Designlab
Average Rating4.78
785 Reviews
9 Courses
Designlab is an online training provider that teaches in-demand UX/UI design skills through their UX Academy and short courses. Designlab’s top-tier online programs connect students with expert design mentors, empowering them to launch and advance their career in digital design. Whether students are transitioning into UX design with Designlab’s flagship UX Academy or refining their skills through advanced courses designed for seasoned designers and design teams, Designlab offers meticulously crafted programs to help learners achieve their goals.
With mentorship and community at the core of every course, students benefit from weekly 1:1 video calls in UX Academy and UX Academy Foundations, as well as small peer group sessions in advanced and short courses. Through personalized feedback and guidance, Designlab’s network of experienced mentors helps students navigate the design industry, offering career advice and insights into market trends from a professional’s perspective.
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.
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Jenifer ChiodoStudent • 1. UX Academy Foundations • OnlineApr 03, 2023Overall ExperienceInstructorsCurriculumJob AssistanceN/A"Rigorous, Resource-Packed and Rewarding"
Pros - This is a UX Design Course - and in that context, Designlab has designed their curriculum, site, and online school to be as fluid and user-friendly as possible. The language is direct, friendly, and at times also fun (the use of emoji's in lesson text was cute and amusing). The course is self-paced, and there are many links within the coursework that I saved for future reference and perspective on the subjects being taught (history of design, sketching and wire-framing, iconograph...Pros - This is a UX Design Course - and in that context, Designlab has designed their curriculum, site, and online school to be as fluid and user-friendly as possible. The language is direct, friendly, and at times also fun (the use of emoji's in lesson text was cute and amusing). The course is self-paced, and there are many links within the coursework that I saved for future reference and perspective on the subjects being taught (history of design, sketching and wire-framing, iconography, color, UX software, etc). The lessons are also flexible, they don't require you to finish every project proposed, but more focus on time and structured productivity (except for the final project, where it's required to submit a finished design). I was able to easily monitor my progress through different visuals on the course site (both through unit thermometer and percentage visuals), and whenever I had a question, both my mentor and academic advisors were quick to respond with help and links.
I had also never used Discord until becoming a DL student, and that was really helpful in a. learning how to use and b. connecting with students so you have a sense of community and support through solo learning. I never felt like I was alone even in the moments where understanding a mechanic or lesson was tough, I always had enough resources to figure it out. I also really appreciated that they give you the choice of UX Software to use, because I couldn't use Sketch (I'm too poor for a Mac update and my Mac is too old to support the software) so having the ability to learn on Figma was a huge relief. I am surprised this is just foundations, as a freelance artist I had really learned so so much just from this course that helped me in my own work as I was taking it. My visual design vocabulary and speed with software (ie, pen tool) has exponentially been increased from all the coursework.
Cons- Since this is self-taught and self paced, as someone with ADHD I found the duty of reading lessons initially challenging. The lessons are not audio (though you can use plug-ins in accessibility for read-aloud on your computer, a new thing I learned). I wanted to retain all the information, and screenshots wasn't really helping me absorb it or pay attention. I really had to find what worked for me - and what I found was taking hand-written notes as I read the lessons line-by line. They do have a lot of software tutorials in small videos, which is good. My only issue with these, though you can slow them down and pause them, the editing is still not direct/slow enough, and without a large desktop screen, all the tools were super tiny in the videos. I found myself getting really filled with anxiety when I felt the teacher was moving too fast. I would wind up expanding a lot of the Figma lessons into Youtube Tutorials, which would then take more time to learn than the lessons were supposed to be.
Sometimes when we were given copy-work projects with more involved, visually challenging and varied homepages (ie, real estate, travel) it was way too many resources at once to load into Figma. I think DL needs to realize students are not as quick and experienced setting up their resources panel, and this was pretty willy-nilly and time consuming. Sometimes, when a project was supposed to be 2h, I would have taken 40 minutes just gathering things and putting them into my Figma File and getting the frames set up. Besides those personal learning curve adjustments, I feel that having UXF was a very comprehensive, important course as prep for UXA. It really helped me get used to learning online, using the software, re-learning my graphic design process, and functioning as a solo worker with time management. It's jam packed with great info, advice, and resources as an intro to UX.- Lina LichtensteinGraduate • 1. UX Academy Foundations • OnlineApr 02, 2023Overall ExperienceInstructorsCurriculumJob AssistanceN/A
Great Foundation
As a complete newbie to the world of UX/UI Design (and nervous about starting something new/making a career pivot) UX Academy Foundations was the perfect introduction to the field. The content of the course was structured in a way that made sense while being appropriately challenging and my mentor was so helpful every step of the way. - Jose FloresClient Partner • Student • 1. UX Academy Foundations • OnlineApr 01, 2023Overall ExperienceInstructorsCurriculumJob AssistanceN/A
Best experience ever
Matthew, my mentor, was probably the best thing about the course. I wouldn’t have been able to do things the right way if I didn’t have his guidance.
