Best Part-Time UI Design Bootcamps

Many UI design classes are offered both full-time and part-time. Each format has its own benefits and drawbacks. A full-time class is the quickest way to learn UI design and will allow you to focus all of your attention on what you’re learning. A part-time class takes longer to complete, however, it gives you more time to develop your skills and allows you to spread out your tuition costs. This article discusses some of the other differences between the two class formats and offers advice about how to choose the one that will work best for you.

Why Learn UI Design Part Time?

There are some unique benefits associated with part-time learning. One is the flexibility it allows. While a full-time class will take a significant level of time and focus, when you learn part-time you’ll have the flexibility to balance your education with other needs such as work, family responsibilities, and other interests. Not having to quit your job can be important because it means you’ll have a reliable income while you learn. It can also help you fund your education. Another benefit of not having to give up your job to attend school is that you may not feel so much pressure to get a job right after you graduate. Instead, you can take the time to find a position that is the right fit for you.

Another advantage of learning part-time is that you’ll have more time to absorb all the new information you’re gaining, practice your skills, and develop a portfolio of projects. In a field like UI design, where there are a lot of new concepts and skills to learn, this can be a significant advantage. For instance, it can take some time to learn to develop empathy for your users, and to master all the different design applications that you’ll need to use. Further, when you learn part-time you may also have more time to gain relevant work experience, which can increase your chances of finding work when you graduate.

Drawbacks to Learning UI Design Part Time

However, there are also drawbacks to part-time learning. The biggest one is that it usually takes significantly longer to finish a part-time program than it does to finish a full-time one. There are numerous reasons why you might need to finish more quickly, both financial and professional. If you’re trying to learn UI design as quickly as possible, then a part-time program may not be the best option for you. 

Another drawback to part-time learning is that when you learn part-time, you’ll be dividing your focus between education and other things, and this might detract from the learning process. Some people say that they learn better if they can focus on one thing and put all of their attention on it, as happens when you attend school full-time. In contrast, when you learn part-time, you may have competing obligations--such as a job--that can take away from your focus on learning UI design. In addition, with a part-time program, you might be less likely to engage with peers while you learn, which can mean that you’ll miss out on potentially valuable networking opportunities. 

Is a Part-Time UI Design Bootcamp Right for You?

Whether or not a part-time bootcamp is the right choice for you will depend on your unique needs and goals. A part-time program can be an excellent way to prepare for a career in UI design, while allowing you to reserve time for other responsibilities like a job and family. In addition, you can spread out the cost of the class over a longer period of time, and you’ll also have more time to absorb all the new things you’re learning, and to gain experience, and develop a portfolio. However, if you want to finish your education as quickly as possible, and you have plenty of time to devote to learning, then a full-time program may be a better option. 

Ways to Make Learning UI Design Part-Time Easier

If you want to work in UI design, it’s important to start by building a strong foundation, which means mastering all of the basics. This includes things like color theory, typography, composition, layout, and how to properly conduct user research. To master all of this foundational knowledge, it's also important to devote a lot of time to practice, which will help strengthen your skills. As a UI Designer, you’ll also want to understand that learning will be a lifelong process. This is a constantly evolving field, so you’ll need to keep learning throughout your career in order to stay up-to-date with the latest technology and trends.

Another way to make the learning process easier is to enroll in a paid, live class. When you take a class you can follow a comprehensive, structured course under the guidance of an expert. Your instructor can personalize instruction to meet your needs, answer questions, and give you feedback on your progress. Through this interactive learning process, you can learn from both your successes and your mistakes and continually improve your design techniques. An expert instructor can also share tips and tricks, and common mistakes to avoid, all of which could take you years to figure out by yourself. Another advantage of a live class is that you’ll learn as part of a group, and your peer interactions can also enrich the learning experience.

When you’re learning UI design, it can also be helpful to immerse yourself in the UI design community. You can do this by following online communities and joining professional networks. In an article titled “What Are the Best Ways to Stay Up-To-Date on User Experience and User Interface Design Trends?” LinkedIn suggests, “Join online communities where you can interact with other designers, ask questions, share feedback, and learn from others' experiences. Online communities can also help you find opportunities, events, and resources related to UX and UI design.” Specific communities it suggests include Designer Hangout and UI Design Community. In addition, LinkedIn says, “You can also use platforms like Slack, Discord, or Reddit to find and join relevant channels and subreddits.”

Finally, you’ll find a wide range of different free resources online that you can use to teach yourself some UI concepts and skills. This includes tutorials, seminars, and forums. Many different websites offer these free resources. For instance, you’ll find dozens of tutorials on YouTube, covering a wide range of different UI design skills. Schools like Noble Desktop also offer free UI design resources like seminars and blog posts. Some on-demand schools also offer certain UI classes for free. In addition, if you’re trying to learn a specific design application, you may be able to find free tutorials specific to that application. For example, Adobe provides many free tutorials for its design programs, which are posted on its website. The Figma website also contains free resources. Finally, there are many online design forums where people with more experience in UI design are often happy to share tips and insights.

Choosing the Best Part-Time UI Design Classes or Bootcamp

When you’re choosing a part-time UI design class, you’ll want to make sure you look at the curriculum of the class that you’re interested in. Every school has a unique curriculum, and it's important to choose a course that is compatible with your learning goals and style. Some classes focus on a more narrow set of skills, while others are more general. You’ll also find differences in the ways classes are taught. Most will include at least some hands-on training, where you work on projects, however, the degree of project work can vary. 

Cost is also an important consideration for most people. The cost of a UI design class varies widely. Longer courses--like bootcamps and certificate programs--can cost up to $20,000 or $30,000. This is generally cheaper than the cost of a college education, but it is still a substantial investment. Some schools require you to pay the entire tuition up-front, while others offer payment plans; in some cases with interest, and in others you’ll find interest-free options. If you’re looking at shorter classes, the cost will be substantially less. Depending on the type of class you choose, it could be anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. However, you’ll also get fewer hours of instruction.

With so many different UI design programs out there, it can be overwhelming to choose one. As a way to help solve this problem, Noble Desktop created the Classes Near Me tool to help you narrow down your options. This tool allows you to sort classes by geographic area, find online options, and also compare short and long programs.

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.