{"id":20115,"date":"2022-11-09T14:07:40","date_gmt":"2022-11-09T19:07:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ceros.com\/inspire\/?p=20115"},"modified":"2022-11-09T14:07:42","modified_gmt":"2022-11-09T19:07:42","slug":"ux-design-bootcamps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ceros.com\/inspire\/originals\/ux-design-bootcamps\/","title":{"rendered":"UX Bootcamps Actually Worth the Time and Money"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading Time: <\/span> 4<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>\n

Though still a relatively new field, user experience (UX) design has earned a spot as one of the most in-demand hard skills<\/a> across all business sectors. The future looks bright, too; the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts<\/a> the growth rate for digital developers and designers will top 20% over the next 10 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So if you\u2019re a graphic designer looking to expand your skill set or make a more drastic career pivot, how do you get the skills to be in UX? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

User experience<\/a> describes the process of designing products or systems with the end customer\u2019s journey in mind, all the way from discovery to checkout. The field as we know it was only formalized in the mid-1990s, and specialized degree programs are still few and far between. Nevertheless, there\u2019s been an explosion of online resources\u2014and the real challenge is deciding what\u2019s truly worthwhile. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whether it\u2019s mining YouTube for hyper-specific tutorials or committing your time to a self-taught approach, trial-and-error only takes you so far. Luckily, for true beginners and those who want to uplevel at light speed, there\u2019s another alternative: bootcamps. (No, they\u2019re not just for coders.) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s break down what UX design bootcamps can help you accomplish and which programs you should consider.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The good and the bad of bootcamps<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Bootcamps, by definition, take an intensive approach to learning the basics of design. The workload\u2014often akin to a full-time job\u2014is required to reach what can be elusive goals: UX mastery or, for those with no design experience, simply getting a rock-solid footing. While some bootcamps can be up to a year long, they usually range from three to six months. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

One primary draw of bootcamps is their emphasis on professional success. Many even come with job guarantees and explicitly make mentorship and networking a part of the curriculum. There may be some design theory involved, but students dedicate much of their time to practical work and cultivating a portfolio that will get them hired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What bootcamps usually are not is a leisurely earning environment. Peruse enough reviews or Reddit posts and you\u2019ll notice one recurring piece of conventional wisdom: You get out what you put in. Real results require a big commitment, so don\u2019t expect to be able to create a flawless wireframe through osmosis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then comes the cost. Bootcamps don\u2019t carry quite the same price tag as a degree program, they can still be a significant investment ranging anywhere from a few thousand dollars to $20,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So how can you discern if a bootcamp is right for you and what criteria to use when selecting one? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stella Guan, a designer and former instructor at General Assembly, outlines<\/a> a few practical considerations. With so much content packed into such a short time, those who really want to get acquainted with design principles could have trouble taking it all in. If that\u2019s you, it might be worth seeking an alternate route. And where portfolios are concerned, a highly-standardized curriculum means \u201cmany students will inevitably produce portfolio pieces that look very similar to another bootcamp graduate\u2019s.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Four Best Programs Now<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Whatever your UX design goals are, odds are there\u2019s a bootcamp for that. From budget-conscious picks to those that boast a built-in network, here\u2019s what the landscape looks like today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n