It was a lot of information but the exercises was helpful at reinforcing what I read. They were also very fun to do!
I had a very great experience taking this course and had me really consider maybe doing a change in careers. I might have found a new passion of mine! - Zachary KochStudent • 1. UX Academy Foundations • OnlineMar 26, 2023Overall ExperienceInstructorsCurriculumJob AssistanceN/A
Good guidance and projects
My favorite part of the course was having a mentor to guide me and help keep me accountable. Something many online programs don't offer. Not only that but the community access and support made it easy to find answers to any questions I had in a good time frame. - Nicole GeorgeGraduate • 1. UX Academy Foundations • OnlineMar 16, 2023Overall ExperienceInstructorsCurriculumJob AssistanceN/A
Excellent foundational program to prepare me for UX bootcamp
I completed DesignLab's UX Foundations program in 4 weeks. They say you can complete the Foundations course anywhere from 4-8 weeks and because I am currently unemployed, I opted to push hard and complete the program within 4 weeks. However, I feel like choosing to use all 8 weeks would have felt like a much more enjoyable pace. (If you also have a job while enrolled, I would recommend 8 weeks so you don't get burn out.) The course is thorough and will challenge you, especially if you...I completed DesignLab's UX Foundations program in 4 weeks. They say you can complete the Foundations course anywhere from 4-8 weeks and because I am currently unemployed, I opted to push hard and complete the program within 4 weeks. However, I feel like choosing to use all 8 weeks would have felt like a much more enjoyable pace. (If you also have a job while enrolled, I would recommend 8 weeks so you don't get burn out.) The course is thorough and will challenge you, especially if you have no formal training in design (like me).
The course is divided into 8 modules and each one contains a mixture of reading, videos and hands on design projects. Like any bootcamp, you get out of it what you put in. I watched dozens of YouTube videos and Figma tutorials along the way to supplement the coursework. During the course you are paired with a mentor and I feel that can greatly affect a student's experience. I was paired with a talented mentor who was quick to answer my questions and spent a few sessions showing me additional tips and functions of Figma while providing helpful advice on my projects. DesignLab also has a wonderful community of students on Discord which I found extremely helpful and motivational!
There are dozens of small projects throughout the coursework that are all designed to build upon the skills learned in previous lessons, then culminating in a 10 hour design project. The submitted 10 hour project is required to meet certain standards to grant you admission in to the full UX academy. (which I hope to be approved for and begin soon!)
Overall, I am very happy with the course curriculum, the mentor support and the Discord community channels that DesignLab offered. I am amazed looking back at my projects, how much I've learned and how far I came in 4 weeks. It was definitely worth the cost and I would recommend to anyone interested in learning more about the basics of UX design. - Samantha SahagunStudent • 1. UX Academy Foundations • OnlineMar 14, 2023Overall ExperienceInstructorsCurriculumJob AssistanceN/A
Well-paced and Helpful
Your bootcamp experience is really what you make of it. You can either do the bare-minimum to do the assignments and mentor sessions, OR you can do further reading on the additional articles/resources that DesignLab provides and ask additional questions with your mentor. Doing the ladder, the experience has been so useful in ensuring that I am making the right decisions with my career change and receiving guidance to help with my "What's Next?" step in life.
Foundations is a great...Your bootcamp experience is really what you make of it. You can either do the bare-minimum to do the assignments and mentor sessions, OR you can do further reading on the additional articles/resources that DesignLab provides and ask additional questions with your mentor. Doing the ladder, the experience has been so useful in ensuring that I am making the right decisions with my career change and receiving guidance to help with my "What's Next?" step in life.
