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.
785 Designlab Reviews
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Rosemarie HuynhStudent • 1. UX Academy Foundations • OnlineMay 19, 2021Overall ExperienceInstructorsCurriculumJob AssistanceN/ADesign Beginner-friendly Program and Supportive Environment
DesignLab has a good starter system for people who wants to change their career into UX/UI. I am a student who decided to change my career after I have graduated with a BA in Consumer Science. I wanted to share my experience with anyone who might in the same situation. During my search for a UX bootcamp, I found DesignLab to be the most beneficial in terms of projects and hands-on work. I thought it would be a good idea since I wanted solid projects on my portfolio in the end. I have onl...DesignLab has a good starter system for people who wants to change their career into UX/UI. I am a student who decided to change my career after I have graduated with a BA in Consumer Science. I wanted to share my experience with anyone who might in the same situation. During my search for a UX bootcamp, I found DesignLab to be the most beneficial in terms of projects and hands-on work. I thought it would be a good idea since I wanted solid projects on my portfolio in the end. I have only taken the Foundation course and it has been a great experience. I am in the process of applying for their UX Academy program.
I have had a few issues regarding the system and my mentor, but DesignLab's team has always been super helpful and accommodating. The Foundation course is absolutely beginner-friendly, I would recommend this to anyone who is new to design and wanted to get more practice with tools like Figma or Sketch. The curriculum is easy to digest and understand while having the best results in projects. Meeting with mentors might be awkward, but I think they are super helpful in getting the student where they want to be.
I guess the only cons that I could think of is the number of sessions you get with your mentor. Students are only provided 8 sessions and the first one is an introduction meeting to know more about your mentor. I do understand that the mentors have their own schedule, but limiting the sessions to 8 might be too little. I was able to fit everything I wanted into the 8 sessions, but I wished I had more.
Overall, I do believe the pros definitely outweigh the cons. To rephrase, DesignLab Foundation course is a great program for people who are new to design with no experience. The course is very informative and I think it's a great start for anyone who wants to get into the UX/UI industry.
- Lindsey Bogott1. UX Academy Foundations • OnlineMay 13, 2021Overall ExperienceInstructorsCurriculumJob Assistance
Foundations Review
Foundations was a great introduction to ux/ui and visual design. Through the projects, articles, and videos you learn valuable skills and understanding of the visual process. The course is not intense, you can easily do it as you work or go to school as you only need to spend 4 hours a day on it if you space out the units across the duration of the course. - ErikaGraduate • 1. UX Academy Foundations • OnlineMay 12, 2021Overall ExperienceInstructorsCurriculumJob AssistanceN/A
Really helpful.
I began Designlab Foundations with no prior knowledge of design or anything having to do with it. Now that this portion is complete, I feel better and more confident about moving forward and taking the next steps to become a designer. - Jeroen de GrootUX Designer • Student • 1. UX Academy Foundations • OnlineMay 10, 2021Overall ExperienceInstructorsCurriculumJob AssistanceN/A
Practical and insightful
I did quite some online courses related to UX but at Designlab I had the opportunity to actually work on assignments and iterate on them based on feedback provided by a mentor. The course is logically build up in 8 units and every unit starts with theory, a copy exercise where you do a deep dive in tool functionality but also learn how landing pages and apps are structured. After a reflection you move into a design exercise where you have more creative freedom. On average every week you ...I did quite some online courses related to UX but at Designlab I had the opportunity to actually work on assignments and iterate on them based on feedback provided by a mentor. The course is logically build up in 8 units and every unit starts with theory, a copy exercise where you do a deep dive in tool functionality but also learn how landing pages and apps are structured. After a reflection you move into a design exercise where you have more creative freedom. On average every week you have a chance to talk with your mentor for an hour, you can chat about your designs, ask questions and you receive extra tips and tricks. You are encouraged to time-box your iterations to get used to an agile way of working and build confidence sharing intermediate products. The emphasis is on UI but this helps you jumpstarting the UX Academy (you loose less time on learning a tool, UI definitions and UI design). - Polina PopravkaGraduate • 1. UX Academy Foundations • OnlineMay 08, 2021Overall ExperienceInstructorsCurriculumJob Assistance
UX ACADEMY FOUNDATIONS
I didn't even remotely expect this level of everything: starting from the mentor assigned to me who was the best possible match and guided me throughout the way with helpful tips and pieces of advice, to insane volumes of valuable information put together in nice chunks so that its easier to digest. Many thanks to everyone who participated in organizing this course for us!!! - SebastianGraduate • 1. UX Academy Foundations • OnlineMay 07, 2021Overall ExperienceInstructorsCurriculumJob AssistanceN/A
Great experience and good value for money
I wanted to improve my UI design skills and learn the basics. The course is nicely structured into logical blocks and all information is easy to read with additional resources provided if needed. I loved mentor sessions and also the creative projects. There were also many "reproduce a page" projects - I wasn't a big fan of them, but they made sense to understand the components etc. before you will build your own pages. I would recommend this course for everyone who wants to get the basic...I wanted to improve my UI design skills and learn the basics. The course is nicely structured into logical blocks and all information is easy to read with additional resources provided if needed. I loved mentor sessions and also the creative projects. There were also many "reproduce a page" projects - I wasn't a big fan of them, but they made sense to understand the components etc. before you will build your own pages. I would recommend this course for everyone who wants to get the basics of (mostly UI) design and get better with the tools. - BoStudent • 1. UX Academy Foundations • OnlineMay 06, 2021Overall ExperienceInstructorsCurriculumJob AssistanceN/A
Best experience for a design novice!
