Selecting The Right UI/UX Course For Your Future
UI/UX started as an upcoming specialization in design, but it now holds a domain of its own. This industry has grown steadily after many organizations realized its value in its sector and started investing in it. UI/UX has gathered a lot of interest in this ever-changing world. I have been reading a lot on Quora for the last six months, and folks often ask about UIUX courses such as, “what is UI/UX design course?” or “What are some good online UX/UI design courses that offer certification?”
So I started searching online, looking for the best UI/UX course out there. But before that, let me answer a correlated question – What is UI/UX?
UI/UX stands for User Interface and User Experience. Back in the day after GUI became a known concept, it became easy for virtually anyone to use a computer with the help of drop-down menus and unique icons. As of now, any decent website would include visual design choices, making it easy for a user to complete a task. User Interface consists of these screens, various pages, buttons, and other visual elements required to help users interact with the system. User Interface includes the overall experience a user gains after interacting with the system. It is all about getting someone from point A to point B effortlessly.
Now that is out of the way, let us talk about a UI/UX course. In this post, I will be giving you an idea of what it is and its importance for a better understanding. And I can hope that by the end of this post, you would be able to pick a course on your own and start your journey to flourish in the field of UX.
Let us begin.
What is a UI/UX course?
UI/UX course is a career path candidates can pursue at the undergraduate and postgraduate level. I found some of these popular courses that candidates can follow at the UG level:
- BDes in User Experience Design
- BDesign in Communication Design
- BDes-UX
- BSc in UI Design and Development
- BDes in Interaction Design
- BDes in Visual Communication
- BSc in UI and Graphics Design
- BCA (Design-Animation/Graphics/UI-UX)
UI/UX courses that candidates can pursue at the PG level are:
- MDes in User Experience Design
- MDes in Interaction Design
- Master of Design in UX
Candidates can also pursue diploma courses in UI/UX design such as:
- Diploma in Web UI design
- Certificate in UI/UX Design
- Post Graduate Diploma in UI Design and Development
Eligibility, syllabus, and fees
When it comes to eligibility for a UI/UX course, the bar is set relatively low. It is because of high demand and low supply, which also provides aspirants from other fields to migrate to UI UX. Candidates who want to pursue a UI/UX course need to pass their Senior Secondary from a recognized board. They can come from any stream, that is irrespective of applying for admission in a UI/UX course. Similarly, candidates should complete their graduation from a recognized university for PG admissions in a UI/UX course.
Moving on to UI/UX course syllabus
UI/UX Course Syllabus
Since UI/UX is such a multidisciplinary field, it depends on the kind of UI/UX course you choose to further your career. I have gone through some of the best UI/UX courses (s) mentioned above. And I have found some common topics (or their nomenclatures) that might be a part of the syllabus on the UG Level:
- Fundamentals of Design
- Elements of Design
- Design Theory and Methods
- Design Principles
- Design Process & Methodology
- Visual Design
- Empathy & User Study
- Service Design
- Design Thinking
- UI Design
- Color Theory
- Typography
- Introduction to Prototyping
- Mathematics for Design
On the PG level, here are some of the common topics:
- Introduction to Design Research
- Design Psychology
- Introduction to HCI
- System Analysis and Information Design
- Instructional Design
- Cognitive Ergonomics
- Interaction Design
Furthermore, I would also like to mention some of the common topics for the Diploma UI UX course:
- Fundamentals of Computers, Multimedia, and Internet
- Concepts of Graphics and Illustrations
- UI Development
- Application Prototyping
- Usability and User Experience
These common topics (and their terminology) along with a few other soft skills like creativity, visualization, eye for detail, time management, good communication, and interpersonal skills along with basic knowledge of specific software and programming will fill your UI UX course syllabus.
Moving on to UI/UX course fees
UI/UX Course Fees
UI/UX course fees would typically depend upon a few factors. For UG, PG, or Diploma levels, the course fee depends on:
- The location of the institute/university.
- The UI/UX course syllabus.
- The duration of the UI/UX course.
You can also do a UI/UX course online, which would be more of a Bootcamp. But that is your budget and choice.
Why are UI/UX Courses Important?
Comparing the UI/UX courses I have listed above it, folks often ask about their importance and whether they will be a significant investment. Let me give you five reasons why you should be doing UI/UX courses:
- It will teach you more than Design Skills. As a candidate, you would gain Hands-on experience in User Research, ideation design thinking, Accessibility, Wireframing, which type of prototypes is more user interactive, ui ux test, amongst others. As you go through these experiences, you would be picking up additional skills like empathy, communication, and UI Design.
- These UI/UX courses exist for people who use a product or service. A UI/UX course will help you understand that the user is present in human-centred design examples. It will further empower you to create delightful experiences for the user to view the product as a comfort and convenience source.
- A UI/UX course can help you design a delightful experience for your users, leading to the success of the said product or service in the market driving business growth.
- A UI/UX course grants you the necessary skill set to work in a fast-growing field, implementing new technology such as virtual reality or augmented reality. It places you at the forefront of digital innovation.
- A UI/UX course has become a precursor due to the lack of great designers in the country. So your salary package, as you gain more experience, rises exponentially. As per Glassdoor, the average base pay of a UX designer in India is ₹ 837,000 annually.
I believe that the importance of a UI/UX course is evident at this point, not just from a career perspective, but also from an ROI perspective.
Conclusion
In a country like India, UI/UX courses are considered design specialization, but it is much more than that. Speaking from personal experience, I choose to believe that you can be inspired and discover new skills with or how to become a ux designer with no experience.
I say this because I completed my Master’s in Mass Communication. But today, I am a UX writer by profession. Many people like me have chosen to level up and pivot their career paths. Working in UX has been an absolute blessing, as I get to work on multiple products for different users. UX is an amalgamation of various jobs together, which has made the journey challenging, intriguing, and noteworthy.
