Which UX & UI Training Format Is Right for Me?

UX & UI design is the practice of designing digital applications with the optimal user experience in mind. UX & UI Designers are in demand across industries and generally see lucrative salaries. Many UX & UI design skills can be applied to other graphic design, project management, and customer focused careers. When comparing types of UX & UI design training, there are many factors to consider. Everyone learns differently, and choosing the right kind of training is critical to your success.

Keep reading to find out more about the different formats of UX & UI design training, how they compare to each other, and how to determine which is best for you.

What is UX & UI Design?

User interface (UI) design involves the development of a digital application’s interface and how it appears to users. Interface designs need to not only look appealing but also effectively communicate information to audiences. UI Designers create graphic assets and use them to build menus and layouts, among other aspects of a user interface. UI design relies heavily on principles of visual and graphic design.

UI design pairs closely with user experience (UX) design. Rather than building the look of a digital application, UX Designers focus on how an application feels to use. A user’s experience should be simple and engaging in ways that allow them to easily navigate the program. UX Designers conduct focused tests and analyze data to understand their audience’s behaviors.

UX & UI Designers work closely together. The fields also overlap so that it’s not uncommon for one designer to fulfill aspects of each role, particularly at small firms. 

Read more about what UX & UI design is and why you should learn it.

What Can You Do with UX & UI Design?

There are many skills gained through studying UX & UI design. UX & UI designers learn how to identify and solve problems. They form hypotheses, conduct research, engage with customers, analyze data, and build prototypes. They know how to build a long term project plan, follow through, and iterate. Even if not pursuing UX & UI design as a career, the skills gained through studying the field are useful for Department Managers, Project Managers, and entrepreneurs. 

UI design specifically focuses on creating text, images, and graphics and combining them into a digital interface that must be both visually appealing and functional. These skills are essential for marketers and entrepreneurs looking to build websites, social media content, and other digital media.

UX Designers work closely with customers through focus groups, user surveys, and interviews. Many UX Designers spend more time interacting with the public than with their team of designers. Building the skills needed to understand your audience is useful in any field that works closely with people such as hiring, general management, marketing, campaign strategy, and market research, among others.

UX & UI Designers are ultimately responsible for crafting the experiences of the digital products we use in our everyday lives. They work to ensure those experiences are accessible and enjoyable. Choosing to pursue a career in UX & UI Designer can be exciting as these designers play a large role in influencing how the world around us works.

Training Formats for UX & UI Design

There are three training formats for learning UX & UI Design. Live classes, either online or in-person, are taught by a professional instructor and allow students to work with peers. Online classes are best for students who prefer not to commute, desire a different learning environment than a physical classroom, or can’t find the in-person class they wish to attend at a location near them. On-demand training is ideal for students with busy schedules who can't commit to full or part-time training or who otherwise prefer to learn at their own pace. This training often includes free online videos, guides, and tutorials. Only you can decide which training format is best for you.

In-Person UX & UI Design Training

There are a number of perks to in-person training. Physical classrooms can eliminate the distractions a student might encounter when learning online. A physical classroom also offers more direct engagement with the instructor. Thus students may feel more inclined to ask for help, or it may be easier for a teacher to identify when a student is struggling. In-person learning also allows students to engage with and learn from each other in a set environment.

There are a number of in-person UX & UI design training options. To truly learn UX & UI design, an individual will need to attend a comprehensive class, likely lasting several weeks. However, short classes, lasting only a day or two, are available. These classes are ideal for beginners wanting an overview of UX or UI design techniques or wishing to learn the fundamentals of an interface design tool. Noble Desktop offers short classes in Sketch, Adobe XD, and UX design fundamentals. These courses are offered in person in NYC at Noble’s Manhattan campus.

Live Online UX & UI Design Training

There are a number of perks to in-person training. Physical classrooms can eliminate the distractions a student might encounter when learning online. A physical classroom also offers more direct engagement with the instructor. Thus students may feel more inclined to ask for help, or it may be easier for a teacher to identify when a student is struggling. In-person learning also allows students to engage with and learn from each other in a set environment.

