com/hc/en-us/articles/360052837753-Do-you-offer-scholarships-for-UX-Academy- Getting in
Minimum Skill Level Completion of UX Academy Foundations (included in overall tuition), or foundational skills in visual/UI design, demonstrated through samples of your work. Knowledge of 1 relevant tool (Figma/Sketch/Adobe XD) is also beneficial. Prep Work Application pre-requisites: https://help.designlab.com/hc/en-us/articles/218228487-How-do-I-apply-to-UX-Academy-Are-there-any-prerequisites-for-the-program- Placement Test No Interview No More Start Dates
July 25, 2022 - Online Apply by July 15, 2022August 22, 2022 - Online Apply by August 12, 2022September 19, 2022 - Online Apply by September 09, 2022
3. UX Academy (Full-time)
ApplyStart Date July 25, 2022 Cost $7,749 Class size N/A Location Online UX Academy is a rigorous online program that has helped hundreds of people land a job in UI/UX/product design since 2015. You'll work with an experienced mentor 1-on-1 to complete over 480 hours of coursework (majority produced in-house and updated in 2022) in topics that cover the full breadth of UI/UX design, including: UX research, information architecture, interaction design, UI design, prototyping, testing, and handoff. Upon completion, you'll not only have a certificate of completion but also, more importantly, a professional UI/UX portfolio containing 4 in-depth projects to showcase your skills and share with future employers. Along the way, you'll participate in weekly Group Critiques where you'll share, discuss, and analyze design work live with a group of students and experienced facilitator. The support will continue into the Career Services phase of the program, where we'll pair you with a Career Coach who will guide you through interview practice, networking, salary negotiation, and other elements of the recruitment process until you find a job in the industry. If you'd like to learn more, you can chat to one of our friendly Admissions team (https://calendly.com/designlab-admissions/schedule-call) or attend a free Admissions Open House webinar (https://designlab.com/webinars/).Financing
Deposit $399 Financing Financing available via Climb CreditTuition Plans Upfront, 6-month internal payment plan, and extended plans financed by Climb Credit: https://help.designlab.com/hc/en-us/articles/115000101533-How-do-your-payment-plans-work-for-UX-Academy- Refund / Guarantee Pro-rated refund: https://help.designlab.com/hc/en-us/articles/360015817174-What-is-your-refund-policy-for-UX-Academy- Tuition reimbursement policy: https://designlab.com/ux-academy/policies/#tuition Scholarship Diversify Design scholarship where recipients receive either a $1000, 50%, or full scholarship on UX Academy tuition: https://help.designlab.com/hc/en-us/articles/360052837753-Do-you-offer-scholarships-for-UX-Academy- Getting in
Minimum Skill Level Completion of UX Academy Foundations (included in overall tuition), or foundational skills in visual/UI design, demonstrated through samples of your work. Knowledge of 1 relevant tool (Figma/Sketch/Adobe XD) is also beneficial. Prep Work Application pre-requisites: https://help.designlab.com/hc/en-us/articles/218228487-How-do-I-apply-to-UX-Academy-Are-there-any-prerequisites-for-the-program- Placement Test No Interview No More Start Dates
July 25, 2022 - Online Apply by July 15, 2022August 22, 2022 - Online Apply by August 12, 2022September 19, 2022 - Online Apply by September 09, 2022
4. Design 101
ApplyStart Date August 05, 2022 Cost $399 Class size N/A Location Online In this 4-week online course built for design beginners, you'll learn about the fundamentals of color theory, typography, and layout in web design. You'll have 4 weekly sessions with your mentor and receive additional written feedback from them on all your project pieces and assignments.Financing
Deposit $0 — course fees are taken on the start date, regardless of when you sign up Tuition Plans 2-part payment plan — 50% on the start date, 50% on the end date: https://help.trydesignlab.com/hc/en-us/articles/216992247-Do-you-offer-payment-plans-on-short-courses- Getting in
Minimum Skill Level Beginner design course, no previous experience is required. Prep Work If you'd like to get a head-start, you could take one of our free email courses on Figma, Sketch, Photoshop, or Adobe XD: https://trydesignlab.com/resources/ Placement Test No Interview No More Start Dates
August 05, 2022 - OnlineSeptember 02, 2022 - Online Apply by September 01, 2022
5. UX Research & Strategy
