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Thinking of investing in the Google UX Design Certificate? The Google UX Design Certificate is a comprehensive and affordable intro to UX design for self-starters. It provides practical skills and portfolio-building opportunities but no structured mentorship and career support. In other words, students love the flexible self-paced learning but find the peer feedback for evaluations limiting. But don’t worry, this Google UX certification review breaks down the course, costs, and real student experiences. Read on to find out the pros and cons before you decide.
What is the Google UX Design Certificate?
The Google UX Design Certificate is a 7-course UX design program that introduces the fundamentals of UX design including a Google UX course and a Google UX design certification. It’s a well-rounded education that covers user-centered design to usability testing to equip learners with practical skills to create accessible and enjoyable products.
This certificate program is for self-starters and budget-conscious individuals who want a comprehensive intro to a UX design course without the hefty price tag of a traditional college degree or bootcamp. The curriculum covers foundational concepts like user-centered design, UX research, wireframing, and usability testing so students get a solid foundation in user experience design as a professional UX designer.
The program also covers various UX frameworks like Design Thinking and Lean UX to help with design processes. Upon completion of the course, students will be able to conduct UX research, create wireframes, and perform usability testing to get them ready for entry-level positions in the UX field.
Google UX Design Program Details
This program is available on Coursera and it is designed to get students ready to apply for entry-level and advanced positions in the UX design industry. One of the best parts of this program is that it’s accessible, and has captions and visual elements to help students understand complex topics better.
The program is self-paced so learners can go at their own speed. This is great for those who have other commitments like work or family. Whether you’re a complete beginner or want to level up your existing skills the Google UX Design Certificate is a structured but flexible learning path to get you to your UX design career goals.
Course Breakdown
As we already mentioned, the Google UX Design Program is 7 courses long, and each course is designed to take you through the UX design process. The program starts with the foundational UX concepts like user-centered design and the design process to set the stage for the rest of the program.
The curriculum includes practical projects that take you through each phase of the UX design thinking framework. You’ll learn to test early concepts to get user feedback on your design ideas. This hands-on approach means you’ll learn the theory and apply it in real-life scenarios, creating low-fidelity prototypes and high-fidelity designs with Figma and Adobe XD.
The program ends with a series of practical projects where you’ll build a portfolio of your design work. You’ll do UX research to get insights and improve your designs. This portfolio is key to show your skills to potential employers and stand out in the job market.
Google UX Design Program Covers UX Principles in Detail
The Google UX Design Certificate program goes deep into the UX design principles so students get a solid foundation in the field. One of the key principles covered is user-centered design which means creating products that meet the needs and preferences of the users. The program also introduces students to design thinking and lean UX, methodologies that focus on iterative design and rapid prototyping.
Accessibility and inclusive design are also a big focus, teaching students to create products that are usable by everyone. The curriculum covers the entire UX design process from empathizing with users and defining their needs to ideating solutions, prototyping, and testing early concepts. By the end of the program, students will be able to do UX research and create high-quality designs, to get them ready for the field.
Learning Experience and Accessibility
You’ll create wireframes and prototypes with Figma and learn Adobe XD for responsive web design throughout the program. This hands-on experience with industry-standard tools means you’ll get practical skills that you can apply to real-life projects to create great designs.
The time commitment is 10 hours a week so it’s manageable for most learners. This consistent but flexible schedule means you can complete the program in as little as 6 months so it’s possible to switch careers without a big time investment.
Mentorship and Community Support
While the Google UX Design Certificate is great in many ways, it’s lacking in mentorship and community support. The program relies heavily on community support and peer feedback rather than direct mentorship. You can engage in peer discussions and get feedback from other participants but there’s no structured one-on-one support.
Community interactions include virtual study sessions and discussion forums where you can share ideas and get feedback. The lack of professional mentorship can be a drawback, especially for complete beginners who might struggle without consistent guidance.
The program’s peer evaluation can sometimes result in shallow feedback so students don’t get deep critique. Although it’s a collaborative learning environment, some students might find the lack of professional feedback challenging.
