So you want to be a UX Designer? Maybe you are switching careers. Maybe you already have a background in design. Maybe you are just out of college and trying to figure out what you are going to do with your four-year degree in philosophy. UX Designers come from many different backgrounds. If you think UX design is the right career path for you, pursue that career.

Okay, but to learn how to be a UX designer, I am probably going to have to go to grad school for 2-3 years of my life and hand over some serious cash, right?  

Well, no. Grad school is an option if you have the funds and time, but it is not necessary to be a UX designer. 

This is where UX Design Bootcamps come in. The Guac is here to tell you all about the best UX design bootcamps. Grab your chips and let's dig in! 

 

What are UX Design Bootcamps?

UX Design bootcamps can teach you everything you need to know about UX design and prepare you for a career as a UX designer in a shorter period of time and at a fraction of the cost of grad school.

A good UX bootcamp will teach you the basics of UX design. This includes learning about user research, creating user personas, and information architecture. You will learn how to use design software that will help you with wireframing and prototyping. You will also learn how to conduct user testing on your designs. 

UX bootcamps will also help you build a portfolio that showcases your abilities as a UX designer. As a UX designer, your portfolio is a website that should consist of 2-3 case studies showcasing your design talent through past projects. You will need a portfolio of work to land a job as a UX designer.

A good UX bootcamp will also help you get a job. You’ll learn the communication skills necessary to present your work and go on job interviews. UX bootcamps can also connect you to employers in the industry.

 

Important things to consider when choosing a UX design bootcamp

1. Cost

Honestly, cost is probably one of the most common concerns when it comes to choosing a UX design bootcamp. 

The best UX design bootcamps on our list range in price from $300 - $14,960. It is important to keep in mind what you are willing to spend and what you want to get out of a course. 

2. Length of Course

UX Design Bootcamps vary in length, so you should have an idea of your timeframe for completing the course. Are you a part-time student that will need more time to complete the course, or are you a full-time student that will have more time to dedicate each week?

3. Number of Projects

To get a job in UX, you are going to need to showcase your work. A good bootcamp will help you work on at least one project or case study that you can put in your portfolio to show potential employers.

4. Real-World Experience

There are many UX bootcamps that will help you develop projects for a portfolio, but it is hard to find bootcamps that will help you build a portfolio with some real-world experience. Don’t worry, The Guac’s got you covered! Four UX programs offer real-world experience that made our list.

Why is real-world experience so important? Well, if you show up to an interview with a portfolio that includes projects that you worked on with real clients, that is going to set you apart from other beginner UX designers. Other designers may have examples of projects that they worked on in their courses. But if you have real client projects in your portfolio, you have proven that you can cut it in the real world as a UX designer. An employer will be more likely to take a chance on you.

5. Student Collaboration

Student collaboration is another thing that is difficult to find in a UX design course. For a lot of UX designers, peer collaboration is important because it helps you feel part of a community that is learning and growing together. You can also learn a lot from your peers. 

Working with other students also helps simulate what a job as a UX designer will really look like. You will often be working as part of a team in the real world, so you need to develop good communication skills to be able to present your ideas.

6. Job Help Search

If you’re taking a UX design bootcamp, your end goal is probably to get a job. You’re probably not taking the bootcamp just for fun. It’s difficult starting out as a beginner in any industry because you don’t have real-world connections that can help you land that first position.

UX bootcamps that offer career services can help you build a network of industry professionals and fellow UX designers that can connect you to employers. Some bootcamps will even help you with your resume, portfolio, and interview skills so you can be confident when you begin your UX design job search.

7. Mentorship

It is difficult to navigate a new industry and learn new skills all on your own, which is why mentorship is so important when it comes to UX design bootcamps. 

You could be taking courses where you are learning the skills and even applying what you learn through projects, but if you are not receiving personalized feedback, then you are just blindly doing it. It’s difficult to grow as a UX designer without personalized guidance.

So, when you are choosing bootcamps, see if that bootcamp offers mentorship. Find out how often you can meet with your mentor; are there weekly meetings or can you meet as often as you need to? Will your meetings be personal and one on one? These are questions you should consider when looking into a program’s mentorship.

See How the Best UX Design Bootcamps Compare

	Avocademy	Careerfoundry	Designlab	Springboard	General Assembly	Interaction Design Foundation	Google UX Certificate (Coursera)
Cost	$2,997	$6,900	$6,749	$10,000	$14,960	$1,182	$39/month
Length of Program	8 - 16 weeks	5-10 months	4-8 weeks	9 months	12 week	8 weeks	Typically less than 6 months
Number of Projects	1	3	4	4	6	3	3
Real-world Experience	yes	No	yes	yes	yes	no	No
Student collaboration	yes	No	yes	no	yes	no	No
Job Search Help	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	Yes
Mentorship	unlimited	unlimited	1-2 sessions per week	weekly	None	5 hrs of video calls	None

 

What are the Best UX Design Bootcamps?

Avocademy

Avocademy is an 8  to 16 week program that teaches you everything you need to know about UX/UI design. The best part, it’s one of the lowest costing bootcamps on our list. Don’t let its lower price tag fool you. Avocademy packs a lot into its program. You get unlimited personalized mentorship. You also get to complete one project for your portfolio. 