ApplyStart Date August 05, 2022 Cost $399 Class size N/A Location Online In this 4-week online course, you'll master the art of understanding your user through learning the ins and outs of user centered research and design. This course is perfect for design beginners and those new to UX — you'll learn the basics of user-centered design, explore the core research techniques professionals use to gain customer insight, and get experience by working on hands-on projects to create deliverables like personas, storyboards, customer journey maps, and empathy maps. You'll have 4 weekly sessions with your mentor and receive additional written feedback from them on all your project pieces and assignments.Financing
Deposit $0 — course fees are taken on the start date, regardless of when you sign up Tuition Plans 2-part payment plan — 50% on the start date, 50% on the end date: https://help.trydesignlab.com/hc/en-us/articles/216992247-Do-you-offer-payment-plans-on-short-courses- Getting in
Minimum Skill Level Beginner UI/UX course, no previous experience is required. Prep Work If you'd like to get a head-start, you could take one of our free email courses on Figma, Sketch, or Adobe XD: https://trydesignlab.com/resources/ Placement Test No Interview No More Start Dates
August 05, 2022 - OnlineSeptember 02, 2022 - Online Apply by September 01, 2022
6. UX: Interaction Design
ApplyStart Date August 05, 2022 Cost $399 Class size N/A Location Online In this 4-week online course you’ll develop an eye for seeing, and a language for talking about, interaction design. You'll become familiar with human interface guidelines, principles of usability and fundamental interaction design details. You'll also practice evaluating if and how interactions can be improved. As with all Designlab courses, you'll work 1-on-1 with an expert mentor, with feedback on all your work and weekly video sessions. By the end, you’ll have an interaction design toolkit for evaluating and improving the usability of your products. You’ll have examples of your process and work that you can speak to and draw on in related projects. This course is especially useful to anyone looking to develop better communication of and confidence in their interaction design work, and for folks looking to develop their ability to understand and work with product designers.Financing
Deposit $0 — course fees are taken on the start date, regardless of when you sign up Tuition Plans 2-part payment plan — 50% on the start date, 50% on the end date: https://help.trydesignlab.com/hc/en-us/articles/216992247-Do-you-offer-payment-plans-on-short-courses- Getting in
Minimum Skill Level Beginner UI/UX course, no previous experience is required. Prep Work If you'd like to get a head-start, you could take one of our free email courses on Figma, Sketch, or Adobe XD: https://trydesignlab.com/resources/ Placement Test No Interview No More Start Dates
August 05, 2022 - OnlineSeptember 02, 2022 - Online Apply by September 01, 2022
7. UI Design
ApplyStart Date August 05, 2022 Cost $399 Class size N/A Location Online In this 4-week online course you will develop a detailed "eye" for visual design, learn to decide which typefaces to use, become equipped to choose and create color palettes, learn about best practices for UI patterns and reusable design components, and learn how to create retina-ready designs that scale across different devices. You'll have 4 weekly sessions with your mentor and receive additional written feedback from them on all your project pieces and assignments. By the end of the course, you'll have a certificate of completion, a portfolio of projects, and a strong skillset in UI design. This course is intended as a follow-up to our Design 101 course, or for anyone who has a basic understanding of visual design principles. Students are expected to be acquainted with a professional design tool (Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD) before they begin this class.Financing
Deposit $0 — course fees are taken on the start date, regardless of when you sign up Tuition Plans 2-part payment plan — 50% on the start date, 50% on the end date: https://help.trydesignlab.com/hc/en-us/articles/216992247-Do-you-offer-payment-plans-on-short-courses- Getting in
Minimum Skill Level Beginner UI/UX course, no previous experience is required. Prep Work If you'd like to get a head-start, you could take one of our free email courses on Figma, Sketch, or Adobe XD: https://trydesignlab.com/resources/ Placement Test No Interview No More Start Dates
August 05, 2022 - OnlineSeptember 02, 2022 - Online Apply by September 01, 2022
Reviews
Designlab Reviews
- Great experience!- 3/22/2022Page Choe • Graduate • Course: 1. UX Academy Foundations • Campus: Online • Verified via LinkedInI finished the course in 6 weeks and worked full time as well. It was definitely doable! The course focused a lot on UI design and I got comfortable with learning/using the basics of Figma. The projects were challenging and uses the built on knowledge you learned during each unit. Admissions was easy to get a hold of when you have questions. The slack community also allowed me to connect with others. Overall, I would highly recommend!
