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With help from a bootcamp, you could be a UI/UX designer in 12 months.
An increasingly popular way of learning the ins and outs of user experience design is coding bootcamps. Coding bootcamps boast flexible schedules and affordability, particularly when compared with college degrees. In addition, there is a staggering number of high-quality web design bootcamps to choose from.
Many UI/UX designers have a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science or in a related field. College degrees teach you all the theory to begin the design process, although you may find yourself lacking practical experience once you graduate.
You can master the principles of design on your own by taking courses online and working on personal projects. To learn more about the best UI/UX design courses online, continue reading.
UX design is the process of designing how users experience a product. They employ programming, visual design, usability testing, and psychology to craft a product that’s easy to use and navigate. UX designers accomplish this by thinking about the potential challenges customers may face with a product. They will also make changes to a design or feature based on their research to ensure customers can easily understand how to use a product.
UI designers, on the other hand, are responsible for creating the overall graphic design of a product. They will choose the colors of a site, and make sure the font is easy to read for as many people as possible. They will also consider accessibility features for a product, and the overall style each element will use.
UX and UI designers often work hand in hand to create the entire user interface for a product. In smaller teams, these two roles can be filled by the same person.
UI/UX designers are responsible for turning an idea into a web design that meets a certain set of specifications. After they complete a design, it is passed onto the development team, who turns the design into a functioning application.
UI/UX designers will ensure that a site is easy to use and navigate. They’ll also work with other members of an organization to come up with designs that meet the specifications associated with a product. For example, a UX designer may work with the customer success department to find out what problems users commonly report, which will help inform new designs.
UX researchers focus on understanding how customers use a product or service. The UX researcher may use surveys, interviews, and other methods to identify problems customers encounter with a product and pass on their findings to UX or UI designers.
UI/UX designers perform both user interface and user experience functions. They’ll assist in designing the UI that a user sees and researching how the design should be structured by using UX design techniques.
Product designers work on all aspects of a product, from designing components to creating site maps. These designers will assist UI/UX designers, and work with other teams, such as engineering, to turn designs into a functioning end product.
In order to succeed in a design career, you’ll need to practice what you’ve learned while growing your skills and portfolio. The best way to do this is to find a junior position right out of school, where you can learn and grow as you gain work experience.
If you’re having trouble finding a junior position, here are a few ways to gain valuable work experience and grow your portfolio:
Let’s also take a look at the skills you should focus on during this time.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not track the job outlook for UI/UX designers. That said, they predict that the number of jobs in web development, including web design, will increase by 8 percent over the next decade. This is “much faster than average,” according to the Bureau.
UI/UX designers earn high salaries. The average salary for a UI/UX designer, according to ZipRecruiter, is more than $91,000 per year. Jobs that require more experience offer salaries of up to $149,500.
There’s no way to determine exactly what salary you can expect because many factors are at play. One of the main factors that influences salary is location. The average UI/UX designer in San Francisco can earn an average of over $100,000 per year, whereas the average designer in Atlanta, Georgia, can expect around $90,000, which is the national average.
Your resume is your chance to make a good first impression. It’s important to create a resume that highlights your experience and skills.
Your portfolio is what matters most to the majority of hiring managers. It will determine whether or not you break into the design industry. Unlike many coding positions, you can demonstrate your skills as a designer with a portfolio. When building your portfolio, focus on projects that show the most skill and cut out the ones that don’t. When it comes to portfolios, four amazing projects far outrank eight average ones.
A technical interview gives potential employers the chance to assess your knowledge of the field. While your projects might look good, they want to see how you handle the design and user testing process, and how you will fit into the company’s team.
If you’ve attended a bootcamp for UI/UX design, these steps will be a breeze. Most bootcamps have robust career services with mentorship, interview prep, portfolio guidance, and resume reviews.
Courses:
Kenzie Academy offers a variety of courses. Its part-time courses include a six-month design program, an on-campus course in Indianapolis, and a 12-month online design program. In all of these options, students learn a wide range of web design fundamentals and coding languages.
Courses:
Thinkful has an incredible range of coding bootcamps and other useful courses for those interested in web design. Topics include digital marketing, data science, data analytics, web development, and full stack development. The two web design courses above are between 20 and 24 weeks long and are well worth the time and money investment.
Courses:
Springboard offers students a four-week introductory course on web design. This is a great alternative if you’re unsure about investing in a full bootcamp. If you decide that web design is for you, they have a 36-week UX/UI design bootcamp and a 26-week course for those interested only in UX design.
Courses:
Price: Free
Level: Beginner to intermediate
Format: Online
With more than 100 videos on their website, Webflow University students will learn the basics of HTML, Webflow CMS, and CSS. Page design construction—with elements like containers, DIVs, flexboxes, and grids—is also part of the curriculum.
Courses:
Price: Varies
Level: Beginner to intermediate
Format: Online
SkillShare offers an array of courses for different skill levels. This platform is a great tool for complete beginners who want to get to grips with design and for those who want to add skills to their CV. SkillShare even has some free basic web design courses.
Courses:
Price: $14,500
Level: Intermediate to advanced
Format: On-campus
UC San Diego has courses on advertising campaign development, digital illustration and photography, and Adobe software. You can also study web design, HTML and CSS coding, UI design, and content management systems.
Courses:
Price: Contact admissions@gnomon.edu
Level: Pre-BFA degree/ certificate program
Format: On-campus
Gnomon is for web design students that are more artistically inclined. The school is focused on art and game design. In this program, students will learn Photoshop for digital production, digital painting, color theory and light, life drawing, character sculpture, character drawing, and much more.
Courses:
Price:$4,018
Level: Bachelor of Science
Format: Online
This online course with Brigham Young University in Idaho combines web design and web development. This is an excellent option for students who want to create aesthetically pleasing and responsive websites while improving their coding skills. This course will help you in the real world when applying for jobs.
Education Paths | Bootcamp certificate, Bachelor's degree, or self-learning. |
Essential Technical Skills | Wireframing and prototyping, user research, branding, implementation with developers, interactivity and animation |
Essential Soft Skills | Problem solving, empathy, adaptability |
Average Salary | $90,000 |
Answers to commonly asked questions
Yes, and many UX designers do work from home or remotely. You will still need to stay connected with your product team, and become familiar with remote work tools and platforms.
While a degree in computer science or psychology is useful, especially when applying for jobs, a degree is not a requirement for a career in UX design. Many UX designers have found success learning at a bootcamp, and some just learning on their...
User Interface (UI) describes the appearance of a website, app, or other product. UI designers are responsible for the look and visual feel of a product. User Experience describes how the users feel when they engage with the product. UX...
If you’ve ever been frustrated by an app or program then you already know the value of UX design. The easier and more enjoyable to use a product is, the more your customers will want to use it. In like manner, if your product is difficult or...