Designlab

I joined UX Academy full time after years working around building digital products but with no formal experience in design. After three months I was able to create a portfolio, develop my own apps and now I have a job as a UX/UI Designer in a big company in The Netherlands where I now live (I'm from Mexico).

I'd recommend this program to anybody looking to make a carreer change or become a UX Designer, you'll learn all the basics to research, wireframe, prototype and test a digital product, even the worflow itself! 

As a tip, choose the time format you are able to comit to, since the program can be very demanding and in order to get the best out of it, you need to spend time actually working on your designs and sharing feedback with your fellow students.

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I was a little concerned how it would work to do an online bootcamp. The way the course is structured is well put together and flexible on your schedule. Working with a mentor in the industry was a major plus and knowing how the fundamentals are crucial. Whether you are new to design or getting back to it, I found the course very helpful!  Read less

I enrolled in Designlab's UX Academy Foundations course as a way to refresh my design skills while preparing to reenter the UX field after a career break, and I couldn't be happier with my experience.

The course is incredibly well-structured, with each module building naturally on the last. The video lessons are clear, detailed, and easy to follow, making the design process feel approachable from start to finish. I especially appreciated how each lesson reinforced what I had learned previously, which kept me motivated and helped me complete the course ahead of schedule—just in time to continue with the AI in UX Design course.

I highly recommend this course to anyone who is new to UX design or looking to rebuild their confidence and refresh their skills before jumping back into the industry. It does an excellent job of reinforcing design fundamentals while providing plenty of opportunities to apply what you've learned through hands-on projects.

One of the highlights of my experience was working with my mentor, Brad. He genuinely cared about my growth and success, and that made all the difference. Rather than simply giving feedback, he took the time to explain his thought process and walk through improvements step by step during our sessions. His encouragement, patience, and actionable guidance helped me become a more confident designer and made every mentor session something I looked forward to.

Overall, I had an amazing experience with Designlab and would absolutely recommend both the course and the mentorship program. If you're considering taking the next step in your UX journey - whether you're just getting started or returning after time away - this is an excellent place to learn, grow, and build your confidence. Read less

Designlab Foundations provided a solid foundation in UX design and helped me better understand how designers approach solving real-world problems. The lessons were clear, the projects were engaging, and the structure kept me motivated throughout the course. As someone coming from a creative background, I found it to be a practical and approachable way to build new skills and gain confidence in the design process. Read less

Designlab's UX Academy Foundations is great for both creatives and those looking to pivot into a visual design career from elsewhere. As a graphic designer, I was looking to gain Figma and UI design skills to support my general visual design career experience, and was satisfied with the Designlab curriculum overall. The frequently-updated curriculum has thorough units on design, AI, and UI/UX foundational principles paired with easy to follow Figma tutorials, and allows for regular student feedback. The course pacing is flexible, and admissions is happy to work with you to reasonably adapt as needed. Each student is assigned a seasoned mentor experienced in UI/UX design. Read less

The program offers very well explained content with a lot of videos, making the learning process approachable even for beginners. Each topic is clearly explained in text, and there is also the option to listen to the material, which adds flexibility to how you study. One of the biggest advantages is the frequent meetings with mentors, which provide guidance, feedback, and motivation throughout the program. Additionally, there is a strong focus on practical work in Figma, including real-time collaboration, allowing you to learn efficiently and apply your skills in a realistic design environment.
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I completed UX Academy Foundations as part of my transition into product design, and it was an excellent experience. The program helped me build a strong understanding of UX principles, visual hierarchy, and responsive design.The mentorship was one of the most valuable parts. My mentor provided clear, actionable feedback that helped me improve both my design work and my thinking process. This made a huge difference in my confidence.The curriculum is well structured and focused on practical, real-world skills. By the end, I completed a full responsive project with desktop and mobile designs and a documented design process.I would highly recommend UX Academy Foundations to anyone serious about starting a career in UX or product design, especially career changers. Read less

I'm an educated and experienced professional making a career transition to UX Design. But my biggest obstacle was lacking any experience with Figma. UX Academy Foundations not only provided me the opportunity to learn to navigate comfortably in Figma, but it also did an excellent job refreshing me on design principles I'd studied in college decades ago, while also challenging me to do more than what was expected just to get through the course. Because ultimately, my goal is the knowledge itself, not just the certificate. And I feel confident now continuing on into UX Academy with what I've learned so far. Read less

The class plan is very well thought out, I was able to learn at my own pace and am very satisfied with the overall Curriculum. The classes are broken down per week, and the time estimates are pretty acurate. Also, having access to individual meetings with a mentor is also a big plus. Read less

I started my UX/UI design journey with no prior experience or formal background in design, simply driven by an interest in shifting my career path. The experience was both challenging and rewarding. What truly stood out was the weekly mentorship sessions that kept me on track. The mentors were incredibly helpful, offering valuable guidance and constructive feedback, which made a big difference when I hit roadblocks.At times, I struggled to grasp certain design concepts, but the structured pace of the course and the consistent support I received made those moments manageable. I appreciated how the course balanced theory and practical projects. Working on hands-on projects allowed me to apply what I was learning in real time, and that made the process much more engaging and valuable. Despite the difficulties, I could see myself growing and improving each week, which kept me motivated.What I loved most was how much I learned about the essential elements of UX/UI design—everything from user research to wireframing and prototyping. Even with no background in design, I felt equipped with the necessary skills by the end of the course.Though I had a great time, I’m still unsure about committing to the next step with the UX academy. I’m particularly interested in exploring AI visual design and would love to know more about what the academy offers in this area.All in all, I’d rate my experience 4.7/5. It was a great introduction to UX/UI design, offering mentorship, practical skills, and a solid foundation for anyone wanting to make a career shift like I did. Read less