There are a number of in-person UX & UI design training options. To truly learn UX & UI design, an individual will need to attend a comprehensive class, likely lasting several weeks. However, short classes, lasting only a day or two, are available. These classes are ideal for beginners wanting an overview of UX or UI design techniques or wishing to learn the fundamentals of an interface design tool. Noble Desktop offers short classes in Sketch, Adobe XD, and UX design fundamentals. These courses are offered in person in NYC at Noble’s Manhattan campus.

Free Online Courses & Tutorials

If you’re interested in UX & UI design but aren’t ready to dive into a full course, you can start learning for free online. Some ideal places to start include Noble Desktop’s free Intro to Figma and Intro to UI Design seminars. In these introductory courses, you’ll learn what Figma can do and how its features integrate with UI and UX design. You’ll also learn about UI design, how it relates to UX design, and what the visual design process entails. These courses are perfect for giving you an overview of UX & UI design before deciding to attend a full course.

Free online courses are ideal for beginner learners to start their journey as they often feature overviews of a program. You can find additional free courses through skill-sharing websites such as Youtube, Coursera, or Udemy. While these classes can be valuable and cost-effective for beginners, their main purpose is to provide overviews of a program. Professionals looking to comprehensively learn UX & UI design skills to advance their careers will need to attend more advanced, professional development classes. 

Read about more free UX & UI design videos and online tutorials.

On-Demand Classes

On-demand and self-paced UX & UI design training options are often free and ideal for students who prefer to learn at their own pace or are too busy to attend regular training sessions. On-demand training on beginner and advanced techniques for UX & UI design is available through skill-sharing websites such as YouTube, Udemy, and Coursera. However, a disadvantage of this method is that students must rely on self-motivation to progress through the material. They also lack an instructor to turn to for guidance if they encounter any problems. Free training is also often out of date.

Comparison of UX & UI Design Training Formats

You can learn UX & UI Design through any of three training formats: live online, in-person, and on-demand classes. Each method has its advantages and disadvantages, and each individual will find that different approaches work best for them depending on their schedule, learning style, and training goals.

Live online and on-demand classes are the most accessible training options. As they are online, students can attend classes from anywhere (with an internet connection) and don't face the time-consuming and sometimes expensive commute required by in-person classes. Students are also free to choose their preferred learning environment, whether that be their home, work office, library, coffee shop, or another favorite study area. Online classes often offer more curriculum options than can be found in the nearest in-person courses. On-demand classes win out slightly in accessibility because they aren't tied to set class schedules. Students with busy lives may choose on-demand training to learn at their own pace.

The downside of on-demand classes lies in engagement. Students are left to their own motivation to advance through coursework and have no one to turn to with questions or for support. When on-demand training does offer an instructor’s contact information for assistance, students may wait days or longer for a reply. Live online and in-person training rank far higher in engagement. Students can ask instructors for immediate feedback, interact with peers, and often receive guidance in job searching or building portfolios. In-person training wins out slightly over live online courses in that some people feel more comfortable initiating engagement with their peers or instructors in a physical setting.

When it comes to affordability, on-demand training wins out again. As these classes are self-led, they are often free. However, it's important to weigh other pros and cons discussed in this section, especially when it comes to engagement or career advancement. The popular adage "you get what you pay for" often holds true when comparing on-demand courses vs. in-person or live online courses. While live online training isn't free, many professional institutions offer free seminars or introductory courses. Additionally, live online classes are often cheaper than in-person training.

If you're looking to advance your career, live online and in-person training offer the comprehensive learning you need. While on-demand training will likely be enough to learn the basics of a skill, self-led learning can't replace the knowledge a professional instructor possesses and passes on to their students. On-demand resources are also often dated and don't hold up to industry standards. Professional instruction is typically necessary to advance your career.

