Are UI Design Classes Worth It?

If you’re interested in UI design, you’ve probably started looking at the various UI design class options out there, and you might have also started to wonder whether or not a class is worth the time and money that you’ll need to invest. It is true that taking a class requires an investment, however, you get a lot in return. When you take a UI design class, you’re guided through a comprehensive curriculum by an expert instructor, who can answer your questions and provide feedback on your progress. If you’re serious about learning UI design, you’ll probably decide that a class is a good investment. Before you sign up for one though, it’s a good idea to understand your options. This article discusses some of the factors you might want to consider if you’re trying to decide whether or not you should take a UI design class.

What Is UI Design?

A user interface (UI) is the place where a person interacts with a digital product or technology. UI design is the process of designing the visual and interactive elements used in that interface, which includes things like menus, images, and icons. UI Designers aim to create an interface that is both aesthetically pleasing and easy to use. They play a critical role in attracting and retaining users. The most common type of user interface is a graphical user interface, which is used on computers and smartphones. However, there are also other types of interfaces including voice-controlled interfaces such as Siri and Alexa.

What Can You Do With UI Design?

A background in UI design can lead to employment in many different design-related careers. There is the most obvious one, of UI Designer. However, with a bit more education, you could also work as a UX Designer, which is similar to UI design, but is focused on making digital experiences better for users. Other design-related jobs that often include UI design are Visual Designer, which is a person who creates designs for a variety of different platforms and products, and Product Designer, which involves creating and refining the visual and functional aspects of a variety of products. With a background in UI, you could also choose to upskill--learning skills such as coding--and work to create some of the different interfaces that UI Designers create. This includes roles like Mobile Developer, Front End Developer, Back End Developer, and Full Stack Developer. 

Many people find that they like UI design-related jobs because they are both creative and challenging. Designers explain that every project is unique, and this means that their jobs involve constant innovation, creativity, and problem-solving. Many comment that because they are continually using their creativity in different ways, they rarely get bored with what they do. This field also allows a high level of flexibility and independence. As a UI Designer, you can choose to work for a specific company, however, many UI Designers work as freelancers. According to BLS, 13 percent of Web and Digital Interface Designers are self-employed. As a freelancer, you’ll have the freedom to pick the projects you want, work from wherever you choose, and set your own hours.

Advantages of UI Design Classes

Comprehensive Curriculum

When you take a UI design class you’ll follow a structured curriculum that covers all of the important topics in UI design, such as research methodologies, prototyping, design principles, and usability testing. Most UI design classes cover both theory and its practical application, giving you a well-rounded education that will prepare you to use your UI design skills in real-world situations. Having access to a comprehensive curriculum is a significant benefit. If you don’t know much about UI design, it can be almost impossible to figure out what you need to learn on your own.

Expert Guidance

Another advantage of a class is that rather than learning alone, you’ll receive expert guidance from an instructor throughout the learning process. Most classes are led by experienced instructors who also have professional industry experience. They can answer your questions and provide feedback. They can also share their insights about industry trends, best practices, and challenges that you are likely to encounter. In addition, they can help you network within the field of UI design. Most people say that they learn at a faster pace under an experienced instructor than they do when they try to learn alone. In addition, research shows that because of the accountability to that instructor that comes with a class, there is a much higher completion rate for students who learn through a formal class compared to those who try to teach themselves.

Peer Connections

Learning with a group of peers can also help you learn more quickly and more effectively. As certification provider CompTIA explains in a 2022 article titled “Self-Study vs. Classroom: Which One Is Better for Learning IT?” the peer interaction that you get in a classroom environment is unique. It says, “Human interaction occurs in a traditional classroom setting. You’ll have a teacher, and you’ll interact with other students on assignments and group projects.” Most classes involve a high degree of collaboration, with activities such as group discussions, projects, and workshops. These group activities can help broaden your experience and deepen your understanding. They can also help you prepare for collaborative work in the future, which is common in the field of UI design. Finally, peer interactions can lead to networking opportunities, which can also be valuable in the future.

Access to Resources

A class also gives you access to resources that you may not have otherwise. For instance, you’ll have access to industry-standard software and design tools. If you learn in person, you’ll also be provided with the computer equipment that you need. In a field like UI design, where technology changes quickly, being confident that you’re using the latest tools is definitely an asset.