I recently finished DesignLab’s UX Academy Foundations, and overall I think it’s a great starting point if you’re new to design and want some structure. The biggest value for me was the mentorship—having a designer actually look at my projects and give real feedback made a huge difference compared to just learning from YouTube or articles. The projects are hands-on, and by the end I had work I could actually show in a portfolio, which felt motivating. The community and peer critiques also helped keep me on track and accountable, especially on weeks when I felt stuck.That said, it’s not perfect. Most of the material is self-paced readings rather than live teaching, so if you prefer video lessons or a classroom vibe, this might feel a bit dry. Your experience also depends a lot on your mentor—mine was super engaged, but I’ve heard from others that it can be hit or miss. The workload is very doable, but it does get intense if you’re working full-time, so you need to plan your schedule carefully.Overall, I’d say it’s worth the price if you want accountability, feedback, and a clear path into design. If you’re highly self-motivated, you could probably learn the basics elsewhere for cheaper, but for me, the structure and mentorship made it a solid investment and a good steppingstone toward the full UX Academy. Read less

Pros:
- I enjoyed working on the projects assigned for this course, especially as this is an intro with Foundations, you do not need to have a lot of design knowledge to get started. 
- Mentorship and connections I built through this community is also incredible, it's always good to have a direct line with someone who is well versed in the career and can help you succeed with your hands on projects. 
- Feedback and criticism sessions are also really important and help designers learn, having this was a main factor for me. 
- Having a mentor and deadlines helped keep me accountable. 
- Formal learning plans and structure is helpful when there's a lot of material already on the internet so having it formulated in one space is useful for those that do not know where to start.

Cons: 
- Hard to motivate yourself when the courses are online and self paced, you can slip behind if you do not have the willpower to complete. 
- Some of the material was referenced outside of Designlab and can seem like I can do a lot of the teaching on my own without the bootcamp. 
- Can be hit or miss with the mentor you are assigned with, sometimes you just do not connect with your mentor, whether it's personality or design styles. Nothing wrong with that but it can add additional stress when you are unable to connect/ understand your mentor's point of view.  Read less

I loved the relevant and hands-on learning style offered in UX Foundations. The lessons were straightforward, easy to understand, and also practical for your ongoing assignments and projects. They're incredibly supportive and attentive to any concerns you have as the course goes on, anything from curriculum questions to checking in on how you're doing with your mentor. I was able to express a desire to swap mentors early on in the course, and they were so helpful in matching me with someone who had the exact coaching approach that was more compatible with my goals and learning style.  Read less

 I have been learning UI/UX design for around a year, mainly from YouTube videos and other free resources. Then I decided to invest in my education and bought this course (I got it with a discount for $399). Looking back, I regret not doing this earlier—it gave me structure, and I learned the creative flow I wouldn’t have learned from randomly reading posts and watching videos. It wasn’t free, and you need to work on it, but even with some previous experience in web design, this was a huge leap for me.  Read less

 The Foundation course offers a well-rounded and holistic structure that has significantly contributed to my growth and confidence as a learner. Each component of the curriculum is thoughtfully designed to build a strong foundation in UX design, from understanding basic principles to applying them in real-world scenarios. The progression of topics is smooth and logical, allowing me to absorb concepts at a comfortable pace while gradually increasing in complexity.  Read less

The UX Academy Foundations class was excellent. The content was well-structured and clearly presented. Each lesson included additional resources for those who wanted to dive deeper into the subject, and I found the material to be up-to-date.
Working 1:1 with a mentor was a fantastic experience. It allowed me to get answers to my questions quickly and pushed me to think more critically. In addition to the mentor support, there was a great network of students and instructors available through Discord.
Overall, this was a well-designed, engaging introductory class. Highly recommended! Read less

I really enjoyed this course. Being remote and asynchronous was ideal for my schedule and learning style. As an early millennial, I sometimes feel very tech-savvy, other times not so much — but this setup was a great balance. The mentor sessions were key; they offer space to reflect and get real insights from someone working in the industry. If you’re worried about feeling isolated during the program, don’t — you’ll connect with your mentor during the very first week in a one-hour call.
Coming from a background in architecture and filmmaking, and being new to UX/UI, I found the lessons clear, approachable, and super informative. Some might find there’s a lot to read, but I think it’s necessary to truly grasp the core ideas of this new discipline. The tone of the lessons is casual and friendly, not overwhelming, and you can even choose to listen instead of read. Personally, I prefer reading — it helps me retain more.
Overall, I thought the course was excellent. So much so, that I’ve decided to continue and enroll in the longer UX Academy course (21–36 weeks).
I’d absolutely recommend it to anyone thinking about diving into UX/UI design more seriously. Read less

This was a great experience overall! Loved the mentor and all the colleagues in the discord who helped me willingly. Course material was a perfect pre course to prepare me for the Academy! I would do it all over again it if I could. Would recommend to any and everyone getting into the UX field and learning Figma Read less