I've enjoyed taking Designlab's UX Academy Foundations course. It's a great introduction to visual design for those who are thinking about career switching and want to dip their toe in the water before making a big splash with their bootcamp. There are many great things about this course, but I really appreciated the mentorship aspect as well as the curriculum. The online learning platform is easy to navigate and they make the modules (lessons, tutorials, etc.) informative yet fun at the...I've enjoyed taking Designlab's UX Academy Foundations course. It's a great introduction to visual design for those who are thinking about career switching and want to dip their toe in the water before making a big splash with their bootcamp. There are many great things about this course, but I really appreciated the mentorship aspect as well as the curriculum. The online learning platform is easy to navigate and they make the modules (lessons, tutorials, etc.) informative yet fun at the same time. - Mariam Alshargawijunior UX/UI designer • Graduate • 7. UI Design • OnlineMay 03, 2021Overall ExperienceInstructorsCurriculumJob AssistanceN/A
AWSOME course!
I enrolled in this course so I can learn how to start and handover a whole design from start to finish and with this course I got exactly what I wanted and more. If you are looking for a fun course and want to learn UI design by doing; definitely give this course a try!
You will be able to work with great mentors from all around the world with experience from top companies, learn and have access to an amazing rich content and get hands on experience by working on multiple projects. <...I enrolled in this course so I can learn how to start and handover a whole design from start to finish and with this course I got exactly what I wanted and more. If you are looking for a fun course and want to learn UI design by doing; definitely give this course a try!
You will be able to work with great mentors from all around the world with experience from top companies, learn and have access to an amazing rich content and get hands on experience by working on multiple projects. - Kristy ClineGraphic Design • Graduate • 1. UX Academy Foundations • OnlineApr 28, 2021Overall ExperienceInstructorsCurriculumJob AssistanceN/A
UX Academy Foundations
The Foundations course was a great starter for learning more about UX/IU design and getting your feet wet in the industry. With their support and curriculum, I now feel confident and excited about diving into the field. - KayleeSenior Graphic Designer • Student • 5. UX Research & Strategy • OnlineApr 20, 2021Overall ExperienceInstructorsCurriculumJob Assistance
Not Worth It – UX Research & Strategy
This course was, sadly, not worth the time and money. The way the class teaches concepts is too disconnected and in-depth for any real-world application. It's very confusing. Every assignment felt like busy work – we would spend hours on a microscopic part of the research process only to zoom out and learn that it wasn't actually feasible or important to do in actual product creation. Basically, this course was all academic, and not enough hands-on real-life work was taught. Next to noth...This course was, sadly, not worth the time and money. The way the class teaches concepts is too disconnected and in-depth for any real-world application. It's very confusing. Every assignment felt like busy work – we would spend hours on a microscopic part of the research process only to zoom out and learn that it wasn't actually feasible or important to do in actual product creation. Basically, this course was all academic, and not enough hands-on real-life work was taught. Next to nothing I learned here will be useful at my job and there definitely won't be anything going in my portfolio from this calss.
Additionally, every mentor has their own rubric. There's no standardization on what is expected on assignments, it's luck of the draw on who you get. I looked at some other student examples, and surprise – they were all over the place. Several students obviously did the bare minimum and didn't even answer the prompts, but they got approved without any critiques. It made it incredibly difficult for me to know what was expected, and I have come away from the course ignorant of what I'm doing right or wrong.
Overall, I wish I hadn't spent the money. I would have gotten more out of teaching myself with youtube videos and creating my own projects. - Ash XieStudent • OnlineApr 14, 2021Overall ExperienceInstructorsCurriculumJob Assistance
new foundation online course
Very organized, logically designed foundation online course for beginners.
I enjoyed my studying. - JackUX Designer • Student • 2. UX Academy (Part-time) • OnlineApr 12, 2021Overall ExperienceInstructorsCurriculumJob Assistance
Design Lab UXA got me a new Career
After years of Umm-ing and Ahhh-ing, I finally decided to make the jump from engineering to UX design. My aim was to completely change careers.
I looked at so many different Bootcamp styled courses, Career Foundry, General Assembly, Thinkful, DesignLab, Flatirons, etc., and decided on DL because to me there was no other course out there that was offering what DL was for the same value. I'm so glad I chose DL.
The UXA course was awesome, so in-depth and the first phase real...After years of Umm-ing and Ahhh-ing, I finally decided to make the jump from engineering to UX design. My aim was to completely change careers.
I looked at so many different Bootcamp styled courses, Career Foundry, General Assembly, Thinkful, DesignLab, Flatirons, etc., and decided on DL because to me there was no other course out there that was offering what DL was for the same value. I'm so glad I chose DL.
The UXA course was awesome, so in-depth and the first phase really prepares you for the second phase and building capstones and your portfolio. (also, a course that delivers you to the job market with 4 full capstone projects is something not many other courses can offer). I had a great experience with my mentor and support system. and never lacked support. The inclusion of group crit sessions was also a great help during the course but also during the job search phase, having that experience of collaboration with fellow designers is huge!
I took the course part-time and completed it on time. Some students do struggle but this doesn't become an issue unless you're solely interested in the job guarantee. Which while is nice to have, is not the sole purpose for me doing the course, and is kind of hard to stick to anyway - also for me it was a sign that designlab is going to get you a job! They also have pauses which you can take if you get behind.
I completed my course and portfolio review in March but started my job hunt 3 months prior. I landed my first UX job in March and I am 100% convinced I couldn't have done it without DesignLab. I think the average hire time is something like 3-4 months, so if you're not in a rush this is even less than an issue.
The mentors you have access to were incredible too. My mentor for the course phase was amazing. Supportive and instructive, with over a decade of experience. My careers service mentor was great too, even though we only had one session, the knowledge experience and contacts they can bring and give you aren't measurable, and you'll be hard-pressed to find them anywhere else.
I can't recommend DL enough. If you're think of a career in UX - Choose DesignLab.
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.