- Solid & simple UI 101 course- 3/11/2022Brenden • Graduate • Course: 1. UX Academy Foundations • Campus: Online • Verified via LinkedInDesignlab's short UXA Foundations course essentially worked as advertised. Make no mistake though, this is a UI course not a UX course, though it does bend toward UX principles which I appreciated on a foundational level.
I enrolled part-time so I could pair it with my day job, and though it led to many long nights, it never felt too much for me. Perhaps this is due to the coursework coming naturally to me because I already have some background in Graphic Design and tools like Photoshop, but also I think the time constraints they placed on projects were reasonable and enabled me to rarely ever put more than 10 hours a week into the coursework. Typically, every weekly unit contains a little reading/theory, some copywork, and a unit project to tie it together. I liked the consistency and I think it all contributed to a good predictable experience week to week.
I do think the course may make or break depending on your mentor, but I had an overall positive experience with mine who was a Designlab alumni and Sr. Product Designer at Instacart. She was very genuine, helpful and easy to relate with.
The only minor complaints are that some of the articles/tutorials felt dated and in need of updating, but I think they are actually doing that in a couple months (with a slight price hike). As someone with previous self-taught design experience, I did find the projects fairly easy though they still took time to complete and the assignments did help me as a critical design thinker. If you don't have previous experience, you may find it more challenging. I have applied for the full course.
- UX FOUNDATIONS Design Lab- 3/9/2022Paige • CE Agent • Student • Course: 1. UX Academy Foundations • Campus: Online • Verified via LinkedInThis course is awesome. Especially for those making a big decision to change their careers. It's a great way to seek education without feeling like you are making too big of a leap into the unknown.
It's paced well and gives you a little bit of everything. Bonus that the price goes to the full course as well if you decide to move on.
- UX Academy Foundations- 2/18/2022Jody T • Student • Course: 1. UX Academy Foundations • Campus: Online • Verified via LinkedInI had such a fun time learning the basics of UX/UI design. I was able to get the basics down and get a feel of how the course will be. I was able to meet with a mentor that would give me feedback for each of my projects.
- Engaging, exciting course. Perfect for beginners- 11/10/2021Delmi • Graduate • Course: 1. UX Academy Foundations • Campus: Online • Verified via LinkedInI tried taking other short courses online to determine if the UX field was right for me, but they were boring. They included a lot of reading material, but no projects, so I was unable to get through them. This program had the perfect combination of lessons and projects to keep me engaged and make me feel like I was actually learning how to be a designer. I absolutely loved it and highly recommend for anyone looking to transition to UX. I had no design/tech experience at all prior to the course.
Pros:
- Engaging material
- Lessons that set you up for projects
- Mentor sessions
- Self paced
- Repetition in course structure
- Links to additional optional resources
- Free subscription to Figma & discounts on other design programs
- Quick response to emails
Cons:
- Final project is locked until everything is approved (not really a con, unless you waited until the last minute & you need to finish by a deadline)
- Great Foundations course for going into UX Academy- 10/31/2021Cindy • Freelance Graphic/Packaging Designerer • Student • Course: 1. UX Academy Foundations • Campus: Online • Verified via LinkedInI had previous graphic/packaging design experience but mostly in the print production industry only. I was looking to expand my skillsets into tech and came across the UX/UI course at Designlab. This foundations course is definitely more focused on the UI fundamentals which is necessary to help support the UX skills that will be developed if you plan to go into UX Academy. Although the UI skills I implemented are very similar to what I was doing previously in graphic/packaging design, there are many other guidelines and design systems that need to be followed and implemented when it comes to designing for web/mobile. Each unit in the course is structured very well so you have a combination of both readings and exercises/projects.
