Whether you’re a graphic designer or web developer looking to upskill, or a complete beginner considering a full-blown career change into UI design—learning UI design skills will allow you to make a real impact on people’s lives with beautiful, impactful interfaces.
While it is possible to teach yourself basics, there are many online UI design courses that can equip you with the practical skills and design approach to get you hired.
We’ve rounded up 9 of the best online UI design courses to take in 2024.
First, we’ll answer a few common questions about UI design and what to consider when selecting a UI design course.
Then, we’ll compare the courses. From introductory courses for those looking to test the waters, to full career change programs for those looking to invest, you’ve got plenty of options.
- How to learn UI design
- What is included in a UI design course?
- What to look for in a UI design course
- The best UI design courses
Let’s dive in!
How to learn UI design
To learn UI design, start by researching and familiarizing yourself with UI fundamentals, including its principles and industry trends. Online tutorials and courses provide structured learning paths and practical exercises to enhance your skills. Additionally, practicing with design tools and working on design projects will help you gain hands-on experience and refine your abilities.
It’s possible to learn the basics of UI design through online courses, but because design is an iterative process requiring stakeholder feedback, the most effective way to learn is with feedback from mentors and peers.
At CareerFoundry, we offer a free, hands-on 5-day short course in UI design. You’ll cover the basics of UI and create your first app screen from scratch. It’s a good way to get the basics of a subject before diving in deeper.
What is included in a UI design course?
A UI design course is a specialized program that offers instruction on the principles and techniques of user interface design. These courses typically cover topics such as design theory, usability, prototyping, and interaction design. They equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to create visually appealing and user-friendly interfaces. A goal of most courses is to help students build portfolios that they can then send to potential employers.
What to look for in a UI design course
The best UI design course for you depends on your individual preferences and learning style.
Consider factors like course structure, student reviews, affordability, and personal goals when selecting the best UI design course for your needs.
Make sure that the course you select incorporates design feedback and critique, so that you have an opportunity to see your work improve.
Mentorship, networking opportunities, and personal support can make a big difference in your job search. Courses with real-time feedback and 1:1 interactions can be more helpful than courses that are completely online.
The best UI design courses
Decided that UI design is for you? You can formalize your learning with one of the paid courses featured here. Let’s get started!
1. CareerFoundry UI Design Course
The renowned CareerFoundry UI Design Program is one of the few UI-specific career-change programs currently on the scene. The program has been created to take you from a total novice to a talented professional, focusing on both UI design theory and practical application.
Towards the end of the program, you’ll create an app from scratch—a project that will form the base of your professional portfolio. The cherry on top? You’ll be supported throughout your journey by your very own mentor, tutor, and career specialist to help you land a job within six months of graduating (or your money back).
2. Udemy
Looking to master the fundamentals with a UI design course that doesn’t break the bank? We recommend the popular learning platform Udemy—and this Principles and Practices for Great UI Design course taught by expert Joe Natoli is a great place to start.
This 5-hour course made up of 50 lessons is jam-packed with timeless principles for good UI design that you can apply to anything you ever work on. You’ll learn how to create and apply hierarchy, color, contrast, typography, and gestalt principles to design appropriate visual cues for your users.
3. Thinkful
Tech bootcamp Thinkful’s “designer track” program, which combines both UI and UX design to give students a versatile and competitive skillset, is a great option for beginners who want full immersion into the world of design. Flexibly self-paced and boasting a holistic approach to design, students get 360 support as they build their portfolio with 3-6 real-world projects throughout the program.
Thinkful also offers various scholarships promoting diversity in tech, to lighten the financial load.
4. Learn.UIdesign
Online video course Learn.UI design takes a straightforward approach to teaching the fundamental tools, methods, and processes of UI design to tech hopefuls.
Once enrolled, you’ll be able to view 41 video-based lessons that you can watch at their own pace. You’ll also have access to dozens of downloadable assignments, printable cheat sheets, and an online slack community to support you as you progress throughout the course.
5. Springboard
Like Bloc, Springboard offers a UX/UI design career track, which combines both disciplines into one course. With a curriculum split into 35 units, you’ll work on substantial design projects and complete a real-world externship with an industry client.
After nine months, you’ll graduate with a professional UI/UX design portfolio that will help you to stand out in the job market.
As the program is billed monthly, students who finish early have the added bonus of paying less for their tuition.
6. Experience Haus
London-based company Experience Haus offers a more innovative, immersive approach to learning UX and UI design remotely. In their 8-week user experience and interface design course, you’ll get live workshops, real client briefs and check-ins, interactive interview sessions with users, and a course completion certificate at the end.
With a maximum of 15 people per course, it’s a great UI design course option for anyone who favors a more collaborative way of learning.
7. Skillshare
It’s natural to want to test the waters of UI design before making any sizeable investment of time and money. Skillshare to the rescue! With bite-sized lessons you can fit in anywhere, Skillshare offers free sign-up and access to classes on both the web and mobile.
There’s a range of single UI design classes available on the site, but if it’s a full course you’re after, this UI design Sketch course is a great option. Over 7 hours, this course will see you master the full functionality of the popular UI design tool Sketch, and teach you how to make use of its potential. Comprising a mix of video lessons and practical exercises, you’ll create a working, interactive prototype.
8. Designlab
Tailored for mid-level designers, the Designlab four-week UI Design Course pairs you with an experienced mentor to learn contemporary design patterns and apply them to your own projects. With a curated curriculum, flexible assignments, and weekly mentorship calls, you’ll delve into UI fundamentals, modern trends, and key concepts like color theory, typography, and responsive design.
9. Google: Build Dynamic User Interfaces (UI) for Websites (Coursera)
Google’s Build Dyamic User Interfaces (UI) course is part of their UX Design certificate program, so if you’re pursuing a certification in broad design concepts, it’s worth considering.
In 4 modules of about 20 hours of course content, you’ll learn the basics of responsive design for websites, create your own wireframes and prototypes, get professional feedback, and prepare your portfolio.
With over 2,800 reviews and an average 4.8 star rating, the course boasts high graduate satisfaction.
So there we have it; the best 9 UI design courses to take in 2024.
To find out more about whether UI design is right for you, speak directly with a program advisor.
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