Avocademy’s support doesn't end after the completion of the course. You will get help with job searching. You will also get the chance to work with other students on real-life client projects that you can add to your portfolio, even after you complete the 6-week course. 

If you are looking for a bootcamp that doesn't put a dent in your wallet, provides unlimited mentorship, job search help, student collaboration, and real-world experience, you can’t go wrong with Avocademy!

Quick Facts

• Cost:$2,997
• Length of Program: 8-16 weeks
• Number of Projects: 1
• Real-World Experience: Yes
• Student collaboration: Yes
• Job Search Help: Yes
• Mentorship: Unlimited

Check out an Avocademy student portfolio!

 

Careerfoundry UX Design Course

Careerfoundry offers a 5-10 month program that is flexibly paced. If you are looking for a joint UX/UI design course, this may not be the course for you as Careerfoundry offers a separate course for UI design specifically. You will learn the basics of UX design, apply what you learn to 3 projects, and choose a specialization.

If you are looking for a flexibly paced course with the option to specialize in your specific interest, Careerfoundry’s UX design course could be for you.

Quick Facts

• Cost: $6,900
• Length of Program: 5-10 months
• Number of Projects: 3
• Real-World Experience: No
• Student collaboration: No
• Job Search Help: Yes
• Mentorship: Unlimited

Check out a Careerfoundry student portfolio!

 

Designlab UX Academy

Desinglab’s UX Academy offers a UX design program that includes student collaboration and real-world experience. As a student of this course, you attend peer group sessions where you receive feedback from other students. 

Designlab could be a good fit for you if you want to work with  a community of fellow UX design students throughout your coursework .

Quick Facts

• Cost: $6,749
• Length of Program: 4-8 weeks
• Number of Projects: 4
• Real-World Experience: Yes
• Student collaboration: Yes
• Job Search Help: Yes
• Mentorship: 1-2 weekly sessions

Check out a Designlab student portfolio!

 

Springboard

Springboard’s UX/UI design course comes in as the second most expensive bootcamp on our list. It is also one of the longest courses. In this program you will learn both UX and UI practices, build a portfolio that showcases your skills, and work on a real industry design project.

If you are looking for a longer UX/UI design course and are willing to invest more into the bootcamp, Springboard’s program could be a good choice for you.

Quick Facts

• Cost: $10,000
• Length of Program: 9 months
• Number of Projects: 4
• Real-World Experience: Yes
• Student collaboration: No
• Job Search Help: Yes
• Mentorship: Weekly

Check out a Springboard student portfolio!

 

General Assembly: UX Design Immersive Online

General Assembly's UX design course is the most expensive bootcamp on our list. They offer scholarships for underrepresented communities and loan options to help you finance your way. General Assembly also boasts a large global alumni network and a large global hiring partner network so they host networking events for their students.

If you want to focus on your network building and are willing to spend more on a bootcamp, this program could be a good option.

Quick Facts

• Cost: $14, 960
• Length of Program: 12 weeks
• Number of Projects: 6
• Real-World Experience: Yes
• Student collaboration: Yes
• Job Search Help: Yes
• Mentorship: None

Check out a General Assembly student portfolio! 

Interaction Design Foundations UX Design Bootcamp

Interaction Design Foundation offers a mentor-led portfolio building bootcamp. As a member, you get access to courses for a year after you finish your program, so you can keep learning.

This bootcamp would be a great option for students that want to keep learning after their course ends. 

Quick Facts

• Cost: $1,182
• Length of Program: 8 weeks
• Number of Projects: 3
• Real-World Experience: No
• Student collaboration: No
• Job Search Help: Yes
• Mentorship: 5 hrs of video calls

Portfolio link: N/A

 

Google UX Design Professional Certificate by Coursera

Coursera’s UX design course is not as personalized as some of the other bootcamps on this list, but you pay per month. Most students complete the course by doing 10 hrs a week and finish in 6 months, which means you would pay $300 for the certificate. The drawback of this course is you do not get any mentorship or real-world experience.

 If you are a beginner on a budget and can work more independently and at a fast pace, this could be a good option for you. 

Quick Facts

• Cost: $39 per month
• Length of Program: Typically less than 6 months
• Number of Projects: 3
• Real-World Experience: No
• Student collaboration: No
• Job Search Help: Yes
• Mentorship: None

Portfolio link: N/A

 

How Do I Choose the Best UX Design Bootcamp?

Choosing the best bootcamp depends on a variety of factors. Aspiring UX Designers come from many different walks of life, so it really depends on how you learn and what you want to get out of a program.

When in doubt, as a beginner UX designer, find a program that is within your budget. It is important to invest in your future, but you do not want to struggle financially early in your career. Find a UX design bootcamp with good mentorship, real-world experience, portfolio building, and career help. This way you will get the guidance you need to begin your UX design journey.

If you want to be a UX designer, start learning and preparing for a UX design career today. You can research and think about your future endlessly, but if you never act you will never achieve your dreams. You can do it!

Are you ready to begin your UX design journey? Schedule a free mentoring session with a UX designer today!