I have recently been asked this question A LOT so I decided to write an article on the subject so that anyone can reference it at any time. If you still have questions after reading this blog, feel free to schedule a quick chat with me here.
User Experience is a rapidly growing field that is not only attracting many aspiring UX designers, but also people transitioning from another field. Because UX has become a highly desired career, that also means competition for the role has increased drastically. If you simply google “How to become a UX Designer,” you will be presented with a slew of courses and bootcamps that “guarantee” a job placement with little or no experience. While some of these programs may teach you the necessary skills to become a UX designer, getting a good UX role can be a lot tougher than that initial Google search makes it seem.
Let’s begin with a quick intro into my background and the path I took to become a UX designer. I attended UC San Diego’s UX Extension Program from August 2017 – June 2018 as a part time student. For reference, when I attended each course ranged from $600-$800 and the total program cost about $5,500. Again, this was back in 2017, so I would assume the program has changed a bit since I graduated and possibly increased in price. I would also like to mention that I did have previous experience in graphic design and marketing before attending this program, which you can learn more about in my other blog that explains my career history in detail.
Another question I am often asked is why I chose UCSD’s UX program over other programs. For me, it really boiled down to pricing and the amount of knowledge I would gain for that price. I was already familiar with UCSD’s program structure, since it mimicked that of the typical UC system (quarter system). The program was also partly online and partly in person and since I was working full time, the flexibility of the program was another big plus for me. Overall, UCSD’s program simply offered everything I needed and was within my budget, which made it the obvious winner for me. Also, if you want to learn more about this program, I go more in depth in my other blog, 10 FAQ’s about my Experience at UC San Diego’s UX Design Program.
The program at UCSD consisted of 8 courses (with options to take more). Some covered UX topics, some coding, and an elective of choice (I chose the SEO & Marketing course, which I highly recommend). The final course of the program focused solely on building your portfolio to showcase all of your projects completed throughout the program. This was extremely helpful for me since at the time, I didn’t know which direction to take my portfolio and needed guidance. I would also mention that if you are starting with no experience in design, to take a couple Udemy courses on graphic design and wireframing. It definitely comes in handy for a UX role.
The program took me a total of 3 quarters to complete, but the majority of the students took the classes over a 2 year period. That may sound like a long time, especially compared to some of these bootcamps that are only a few months long; however, this is a perfect time to start applying what you are learning by possibly landing a junior UX position or internship. This will give you the advantage over someone with only a bootcamp background and no other real-world experience.
Choosing a program can be stressful, especially when some programs charge anywhere from 10k to 20k. I always advise aspiring UX designers to do in-depth research for each program and try to contact a real person who has actually attended the program and was able to get a UX position afterwards. This is going to be the best way to get a solid idea of what you can expect with the program.
Overall, I can’t tell you which program is better than the other or if it is worth it to do a bootcamp for 20k (which seems pretty overpriced in my opinion), but I always think continuing your education is worth the investment. If you are someone who needs more structure around a program, then I would definitely recommend doing an Extension Program or Bootcamp. Although, if you are the opposite and do just fine studying and working independently, then I would recommend just finding free or cheaper courses to take. Remember, with any of these options, you get out what you put in, so it’s really dependent on you and your self-discipline.
