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
Schools can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Course Report never suppresses negative reviews
Sort by
Filter by
Fabiola JaimeCollections Specialist • 1. UX Academy Foundations • OnlineDec 06, 2021Overall ExperienceInstructorsCurriculumJob AssistanceCurrrent Student
When I applied to DesignLab, I was completely unaware of how much of a great fit it was for me. It is a very supportive environment, with an emphasis on providing hands on experience and providing a solid foundation to the design world. The faculty is very caring and understanding and has a genuine interest in students' success. There is a lot of potential to get involved in research, and a lot of students make use of those opportunities. You simply will not get an on-hand exper...When I applied to DesignLab, I was completely unaware of how much of a great fit it was for me. It is a very supportive environment, with an emphasis on providing hands on experience and providing a solid foundation to the design world. The faculty is very caring and understanding and has a genuine interest in students' success. There is a lot of potential to get involved in research, and a lot of students make use of those opportunities. You simply will not get an on-hand experience like you will at DesignLab anywhere else.- Tazz RichardsGraduate • 1. UX Academy Foundations • OnlineDec 05, 2021Overall ExperienceInstructorsCurriculumJob AssistanceN/A
Designlab Foundations - good for basic design and Figma
I started Foundations knowing just a little bit of design, and had a pretty good handle on graphics programs like Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop. These helped in learning the core software for Foundations, and the UI/UX industry Figma. I would say that just learning Figma has helped my skill set for finding a career. Along with learning the software, I picked up a lot of good information on basic web and app design, color theory and typography. My mentor was very talented and had a crit...I started Foundations knowing just a little bit of design, and had a pretty good handle on graphics programs like Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop. These helped in learning the core software for Foundations, and the UI/UX industry Figma. I would say that just learning Figma has helped my skill set for finding a career. Along with learning the software, I picked up a lot of good information on basic web and app design, color theory and typography. My mentor was very talented and had a critical eye.
So that's the good - here's the not as good. I don't think I could have survived without at least some design background. One student posted that they had no design background as was really struggling to learn all of Figma in the time allotted. And I agree. Learning how to work with vector drawing, font management, color management, basic layout, grids and columns, photo clean-up - it's a lot, especially if you're on the fast track 4 weeks course. If you don't have the background, expect to need twice as much time.
I think the course content is good, but there's some Figma lessons that should have taught first, like plug-ins for type and icons.
Overall, I'm coming out of this as a better designer, certainly not at a professional level. But, enough to move on the UX course, which was my goal.
As for the price - Foundations is $500, which is counted towards the cost of the UX course. If you only take Foundations, I'd say it's worth it for the mentor feedback, peer reviews, and extensive content. Note that job support is not included in this part of the course. That comes with the UX program. - SophieUX Designer • Graduate • 2. UX Academy (Part-time) • OnlineDec 03, 2021Overall ExperienceInstructorsCurriculumJob Assistance
Foundations + UX Academy review
Because I didn't have any background in UX/UI design, I took the Foundations course before applying to UX Academy. I really enjoyed the Foundations course and I also had an great mentor who taught me a lot. UX Academy itself is intense but I've learned so much and have landed a UX Design job quickly after graduating. The hard work pays off! I did thorough research before choosing Designlab by comparing programs online but also by asking people in the field which programs they recommend. ...Because I didn't have any background in UX/UI design, I took the Foundations course before applying to UX Academy. I really enjoyed the Foundations course and I also had an great mentor who taught me a lot. UX Academy itself is intense but I've learned so much and have landed a UX Design job quickly after graduating. The hard work pays off! I did thorough research before choosing Designlab by comparing programs online but also by asking people in the field which programs they recommend. The main benefits of Designlab are: the 1-on-1 mentorship, the weekly design critique sessions, a lot of room to choose/create your own capstone projects to build a portfolio that stands out and 6 months of Career Services after graduating. The reason I'm not giving an overall 5-star rating is because the mentor pairing can be hit or miss (it's very personal!) and the process to change mentors wasn't always that smooth for me. - BrittGraduate • 1. UX Academy Foundations • OnlineNov 30, 2021Overall ExperienceInstructorsCurriculumJob AssistanceN/A
Great experience; eager for more
I started Designlab's UX Academy Foundations course in October. I attended part-time (10-15 hours a week) for 8 weeks. I did heavy research on programs; a Designlab mentor on the UX design subreddit ultimately tipped me over in favor of Designlab. I just completed the foundations course this week and wow, it was a very rewarding experience. I learned a lot in a short period of time and I walked away with many tangible skills, including using Figma and understanding UI design principles. ...I started Designlab's UX Academy Foundations course in October. I attended part-time (10-15 hours a week) for 8 weeks. I did heavy research on programs; a Designlab mentor on the UX design subreddit ultimately tipped me over in favor of Designlab. I just completed the foundations course this week and wow, it was a very rewarding experience. I learned a lot in a short period of time and I walked away with many tangible skills, including using Figma and understanding UI design principles. My weekly meetings with my mentor was the true highlight - I got constructive feedback each week and an opportunity to ask questions to an expert. The Designlab projects are actually fun to work on and I looked forward to coming home from work each day and getting started on my classwork. My only regret was not having more time each week to dive in to the content more (e.g. read the recommended supplemental articles) - there's so much interesting stuff to learn. I am applying now for the Designlab full-time academy in hopes of changing my career to UX/UI design. I will be leaving a 12-year professional career in education, so making this transition is a big risk - yet I haven't doubted this decision once since starting with Designlab. - Nidhi JhaStudent • 1. UX Academy Foundations • OnlineNov 19, 2021Overall ExperienceInstructorsCurriculumJob Assistance