It's all self-paced so a great deal of time management is needed. Getting assigned a mentor definitely helped too - I was able to ask any questions about the industry that I knew very little about. My mentor also helped me figure out how to network with more people which is something I struggle with often. I would definitely recommend if you're looking to develop UI skills even if you have previous background in design.
- UX Academy- 10/22/2021Sophia Kravets • Product Designer • Graduate • Verified via LinkedInI started UX Academy as a Foundations student. Very quickly I became aware how much I enjoyed the work I was doing. The idea that I could complete a month long course to really understand if UX was for me helped immensely.
After Foundations, I moved onto UX Academy. Being paired up with a mentor, I felt that the materials were helpful in educating online. The course was also paired with mentor sessions twice a week as a full time student, allowing me to ask all the whacky and I fruiting questions I had from reading and my own personal research.
Overall, I have nothing but positive things to say about the DesignLab and am I credibly thankful for the aid in swapping careers!
- James • UX Designer • Graduate • Course: 2. UX Academy (Part-time) • Campus: Online • Verified via LinkedInI chose designlab's UX Academy because not only was it modestly priced, but the allure of being able to learn and work through real life scenarios through the problem with a mentor with a wealth of knowledge in the industry was something I couldn't pass up. I met some amazing students during my time and some even more amazing mentors!
The core curriculum was vast and there was a lot to learn, and being able to gain insight from mentors while doing it was a great experience. Career services (once you complete UXA) is largely an effort you take on as a job seeker yourself, they give you supplemental materials to work through during the job search but its all about your effort. I think like most bootcamps, you get what you put into it, its all about your effort, and if you put in the effort, then designlab and everyone involved will match that effort with you.
I would largely say that my time in DL was fantastic and the skills I learned not only from the curriculum and from my mentors were major factors in me landing a position in the design world within six months.
- UX Academy- 10/5/2021Peter Andresen • Product Development Specialist • Graduate • Verified via LinkedInDesignLab was a great program for what I was looking for--I wanted to learn new skills to change my career from Sales into a more creative, design field. I felt that it prepared me well for a career in UX. One of the reasons I chose DL over other courses was because you end up with 4 total case studies on your portfolio which was a huge plus. I feel that the curriculum covered about everything needed to be a successful UX Designer.
Keep in mind that it's very much a self-led curriculum with regular check-ins with your mentor. I had great mentors, but I'd say that's one of the downsides to the program--no professors, lectures, etc. Also, keep in mind that UX is a super competitive field. I spent nearly 3 months looking for a job after graduation and applied to over 200 jobs. Eventually, I ended up taking a job at a start-up that isn't a full-time UX Designer position, but it's a stepping stone into the right direction to hopefully land a full-time position in the future. I knew it wasn't going to be easy going into the program, which ended up being very true. I had doubts along the way, but ultimately I feel I made the right choice and I'm closer to a career I am passionate about than ever before.
- UX Academy- 10/5/2021Kevin Hackett • UX/UI Designer • Graduate • Course: 2. UX Academy (Part-time) • Campus: Online • Verified via LinkedInDesignlab’s UX Academy was an overall positive experience. Since finishing the program, I’ve recommended the course to several people who found themselves in the position I was in prior to beginning the course- stuck in a job they hate, barely keeping above water financially, and looking for a new direction. The course prepares you for a career- as long as you are willing to put in the work. It is more rigorous than I anticipated, but Designlab is very supportive and willing to help as needed
- UX Designer- 9/24/2021Cat Tran • UX Designer • Graduate • Course: 3. UX Academy (Full-time) • Campus: Online • Verified via LinkedInI had a great experience with Designlab. I already had some experience in UX going into this course but came into it wanting to hone my visual design skills and dedicate time to putting together a portfolio. Designlab's biggest strength is its network of mentors; I loved all 3 mentors (Phase 1, Phase 2, Career Services) I worked with throughout the course, and they really opened my eyes to the various shapes a UX career can take. Group critiques also help you to network with new people, hear from a variety of perspectives, and learn about the most relevant industry standards/resources in real time.
