Format:
100% online
Learn on your own time
Duration:
9 months, 10 hrs/wk
Finish early by putting in more hours
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What is UI and UX?

  • User Experience: UX designers are responsible for a user's overall experience as they interact with every aspect of a product or service, such as an app or multi-step form.

  • User Interface: UI designers are responsible for determining the visual elements (e.g. menus, buttons, icons, etc.) that a person uses to interact with a product or service.

According to Glassdoor, the average UX and UI designer salary in the US is between $96k and $103k.

UMass Global UI/UX Design Bootcamp

UI/UX designers have a carefully learned skill of getting into the minds of users — combining empathy-driven research and visual design best practices to create products that are usable, enjoyable, and accessible all while keeping business goals top of mind. The creative and technical impact of UI/UX designers is interwoven into any website, app, or product you’ve used recently.

The demand for designers is at an all-time high as industry leaders vie to build products that are continually engaging and easy to use. UI/UX designers enjoy high job satisfaction, great pay, and the opportunity to work with technologies that drive innovation and growth.

The UMass Global UI/UX Design Bootcamp will prepare you to learn the core principles, tools, and best practices to secure a variety of roles in the design industry.

You’ll learn design concepts through a curated curriculum pulled from some of the best resources available and then apply what you learn through hands-on learning activities and end-to-end projects that include UI practice exercises, a capstone project for your portfolio, and three additional projects that are optional for you to complete.

This 100% online program allows you to learn on your own schedule, and you can complete the course earlier if you put in more study hours per week.

In addition, you’ll receive 1:1 mentor support through weekly phone calls where you can ask questions, receive feedback on your projects, and get insight into the design industry.

We’ll also set you up for career success with eight optional career units that cover finding the right job titles and companies, networking fundamentals, writing resumes and cover letters, and conducting mock interviews.

Careers

There are a variety of different paths you can take when beginning your career in the design industry. Your chosen career path depends on your varied goals and interests, including choosing if you want to be more of a generalist or specialist or if you want to work for an agency or be a freelancer. Below are possible fields, titles, and average salaries from Glassdoor you may want to consider after graduating:

UMass Global

Curriculum

The UI/UX Design Bootcamp is designed for you to successfully land your first UI/UX design job. You’ll be guided through hands-on assignments like UI practice exercises that replicate the work that designers conduct on a daily basis. These projects are an invaluable addition to your portfolio and will help you demonstrate your ability to work end-to-end through a design project to potential employers. Preview some of the curriculum units below:

Intro to Design Tools

  • Explore the landscape of design tools and gain an understanding of how to use them

  • Learn the essential elements of Sketch, Adobe XD, or Figma and practice using one of these tools

Wireframing

  • Incorporate learnings from user tests and iterate on your designs as you transition into digital wireframes

  • Develop an understanding of the importance of designing for edge cases

  • Begin considering transitions between screens

High Fidelity Mockups

  • Learn about the importance of accessibility and the value of inclusive design

  • Understand the fundamentals of accessibility, the WCAG guidelines, and how to perform a basic accessibility audit

  • Understand the fundamentals of grids.

  • Learn techniques to design high fidelity mockups of screens using your design tool of choice

  • Learn how to facilitate critiques to quickly get and incorporate feedback as you build your designs

  • Examine best practices to consider when communicating with other designers and stakeholders as you create high fidelity mockups

Build a unique project portfolio that showcases your UI and UX skills

You'll complete one required Capstone project and have the option to complete three more portfolio projects, including a design sprint—where you will rapidly cycle through the entire design process in one week. You'll also have the opportunity to be matched with a real company to complete a 40-hour industry design project. View a description of the portfolio projects below:

Capstone 1

This is a multi-month, end-to-end design project that includes each phase of the design process and will help you sharpen your new UX and UI skills you’ll learn throughout the course.