Ux Foundations
Im glad i picked design lab for learning ux designing. They gave the best content. The people who work for design lab are it's assets. They go out of the way to help students to accommodate their needs. Super approachable and very understanding. The content itself is well organized, easy to follow with videos and lots of project work for practice. - JessieGraduate • 1. UX Academy Foundations • OnlineNov 12, 2021Overall ExperienceInstructorsCurriculumJob AssistanceN/A
Great experience
I'm really glad I took this course. As advertised, it got me up to speed on basic UI/design knowledge so that I'm ready for the UX design bootcamp. DesignLab's customer service is extremely responsive via email, which I really appreciate. - SachiniGraduate • 1. UX Academy Foundations • OnlineNov 10, 2021Overall ExperienceInstructorsCurriculumJob AssistanceN/A
UX Academy Foundations
I love the whole experience, the fact I did all of the projects online while juggling with my full time job and it was a great experience. I was able to develop and improve new skills and knowledge about UI/UX designing. - JordiStudent • 1. UX Academy Foundations • OnlineNov 05, 2021Overall ExperienceInstructorsCurriculumJob AssistanceN/A
UX Academy Foundations
I was debating between designlab and careerfoundry. I ended up choosing to enroll on designlab's foundations class because that would be a great way to see if their teaching style matched me before committing to a full payment.
The focus of the class is to get you up to speed with current UI design tools and design principles; with the idea of preparing you for when deeper lessons in the UX field are introduced in their Academy program.
I wasn't expecting to have such a d...I was debating between designlab and careerfoundry. I ended up choosing to enroll on designlab's foundations class because that would be a great way to see if their teaching style matched me before committing to a full payment.
The focus of the class is to get you up to speed with current UI design tools and design principles; with the idea of preparing you for when deeper lessons in the UX field are introduced in their Academy program.
I wasn't expecting to have such a dedicated staff, easy to digest content, and all the resources provided. Being paired with a mentor and having weekly check ups was a fantastic push to stay on track.
What impacted me the most is the scope of the projects, how much hands-on material there is, and the amount of content you can get to cover in so little time - without feeling overwhelming.
The results you'll get out of the class is definitely based on how much effort you put into it. After taking this class I feel very confident about diving into the next subjects such as UX, research, and the job search in the near future!
I would definitely recommend if you're considering a career switch but don't want to fully commit to a full boot camp!
- IreneStudent • 1. UX Academy Foundations • OnlineNov 04, 2021Overall ExperienceInstructorsCurriculumJob AssistanceN/A
UX Student
I think this is a good course for anyone considering stepping into the UX/UI field. For an online course, it will definitely be what you make of it but Designlab provides a good amount of resources to start off with. For anyone who hasn't worked with design software before, it's a great intro to Figma & Sketch and helps familiarize you with the basic functions. While the course offers recommended time spent on each project, you can really choose to move at your own pace which I fou...I think this is a good course for anyone considering stepping into the UX/UI field. For an online course, it will definitely be what you make of it but Designlab provides a good amount of resources to start off with. For anyone who hasn't worked with design software before, it's a great intro to Figma & Sketch and helps familiarize you with the basic functions. While the course offers recommended time spent on each project, you can really choose to move at your own pace which I found really helpful for someone balancing a full time job while enrolled. The best part though was that even though it's just a foundations course, you are paired up with a mentor! - StellaUX Foundations Graduate • Graduate • 1. UX Academy Foundations • OnlineNov 04, 2021Overall ExperienceInstructorsCurriculumJob AssistanceN/A
Great course someone looking to jumpstart their career in UX Design
As someone who never did any digital design and 0 experience with design programs, the course was very daunting at first. But DL's program babies you into the world of design and UI elements. It's a great idea for someone who's interested in UX but not sure they want to pay for a full-on course just yet. The "reimbursement" to pay for the UX Academy is great too. The learning portal is clean and simple, easy to use and straightforward. Mentors all seem quite experienced, and you can even...As someone who never did any digital design and 0 experience with design programs, the course was very daunting at first. But DL's program babies you into the world of design and UI elements. It's a great idea for someone who's interested in UX but not sure they want to pay for a full-on course just yet. The "reimbursement" to pay for the UX Academy is great too. The learning portal is clean and simple, easy to use and straightforward. Mentors all seem quite experienced, and you can even look through their work on the DL website and get linked to their resumes. The school's ambassadors are very active and there are multiple optional webinars throughout the course.
