Format:
100% online
Learn on your own time
Duration:
9 months, 10 hrs/wk
Finish early by putting in more hours
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What is UI and UX?

  • User Experience (UX): UX designers have the crucial role of shaping how a user perceives and interacts with a product or service, like an app or multi-step form, to create a positive and seamless overall experience.

  • User Interface (UI): On the other hand, UI designers are in charge of devising the visual components (e.g. menus, buttons, icons, etc.) that facilitate a person's interaction with a product or service.

Auburn University OPCE UI/UX Design Bootcamp

The demand for designers is at an all-time high as industry leaders vie to build products that are continually engaging and easy to use. UI/UX designers enjoy high job satisfaction, great pay and the opportunity to work with technologies that drive innovation and growth.

The UI/UX design bootcamp will prepare you to learn hands-on learning activities and end-to-end projects that include:

  • UI practice exercises.

  • capstone project for your portfolio.

  • 3 additional projects that are optional for you to complete.

This 100% online program allows you to learn on your own schedule and you can complete the course earlier if you put in more study hours per week.

Read more to learn how our UI/UX design bootcamp can help you launch your career in the design industry.

Get access to powerful mentorship and career coaching

Throughout the bootcamp, you will receive 1:1 mentor support through regular phone calls where you can ask questions, receive feedback on your projects and get insight into the design industry.

We’ll also set you up for career success with eight optional career units that cover finding the right job titles and companies, networking fundamentals, writing resumes and cover letters and conducting mock interviews.

Careers in UI/UX design

Various career paths exist in the design industry, based on your goals and interests. Decide between being a generalist or specialist, and choose agency or freelance work. Here are potential titles, and their median advertised salary in Alabama, which you may want to consider after completing the bootcamp:

  • UX Designer: $67,328

  • UI Designer: $55,150

  • UX Researcher: $94,976

Annual Median Advertised Salary in Alabama. Source: Lightcast; Oct 2022 - Sep 2023; 0-3 years minimum experience required.

Students studying

Comprehensive curriculum

The UI/UX Design Bootcamp aims to help you secure your first UI/UX design job. You'll learn through practical assignments like UI practice exercises, which simulate the tasks designers handle daily. These projects are essential for your portfolio, showcasing your ability to complete a design project from start to finish, impressing potential employers. Check out some curriculum units below for a sneak peek:

NEW! AI Learning Units

Leverage AI tools to create more intuitive and engaging design, and set yourself apart as a designer equipped with the latest knowledge and skills. We've added seven new optional units to our curriculum to allow you to learn AI alongside key topics in UI/UX. New AI units include:

  • Introduction to AI and Its Relevance to UX.

  • AI-Enhanced User Research.

  • Dynamic Persona Building and Journey Mapping with AI.

  • Information Architecture and Ethical Considerations in AI.

  • Designing for AI: Tools, Practices, and Usability Testing.

  • Prototyping for AI: Tools for Prototyping AI-Based Systems.

  • AI and Usability Testing: Adjusting Techniques for AI Systems.

Intro to Design Tools

  • Explore the landscape of design tools and gain an understanding of how to use them.

  • Learn the essential elements of Sketch, Adobe XD, or Figma and practice using one of these tools.

Wireframing

  • Incorporate learnings from user tests and iterate on your designs as you transition into digital wireframes.

  • Develop an understanding of the importance of designing for edge cases.

  • Begin considering transitions between screens.

High Fidelity Mockups

  • Learn about the importance of accessibility and the value of inclusive design.

  • Understand the fundamentals of accessibility, the WCAG guidelines and how to perform a basic accessibility audit.

  • Understand the fundamentals of grids.

  • Learn techniques to design high-----fidelity mockups of screens using your design tool of choice.

  • Learn how to facilitate critiques to quickly get and incorporate feedback as you build your designs.

  • Examine best practices to consider when communicating with other designers and stakeholders as you create high-fidelity mockups.

Build a unique project portfolio that showcases your UI and UX skills

In the program, you will complete one required capstone project and get the choice to undertake three additional portfolio projects. Among them is a design sprint, which involves quickly going through the entire design process in just one week. Moreover, you'll have the chance to collaborate with an actual company on a 40-hour industry design project.