Design Sprint

This is a Google Ventures-style design sprint that will allow you experience working on a complete project in a short (1 week!) timeframe.

Capstone 2

This is another end-to-end project that incorporates each stage of the design process. You’ll apply all of the methods you’ve learned from the course while working with real-world constraints.

Industry Design Project

This is a ~4-week real-world project. You will be partnered with a company and use your design skills to help the company tackle a business problem. While working on this project, you’ll apply all of your course learnings and hone your professional and collaborative skills:

  • Identify a customer problem to solve.

  • Conduct competitive research.

  • Sketch, design, and build a prototype.

  • Perform usability testing and identify improvements.

Student support

While you’re learning online, we’ll also offer several support nets to catch you if you are falling behind. These include:

  • Weekly 1:1 mentor video calls: Receive feedback on projects, discuss blockers, refine your career strategy, and remain accountable.

  • Unlimited mentor calls: Get additional 1:1 help from other mentors in our community, at no extra cost.

  • Online community: Start discussions with your peers about the work you're doing and receive feedback.

  • Student advisors: Call upon your student advisor for questions regarding accountability, time management, or anything else that comes up throughout the course.

  • 1:1 career coaching sessions within the optional career units will hold you accountable for your job search.

UMass Global

Meet our mentors

mentorAvatar
Angelo Lo Presti
Sr Product, UI/UX Designer
mentorAvatar
Meg Clayton
Sr UX Designer
mentorAvatar
Deb Howell-Novak
Sr UX Designer
mentorAvatar
Matthew Weprin
Sr Manager, Design & UX

Is this program right for you?

Do you have an eye for design? Do you like to make things beautiful, organized, and user-friendly? If so, this program is right for you!

Prerequisites 

All backgrounds are welcome as long as you can demonstrate strong visual skills, creativity, and clear communication.

FAQ

What is UX?

UX Stands for User Experience. According to prolific designer Don Norman,

"User experience encompasses all aspects of the end user's interaction with the company, its services, and its products."

What is UI?

UI stands for User Interaction: It focuses on the aesthetics or the look of the product a user interacts with.

What does a UX/UI designer do?

UX designers are responsible for a user's overall experience as they interact with every aspect of a product or service, such as an app or multi-step form.

UI designers are responsible for determining the visual elements (e.g. menus, buttons, icons, etc.) that a person uses to interact with a product or service.

What skills are needed to become a UI/UX designer?

You’ll need a mix of design skills we’ll teach you, such as wireframing and prototyping, as well as a strong research acumen. You’ll also need a set of soft skills that you can develop over time, such as empathy (understanding users’ pain points), the ability to communicate with internal and external stakeholders, and collaboration across all parts of the company.

What type of jobs can you do after a UI/UX design bootcamp?

There are a variety of jobs that you can take based on your interests and career goals. The above listings in the Careers section are some of the most common titles (UX Designer, UI Designer, Motion Designer, UX Researcher, and Information Architect).

As you move up in your career, you’ll find more advanced specialties or ones that require technical proficiencies, such as coding:

  • UX Strategist

  • UX Architect

  • UX Product Manager

  • UX Analyst

  • UX/UI Engineer

  • UX/UI Developer

  • Product Designer

How long does it take to become a UI/UX designer?

In 9 months, our bootcamp will equip you with the technical skills you’ll need to build an impressive UI/UX portfolio and launch a successful career in UI/UX design. If you are motivated to power through the material at a faster pace, we allow you to study on your own time and finish the course earlier.

What is the salary of a UI/UX Designer?

The average UX and UI designer salary in the US is around $83,000 according to Glassdoor.

Are UI/UX designers in high demand?

Yes, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that jobs will grow 13% over the next 10 years, faster than the average for all occupations, while Glassdoor ranks it among the top 50 jobs in the U.S. in 2021.

More questions about the program?

Speak to our admissions team by completing an application, email Carolina from our admissions team, or explore more frequently asked questions.

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