Foundations is a great starting point for getting introduced to UX/UI design, with a big emphasis if you understand the foundations of visual design. I've had a hard time learning Figma by myself, so doing this course has helped tremendously with the learning curve. - Elyse LangerEducation Consultant • Graduate • 1. UX Academy Foundations • OnlineMar 13, 2023Overall ExperienceInstructorsCurriculumJob Assistance
Designlab is Amazing
I learned so much about UX/UI Design from Designlab’s lessons, projects, and mentoring process. It’s amazing to look back at my early designs in the Foundations course just eight weeks ago to see how much progress I made. I recommend this program so highly! - Annie TienStudent • 1. UX Academy Foundations • OnlineMar 09, 2023Overall ExperienceInstructorsCurriculumJob AssistanceN/A
The best introductory course with zero design experience!
I had zero design experience going in but UX Academy Foundations provided me all that I need to grasp design basics. It was valuable experience and I could not recommend it enough for anyone looking to make a career change into UI/UX Design! All the course are implemented with lessons, tutorials (Figma or Sketch that they give you free for a year), and projects to help give you a feel of what it's like to tackle real life projects as a designer. They also pair you up 1-1 with a mentor th...I had zero design experience going in but UX Academy Foundations provided me all that I need to grasp design basics. It was valuable experience and I could not recommend it enough for anyone looking to make a career change into UI/UX Design! All the course are implemented with lessons, tutorials (Figma or Sketch that they give you free for a year), and projects to help give you a feel of what it's like to tackle real life projects as a designer. They also pair you up 1-1 with a mentor that is currently in the industry and they're there to help guide you throughout your journey. I was able to complete the course in 4 weeks, however, the course is designed for 8 weeks (pacing is up to you)! Overall, it was a fun experience and it sets you up for enrollment into Designlab's UX Academy. - Ilya KalininStudent • 1. UX Academy Foundations • OnlineMar 09, 2023Overall ExperienceInstructorsCurriculumJob AssistanceN/A
Excellent course!!!
The course is easy to follow and understand. The lessons are straightforward. This course also provides optional lessons for those who need them. The assignments are challenging in the right way. Also, the mentors give honest and helpful feedback. Overall the experience is great and there is a lot to learn. :) - Vanessa PetersonGraduate • 1. UX Academy Foundations • OnlineMar 08, 2023Overall ExperienceInstructorsCurriculumJob AssistanceN/A
Learn all of the basics in a self-paced, fun format
The course material is important to review and learn to understand the basics, but in my opinion, your mentor will make or break your experience. Having a knowledgeable, empathetic mentor will be the key to your learning and advancing your skills. They will be the ones to teach you all the nuances and look at things in a different way. Their years of experience will flow to you in little tips and tricks from what they've learned. If you come prepared for your mentor sess...The course material is important to review and learn to understand the basics, but in my opinion, your mentor will make or break your experience. Having a knowledgeable, empathetic mentor will be the key to your learning and advancing your skills. They will be the ones to teach you all the nuances and look at things in a different way. Their years of experience will flow to you in little tips and tricks from what they've learned. If you come prepared for your mentor sessions and are open to feedback, you will do great!
You only have to attend one "design crit" during Foundations, but from what I've heard these sessions will eventually be the backbone of UX Academy.
I highly recommend taking notes on each Unit in a separate doc, as well as notes from your mentor call so you can review and refer to them to consolidate the information. I used Notion to organize all my notes for each Unit.
I think this course is also a great way to test the water, and see if you actually like UX/UI before jumping into the longer, more expensive UX Academy. This course will get you very familiar with a design tool of your choice (for me, I chose Figma). Keep in mind though, that UX Academy will be more focused on UX research (from what I've heard).
Pros:- self-paced
- fully online
- easy-to-follow video tutorials for learning Figma
- a dedicated mentor you meet with 1:1 8 times during the course
- supportive community on discord that you can interact with other students (get help, get feedback, ask questions)
- an aesthetic, easy-to-use platform for keeping track of your course progress
- lots of extra resources and links sprinkled throughout the course material for extra learning
- they provide a nice 1-2 page "cheat sheet" at the end of each unit
- they constantly ask for feedback and ways to improve at the end of each unit
Cons:- Honestly not many serious cons for me
- If you're looking for a course that is only videos, this is not for you. There will be reading and hands-on projects involved, with some videos thrown in for tutorials on Figma
- If you're in a time crunch to finish this course and move on to UX Academy (like I was), you'll need to finish this course in under 4 weeks to be able to apply to the next month's Academy cohort - if you don't, you'll have to wait a whole month to apply to the next one. So, you may feel rushed to finish before the UX Academy cohort deadline.