Capstone 1

This is a multi-month, end-to-end design project that includes each phase of the design process and will help you sharpen your new UX and UI skills you’ll learn throughout the course.

Design Sprint

This is a Google Ventures-style design sprint that will allow you experience working on a complete project in a short (1 week!) timeframe.

Capstone 2

This is another end-to-end project that incorporates each stage of the design process. You’ll apply all of the methods you’ve learned from the course while working with real-world constraints.

Industry Design Project

This is a ~4-week real-world project. You will be partnered with a company and use your design skills to help the company tackle a business problem. While working on this project, you’ll apply all of your course learnings and hone your professional and collaborative skills:

  • Identify a customer problem to solve.

  • Conduct competitive research.

  • Sketch, design and build a prototype.

  • Perform usability testing and identify improvements.

Regular learner support

While you’re learning online, we’ll also offer several support nets to catch you if you are falling behind. These include:

Regular 1:1 mentor video calls: Receive personalized feedback, project support, and career guidance.

Dedicated mentor calls: Get extra 1:1 help from mentors in our community, at no cost.

Online community: Engage with peers, discuss work, and receive feedback.

Student advisors: Call upon your student advisor for questions regarding accountability, time management, or anything else.

1:1 career coaching sessions: Meet with a career coach, and complete optional career units to support your job search.

Mentor call

Meet our mentors

angelo-lo-presti
Angelo Lo Presti
Sr Product, UI/UX Designer
meg-clayton
Meg Clayton
Sr UX Designer
deb-howell-novak
Deb Howell-Novak
Sr UX Designer
matthew-weprin
Matthew Weprin
Sr Manager, Design & UX

Is this program right for you?

Do you have an eye for design? Do you enjoy enhancing aesthetics, creating order, and prioritizing user experience? If your answer is yes, then this program is tailor-made for you!

Prerequisites 

We welcome individuals from all backgrounds, provided that you can showcase proficiency in visual skills, creativity, and effective communication.

FAQ

What is UX?

UX Stands for User Experience. According to prolific designer Don Norman,

"User experience encompasses all aspects of the end user's interaction with the company, its services and its products."

What is UI?

UI stands for User Interaction: It focuses on the aesthetics or the look of the product a user interacts with.

What does a UX/UI designer do?

UX designers are responsible for a user's overall experience as they interact with every aspect of a product or service, such as an app or multi-step form.

UI designers are responsible for determining the visual elements (e.g. menus, buttons, icons, etc.) that a person uses to interact with a product or service.

What skills are needed to become a UI/UX designer?

You’ll need a mix of design skills we’ll teach you, such as wireframing and prototyping, as well as strong research acumen. You’ll also need a set of soft skills that you can develop over time, such as empathy (understanding users’ pain points), the ability to communicate with internal and external stakeholders and collaboration across all parts of the company.

What type of jobs can you do after a UI/UX design bootcamp?

There are a variety of jobs that you can take based on your interests and career goals. The above listings in the Careers section are some of the most common titles (UX Designer, UI Designer, Motion Designer, UX Researcher and Information Architect).

As you move up in your career, you’ll find more advanced specialties or ones that require technical proficiencies, such as coding::

  • UX Strategist.

  • UX Architect.

  • UX Product Manager.

  • UX Analyst.

  • UX/UI Engineer.

  • UX/UI Developer.

  • Product Designer.

How long does it take to become a UI/UX designer?

In 9 months, our bootcamp will equip you with the technical skills you’ll need to build an impressive UI/UX portfolio and launch a successful career in UI/UX design. If you are motivated to power through the material at a faster pace, we allow you to study on your own time and finish the course earlier.

What is the salary of a UI/UX Designer?

According to Lightcast, UX designers in Alabama with 0 to 3 years experience have a median advertised salary of $67,328 and UI designers in Alabama with 0 to 3 years experience have a median advertised salary of $55,150.

Source: Lightcast; Oct 2022 - Sep 2023; 0-3 years minimum experience required.

Are UI/UX designers in high demand?

Yes, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that jobs will grow 23% between 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations.

More questions about the program?

Speak to an enrollment team by completing an application, email Carolina, our enrollment assistant, or explore more frequently asked questions. 

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