FYI mentor sessions are 1 hour in UX Foundations and Academy, and you're free to take them whatever direction you'd like, but since most people are doing this after their daytime job, you may have to schedule times before/after normal working hours (they take into consideration your time zone and whatever else you request on a survey before assigning you a mentor).
The only cons are that the learning material itself is a bit lackluster, somewhat dated (you can just tell from the screenshots of old iPhones), and you probably can find most of the material online somewhere else. But the projects and mentorship sessions are the main gems that you'll get.
One piece of advice to anyone coming from a non-design, non-UX background: try the Coursera UX courses for $40/month to feel it out first, and then if you're wanting to continue, give UX Foundations a try ($40/month vs. $500!) - Kamilah KGraduate • 1. UX Academy Foundations • OnlineNov 02, 2021Overall ExperienceInstructorsCurriculumJob Assistance
UX Academy Foundations
Innovative, great place to start your UX journey if you're new! Everyone is incredibly helpful and will be more than happy to help if you need it. 1-1 mentorship is incredible and helps you improve on your work tremendously. - Samantha CunhaGraduate • 1. UX Academy Foundations • OnlineNov 01, 2021Overall ExperienceInstructorsCurriculumJob Assistance
Graduate
Pros: work at your own pace, mentor assigned to help with learning and feedback, slack community to communicate with peers.
Cons: mentor wasn't great - didn't get along with my learning style - wish there was a more in-depth process of assigning mentors
Designlab Alumni Outcomes
Recent Designlab News
Jess Feldman
Updated October 21, 2024
As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to revolutionize the tech industry, mastering these powerful tools is essential for today's tech professionals. To help you stay ahead, we've curated a list of cutting-edge AI courses specifically designed for those already working in tech. Most of these courses require coding skills and a solid understanding of technical concepts, so they're also ide...
Rachel Meltzer
Updated December 15, 2021
If you’re a creative problem-solver, then a career in design may be for you! But how do you choose between a career in web design versus a career in user experience (UX) design? Since these two career paths are both user-focused, they have many similarities, but we’re breaking down the nuanced differences between web designers and UX designers to help you find the better fit for you! Find out...
Jess Feldman
Updated September 01, 2021
User experience (UX) design is an in-demand tech field offering plenty of opportunities for career-changers and upskillers. Nicole of Designlab demystifies the UX design career path from entry-level to senior-level UX design roles, diving deep into the traits of successful UX designers and the typical responsibilities and salaries at each career level. With her many years experience as a de...
Jess Feldman
Updated September 01, 2021
Course Report · Course Report Coding Bootcamp News Roundup - August 2021
August was buzzing with news about the benefits of credentialing for alternative, skills-based learning. We’re sharing the latest on the Apprenticeship to College Act in Congress, and regional workforce development programs aimed at helping high school students and adult learners find tech roles through bootcamps in...
Liz Eggleston
Updated August 19, 2021
After working for a decade in aerospace engineering, Jack Henstridge wanted to tap into his creative side and shift gears into UX design. After extensive research, he decided to enroll in the UX Academy program at Designlab because of the hands-on curriculum and mentorship opportunities. Jack shares how his Designlab bootcamp experience and portfolio helped him land his first design role as a...
Jess Feldman
Updated September 30, 2024
While some tech companies like Slack and Apple have shared that ~7-8% of their US workforces identify as LGBTQ, visibility for LGBTQ+ folks in the tech industry remains a struggle. Diversity in entrepreneurship and in the workplace is essential – it ensures different perspectives and experiences are represented within a team and encourages new ideas and better problem-solving. With 700,000 te...
Lauren Stewart
Updated January 24, 2018
Did you know that by leaving a Verified review of your coding bootcamp experience on Course Report, you’re entered to win a $500 Amazon Giftcard? This time, our lucky winner was Gretchen, who graduated from online bootcamp Designlab in April 2017! We caught up with Gretchen to find out about her coding bootcamp experience and why she decided to attend Designlab.
Want to be our next Rev...
Lauren Stewart
Updated September 04, 2024
Most high-salary industries need more diverse workers, and tech is no exception. The conversation about diversity in tech usually focuses on gender, diversity encompasses racial, socioeconomic, cognitive, and experiential differences. Think pieces and diversity reports show large tech companies admitting they have a problem and beginning to address the diversity in tech crisis, but can the ...
Lauren Stewart
Updated December 30, 2016
It’s that time again! A time to reflect on the year that is coming to an end, and a time to plan for what the New Year has in store. While it may be easy to beat yourself up about certain unmet goals, one thing is for sure: you made it through another year! And we bet you accomplished more than you think. Maybe you finished your first Codecademy class, made a 30-day Github commit streak, ...
Liz Eggleston
Updated April 30, 2015
Dalton Mitchell works as an IT Manager, but struggled with the more aesthetic side of design. Without quitting his job or taking on the financial burden of full-time bootcamps, Dalton decided to join Designlab, a part-time, mentor-driven, online learning platform. Having completed the Design 101 course, Dalton tells us about finding a career path that he loves and how Designlab helped him d...
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.