Career Support

Another benefit of learning UI design by taking a class is that many classes provide career support in addition to a UI design education. If you opt for a longer class like a bootcamp or certificate course that is designed to get you career-ready, then that class will be likely to devote time to working on things that will set you up for success in the professional world. For example, you may work on projects that are similar to what you would work on in a professional UI design job. You might also spend time developing a portfolio, which is a collection of your best work that you can use to demonstrate your skills to potential clients or employers. Some classes also offer access to career support services where you can get advice about your resume and the job search and interview process.

Career Opportunities

By taking a UI design class, you’ll have access to a number of different career opportunities in a field that pays well and is experiencing strong growth. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), a government agency that reports a variety of U.S. labor market statistics, between 2022 and 2032, web development and digital design jobs will grow by 16 percent, which is significantly faster than the average U.S. job growth rate of 3 percent. The agency explains that one factor contributing to this growth is the use of mobile devices. It says, “The continued use of mobile devices to search the web is expected to generate demand for web developers and digital designers to create websites and interfaces that work on mobile devices with many different screen sizes.” The average salary for a UI designer is between $89,000 and $91,000 per year.

Classes Compared to Free Options

Using free training options is another way to learn UI design. You’ll find a wide range of different free resources online, such as tutorials, seminars, and forums. On the one hand, you don’t have a lot to lose by utilizing these free options, and you’ll have the flexibility to pick and choose what you want to use and direct your own learning in whatever way you want. However, on the other hand, with free resources, it can be difficult to know whether what you’re learning is up-to-date or accurate. In a Georgetown University Library article titled “Evaluating Internet Resources,” the author stresses, “Information available on the Internet is not regulated for quality or accuracy; therefore, it is particularly important for the individual Internet user to evaluate the resource or information. Keep in mind that almost anyone can publish anything they wish on the Web. It is often difficult to determine authorship of Web sources, and even if the author is listed, he or she may not always represent him or herself honestly, or he or she may represent opinions as fact.” Further, even if they are accurate and up-to-date, most free resources are unlikely to be comprehensive enough to really allow you to master all the complexities of UI design. For these reasons, if you’re trying to learn UI design in order to work professionally in this field, a bootcamp is likely to be a much better fit.

Learn UI Design with Noble Desktop

Noble Desktop is based in New York City and offers a number of different UI design-related classes, with both short courses that can help you quickly master the basics, and longer, more comprehensive programs that are intended to prepare you for a career in this field. Its classes can be taken in person at its Manhattan facility or in a live online format. Noble Desktop is licensed by the New York State Education Department. All courses include a certificate of completion and the option of a free retake within one year.

One of Noble’s most popular UI design classes is the UI Design Certificate, which is a multi-week course where you’ll learn about composition, typography, color, interactivity, user interface elements, best practices, and all the other things you’ll need to understand in order to work in UI design. You’ll learn to retouch photos in Photoshop, use Adobe Illustrator’s drawing tools to create graphics, icons, and logos, and create UI designs and prototypes using Figma. You’ll also create a portfolio of website and app designs that you can show to potential employers or clients. This class also comes with eight one-on-one mentoring sessions that you can use to work on challenging concepts, review your portfolio, or receive professional advice about applying and interviewing for jobs.

Noble Desktop also offers a UX & UI Design Certificate. This course covers the fundamentals of both UI and UX design. You’ll learn how to conduct user research and testing. You’ll also learn to design digital products and build clickable prototypes using Figma. In addition, as part of the class, you’ll work on projects that you can include in your design portfolio. The class comes with six one-on-one mentoring sessions.

Another option is the Web Design Certificate, which includes instruction in UI design. In this class, you’ll learn to use Figma for designing UI, you’ll build websites with WordPress, and you’ll work on a variety of coding skills. You’ll also learn how to use Git to track changes in your code and to collaborate with other developers, JavaScript for animation and interaction, and Bootstrap for building layouts. Eight one-on-one mentoring sessions are included.

Noble Desktop also offers classes in Figma, which is a popular UI design tool. The Figma Bootcamp takes a number of days to complete. In this bootcamp, you’ll learn a variety of Figma skills including optimizing designs for mobile, tablet, and desktop screens, extracting image assets, designing on grids, and sharing designs with clients. You’ll also learn to create animations and build interactive prototypes. In addition, the class covers components, and working with team libraries.

Another Figma option is the Figma Masterclass, which will take you from a beginner to an advanced level. In this class, you’ll learn to create UI and UX designs for websites and apps, designing layouts that are optimized for various devices. You’ll also learn to build interactive prototypes, make animations, use components, work with team libraries, and use conditionals.