The one drawback of a remote, asynchronous course is the fact that it can sometimes feel isolating. I would highly recommend this program to self-starters who feel comfortable structuring their own time and motivating themselves. I can tell that DL is working on creating more avenues for connection with your peers, and I really appreciate how much they iterate on feedback to improve the student experience.
I find it hard to believe there is a better value UX program out there. Quitting my job and jumping in full-time was definitely a financial risk, but in just a few months, I've already been able to pay back the money I spent on the program and raised my baseline pay significantly. Designlab is one of the wisest investments I've made in myself. If you put in the work, you will see results!
- Dan • UX/Product Designer • Graduate • Course: 2. UX Academy (Part-time) • Campus: Online • Verified via LinkedInDesignlab was a fantastic experience as I pivoted into UX and product design. The content itself was good-not-great (most of it you can learn on your own) BUT I had absolutely amazing mentors, that both inspired and pushed me to grow to where I am now.
In my experience, Designlab was absolutely worth it, but I do want to list some of my personal caveats and tips:
- Make sure you really want to pursue UX/UI/Product Design beforehand.
- Do some research and networking and talk to some current designers. First of all, they'll probably LOVE talking to you and second, they'll be super valuable later for networking purposes.
- Dive into some of the introductory stuff: (Whether its books like The Design of Everyday Things or Just Enough Research, podcasts, or articles)
- A Bootcamp is NOT like a college degree.
- My experience with traditional degrees was that getting into the college or program was an accomplishment. Then, the content you learn is absolutely helpful, but graduating is a key factor. Your degree has worth and value.
- For this Bootcamp, in my opinion, the certification (finishing) isn't really worth much. It's not a school as much as it is a tool. Therefore, it's not about just putting in the time to slink by and graduate, it's really about making sure you are learning, growing, and connecting every step of the way so that you can apply that knowledge during and afterward.
- For me, that meant making sure I understood each assignment, spending a lot of time on the assignment to do it well (usually above the recommended amount), and several iterations based on my mentor's comments.
- The Mentor Relationship is EVERYTHING.
- Basically, the program is a bunch of articles, exercises, and deadlines that you can easily find, replicate, and do on your own (that's not a slight on the material, you can get the syllabi for almost any college course). The value comes from your weekly one-on-one mentor meetings. Prep for these.
- It's your mentor's role to both 1. Encourage you and 2. Push you to grow
- Therefore: If you don't think your mentor is doing a good job at both of these, switch! ASAP! It might be awkward, but that self-advocacy is huge! My mentors were FANTASTIC at both #1 and #2 and it made my experience so incredibly helpful. Please make sure you do what you can do have a similar experience.
- One last quick bit: Find a group crit facilitator that you really like, and lean on their wisdom as well.
- Understand the Curriculum and How To Approach It
- The First Phase is going through the design thinking process with a single project: slowly learning aspects of the process, applying them, iterating, etc. This is the big educational portion.
- The Second Phase is three capstone projects. Each has some loose guidelines but treat this as the beginning of your freelance career. The more you can do real work (work with real clients, real developers, real products) the easier it will be to share in future job interviews and the more appealing you will look to potential employers.
- Finding a Job is a Process
- During Phase 2, take time to understand aspects of the job search process with your mentor.
- You'll have to understand and craft a narrative around: Why did you switch to UX Design? What aspects of your background will make you a unique asset to your future company?
- Networking is so, so important.
- Learn about the Portfolio Review Interview process, and how you can be tailoring your capstone projects into a slide deck.
- Make sure you really want to pursue UX/UI/Product Design beforehand.