Career Support and Job Market Readiness
The Google UX Design Certificate provides resources to help you transition into a UX design career including the Google UX certificate. These resources include resume-building and review services and access to a job board through the Google Career Certificates Employer Consortium. These resources are designed to get you ready for entry-level UX design positions.
The program also has interview preparation materials, including tips on how to answer common interview questions. These are especially helpful for those new to the job market or looking to switch careers.
Graduates gave the program a 5 out of 10 for job market readiness. Many felt the lack of direct career mentoring is a big gap. While the resources are useful, real-time personalized career support is limited.
Support and Resources
The Google UX Design Certificate program has a range of support and resources to help you succeed. One of the key features is peer-led study groups where you can share ideas and get feedback. Students also have access to a private Coursera Community for certificate learners and graduates where they can network and get support.
The program also includes a lot of pre-prepared materials and online resources that cover various aspects of UX design including design thinking and lean UX. For those looking to enter the job market, the program has access to a job board through the Google Career Certificates Employer Consortium. This is accompanied by resume reviews, interview preparation, and other career support services so you’ll be ready for your next UX design job.
Cost and Time Commitment
One of the best things about the Google UX Design Certificate is the cost. At $49 a month, it’s much cheaper than UX boot camps and traditional college degrees. Depending on your pace the total cost will be around $234 if you complete in 6 months or around $300 if you complete the full program.
Students will need to commit around 10 hours a week to the program so it’s manageable if you have other responsibilities. Coursera also has a 7-day free trial so you can try the program before committing financially.
So affordable and flexible it’s a great option for those who want to get into UX design without burning a hole in their pocket.
Pros and Cons of the Google UX Design Certificate
The Google UX Design Certificate has its advantages which are affordability and flexible pacing. The career support materials and peer feedback are helpful for self-motivated learners. But it may not fully prepare you for the job market.
The lack of professional critique and structured mentorship is a big drawback. While peer feedback is helpful it can be shallow and the lack of real-time support might leave some learners wanting more.
Despite all this, the program is a good entry point for aspiring UX designers, especially those who are budget-conscious and self-driven.
Uxcel - The Best Alternative to the Google UX Design Certificate
If the Google UX Design Certificate doesn’t suit you, there is an alternative to consider. Uxcel’s UX certification offers a comprehensive and affordable way to get your name in the industry, build a strong portfolio, and find a great job.
Uxcel is a modern and recognized UX learning platform. Earning a UX design certificate from Uxcel proves that you have practical UX knowledge ready to apply and benefit your current or future employer.
In a dynamic environment, such as informational technologies, it is very important to never stop learning and keep track of the newest changes in your field.
With Uxcel, you can rest assured that your UX certification will be valued and help you in your career.
How to get the most out of the Google UX Certification
Try out the 7-day free trial to see the course content before committing to the Google UX Design Certificate. Engage with the online community to get insights and support from others and create a schedule to manage your learning commitments.
A 90-minute-a-day commitment can help you complete the course in 6 months. Accelerate video playback to 1.5x or 1.75x to learn faster. Create your own project prompts to get more engaged and better results.
Follow these tips to get the most out of the course and the resources provided in the Google UX Design Certificate.
Real Student Experiences
Testimonials from the graduates give you an idea of what it’s like to go through the Google UX Design Certificate. Overall the sentiment is very positive with many students loving the practical projects that help you build a professional portfolio.
Graduates like Cyn Val have shared their experiences through video reviews, and how the UX program has impacted their career and daily life. These real student experiences will give you a better idea of what to expect and how the program can help you achieve your career goals.
Google UX Certification Verdict
The Google UX Design Certificate is an entry point to the world of UX design. It's practical, and comprehensive it’s a good option for those who want to get into the field. However, the lack of professional mentorship and structured career support might be a con for some.
Overall the program gives you a good foundation in UX design principles and practical skills to get you into entry-level positions in the industry. By engaging with the community and following the tips above you can get the most out of the course.
Ready to get into UX design? Get started on Uxcel for free and learn UX design, faster.