(FYI I finished in March 2023, but I was only able to select up to 2022 for this review)
- DesmonayShurn • Graduate • 1. UX Academy Foundations • OnlineMar 07, 2023Overall ExperienceInstructorsCurriculumJob AssistanceN/A
So glad I took the leap!
Designlab was a great experience for me. The mentor that I was paired with was extremely helpful and did everything she could to make sure that I understood the assignments and completed the projects to the best of my ability. The curriculum was pretty impressive. I felt like it covered a wide range of information but it didn't feel overwhelming at all. Although I've only just completed the Foundations course, I plan to continue straight into the Academy. If you're looking to make a care...Designlab was a great experience for me. The mentor that I was paired with was extremely helpful and did everything she could to make sure that I understood the assignments and completed the projects to the best of my ability. The curriculum was pretty impressive. I felt like it covered a wide range of information but it didn't feel overwhelming at all. Although I've only just completed the Foundations course, I plan to continue straight into the Academy. If you're looking to make a career switch or simply add new skills to your resume, I 100% recommend Designlab. You won't regret it! - Ryan EmmansGraduate • 1. UX Academy Foundations • OnlineMar 07, 2023Overall ExperienceInstructorsCurriculumJob AssistanceN/A
Great intro to UI design and preparation for UX Academy
If you continue on to UX Academy, this course is basically free! The curriculum is very thorough, well planned, and seamlessly structured. The student portal makes it super easy to keep track of all assignments and timelines. My mentor was great and really knew when to challenge me and provided tons of professional insight to my endless questions. We had calls twice a week, and this held me accountable while also keeping my workload realistic. Communicating with the admissions staff was ...If you continue on to UX Academy, this course is basically free! The curriculum is very thorough, well planned, and seamlessly structured. The student portal makes it super easy to keep track of all assignments and timelines. My mentor was great and really knew when to challenge me and provided tons of professional insight to my endless questions. We had calls twice a week, and this held me accountable while also keeping my workload realistic. Communicating with the admissions staff was a very pleasant experience. The Discord community is also invaluable and a great way to connect with your cohort! The only thing I would be mindful of is that the time estimates for each unit are on the low end. You will get out of this course what you put into it, so be prepared to give yourself a lot more time than is projected for each assignment if you really want to get a firm grasp on the lessons and design tools.
Designlab Alumni Outcomes
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Designlab Alumni Reviews Summary
Based on 700+ Designlab alumni reviews on Course Report, students consistently praise the hands-on projects, 1-on-1 mentorship from industry professionals, and the comprehensive UX/UI design curriculum. A student shared, "Designlab is a very solid introduction into the world of UX/UI design... Before you know it, you have the confidence to start making your own icons and building a brand." Some critiques, however, mention the reliance on Discord for community interaction, which some found less professional than alternatives like Slack.
Overall Experience
4.8
Instructors
4.7
Curriculum
4.7
Job Assistance
4.3
More Information
Guarantees Job
Job Assistance
Includes Housing
Offers Corporate Training
Accepts GI Bill
Awards
Recent Designlab News
By Jess Feldman
By Rachel Meltzer
By Jess Feldman
FAQs
How much does Designlab cost?
Designlab costs around $7,749. On the lower end, some Designlab courses like 9. Design 101 cost $499.
What courses does Designlab teach?
Designlab offers courses like 1. UX Academy Foundations, 2. UX Academy (Part-time), 3. UX Academy (Full-time), 4. Data-Driven Design and 5 more.
Where does Designlab have campuses?
Designlab teaches students Online in a remote classroom.
Is Designlab worth it?
Designlab hasn't shared alumni outcomes yet, but one way to determine if a bootcamp is worth it is by reading alumni reviews. 785 Designlab alumni, students, and applicants have reviewed Designlab on Course Report - you should start there!
Is Designlab legit?
We let alumni answer that question. 785 Designlab alumni, students, and applicants have reviewed Designlab and rate their overall experience a 4.78 out of 5.
Does Designlab offer scholarships or accept the GI Bill?
Right now, it doesn't look like Designlab offers scholarships or accepts the GI Bill. We're always adding to the list of schools that do offer Exclusive Course Report Scholarships and a list of the bootcamps that accept the GI Bill.
Can I read Designlab reviews?
You can read 785 reviews of Designlab on Course Report! Designlab alumni, students, and applicants have reviewed Designlab and rate their overall experience a 4.78 out of 5.
Is Designlab accredited?
While bootcamps must be approved to operate, accreditation is relatively rare. Designlab doesn't yet share information about their accreditation status.