Overall, live online training is the best well-rounded option, offering most of the benefits of both in-person and on-demand classes. Students have no commute and usually have the option of more flexible schedules than with in-person training. Live online training replicates the interactivity of in-person classrooms with live instructors and classmate interaction. Some live online training can be found for free and offers the same self-led benefits as on-demand training. Paid live online training is an excellent and affordable option for professionals looking to advance their careers.

Is it Possible to Teach Yourself UX & UI Design?

It is possible to teach yourself UX & UI Design basics through free online courses and tutorials. Popular websites for finding these tutorials include Youtube, Coursera, and Udemy. Noble Desktop also offers a number of free UX & UI Design seminars. These courses tend to be under two hours in length and feature both overviews of UX & UI design for beginners and guides on how to use common UX & UI design tools. Such tutorials can be great for learners on a tight budget or even for professionals who need a refresher on specific tasks. 

The downside of these free resources is not having an instructor to offer guidance. If you find yourself stuck and unsure of how to progress, you could waste hours in troubleshooting. Free tutorials are also often outdated and don’t feature instruction on the latest industry trends. Tutorials on UX & UI design tools may not feature the latest version and thus have missing features. For professionals wanting to comprehensively learn UX & UI design to advance their careers, these resources will lack the advanced features they need to do so. 

Free videos and tutorials are also numerous. It can be overwhelming to sift through them all. And even then, not all tutorials are created equal. It can be time-consuming to search for one that is up-to-date, comprehensive, and professionally made. For a beginner, it can be impossible to know if the instruction you are receiving is quality or correct.

How to Decide the Best Way to Learn UX & UI Design

The best way to learn UX & UI design will vary greatly on your individual training needs and why you wish to learn the program. Do you consider yourself a beginner learner? Are you hoping to not spend money on your training? Are you looking for a simple overview of UX & UI design? If you answered yes to these questions, free introductory courses would be best for you. However, these courses are often outdated and don't feature the comprehensive learning necessary to advance a career. They also lack an instructor, so you'll be troubleshooting on your own and relying on self-motivation to progress.

If you want to learn UX & UI design to advance your career, a professional UX & UI design training or a bootcamp contains a comprehensive curriculum. These courses are taught by an experienced instructor and provide a deep dive into UX & UI design aspects and tools. You'll be guided from beginner to advanced skills and learn expert techniques and tips. Some of these courses also offer one-on-one career mentorship or portfolio workshops. Professional training courses and bootcamps are available online and in person and vary in cost depending on the provider and curriculum. If you're looking to pivot to a new career or industry, you’re likely looking to demonstrate mastery of UX & UI design to a potential employer. In this case, you'll want to look for a certificate program. Certification in UX & UI design shows employers your dedication to training and advancing your career.

Learn UX & UI Design with Hands-on Training at Noble Desktop

If you’re interested in learning UX & UI design, Noble Desktop offers several classes for you to choose from. These classes are available both in-person and live online. Classes are small and are taught by instructors who are experts in their fields. Free retake options are also available. 

In Noble’s UX & UI Design Certificate program, you’ll learn both UX & UI design concepts, build a professional portfolio, and gain one-on-one job preparation assistance. This is the perfect course to jump start a new career. Additionally, you may wish to enroll in the Figma Bootcamp. While Figma is taught in the UX & UI Design Certificate, the bootcamp dives in depth into the program. You’ll thoroughly learn the leading application for interface design from beginner to advanced techniques applicable to both UX & UI design. 

Additional classes can be found through the Visual Design and UX Design categories. The UI Design Certificate teaches graphic and interface design for websites and mobile applications. You’ll also learn essential software used by professionals including Figma, Adobe Photoshop, and Illustrator. The Digital Design Certificate teaches design techniques for web, print, and mobile. You’ll learn Figma for interface design along with Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign for designing digital and print materials. The Visual Design Portfolio Bootcamp teaches interface design through hands-on and multi-project courses. You’ll need to feel comfortable using Figma before enrolling in this course. 

Whether you know you want to start a career in UX & UI design or want to explore how UI design principles can be utilized in more graphically inclined careers, Noble Desktop has the classes you are looking for.