Top UX Design Certificates & Certifications in Chicago

User experience (UX) design is the process design teams use to create products that provide meaningful and relevant experiences to users.

UX design involves the design of the entire process of acquiring and integrating the product, including aspects of branding, design, usability and function. Designing an experience includes not only making the software easy to use but also designing the other experiences related to the product, including the marketing campaign, the packaging, and after-sales support. Most importantly, UX design is concerned with delivering solutions that address pain points and needs. 

Now more than ever, organizations are recognizing the value of user-centered design, applying its principles everywhere from web experiences, to physical products, to service delivery. According to a study done by Forrester Research, a well-designed user interface could raise a website’s conversion rate by up to 200%, and a better UX design could produce conversion rates up to 400%. Simply put, design matters. 

UX design is one of the most sought after skills in any industry, and UX Designers are in very high demand. Chicago is one of the busiest hubs in need of UX Designers. Companies like Nordstrom, Creative Circle, PayPal, and Dyson are in need of talented designers to revamp and evolve their customer facing experiences. 

UX 4Sight: Web and Application UX Design

Key Information: UX 4Sight offers some of the best in-person UX classes in Chicago. Web and Application UX Design is a 2-day course that will show you how to master UX design. This course is currently offered during the day on a 9am to 4pm schedule. The tuition price is $996 and includes a student manual, student workbook, case studies and examples, live instruction, hands-on exercises, resources, trips, and best practices, and a UX Certification. They also have a money back guarantee if you don’t have a better understanding of the UX best practices after course completion. This course is offered at the Intermediate level, so prior experience is recommended. 

You’ll learn how to master the design process for application, web, and product design, recognize the difference between good and bad UX design, learn best practices around UX design, UI design, prototyping, wireframes, and information architecture, and get hands-on experience designing with popular software tools. 

This course features 11 units designed to enhance your skill set and give you an in-depth look at UX Design. Units include Good vs. Bad UX Design, Mental Models & Conceptual Design, UX Principles & Heuristics, Information Architecture, UX Design Navigation & Wireframes, Interaction Design & Prototypes, Visual Design, UX Design Methodology, Web Standards, Accessibility, and the UX Design Workbook. 

UX 4Sight: Web and Application UX Research

Key Information: Web and Application UX Research is an intermediate-level UX course offered in-person in Chicago. Like Web and Application UX Design, this course is a great option for those pursuing a certification. This course is currently offered during the day on a 9am to 4pm schedule. The tuition price is $996 and includes a student manual, student workbook, case studies and examples, live instruction, hands-on exercises, resources, trips, and best practices, and a UX Certification. This course also comes with a money back guarantee if you don’t have a better understanding of the UX best practices after course completion. This course is offered at the Intermediate level, so prior experience is recommended. 

You’ll learn about the typical roles within UX, how to define UX, and potential implications within projects. You’ll also become a UX advocate and learn how to make the business case for user experience within your organization. You can expect to come away with skills like UX strategy, effective user targeting, and task prioritization. 

This course features 8 units designed to enhance your skill set and give you an in-depth look at UX Research. Units include Why User Research Matters, Understanding UX Research Methodologies, Reviewing UX Research Methods, Determining the Right Setup, UX Research Plan, Recruiting Participants, Conducting a Usability Test, and UX Research Exercises. 

Ascend Training: UX Design: User Experience Workshop

Key Information: A great in-person UX Design course in Chicago is Ascend Training’s UX Design: User Experience Workshop. This workshop is offered at the advanced level, so you’ll need some previous formal training with UX Design to get the most out of this course. It is an ages 18 and up course that has a maximum class size of 10. Tuition for this course is $1,299 and includes top industry professional instructors as well as necessary course materials. 

This intensive 2-day class will teach you the tools and techniques to create the best user experiences. You will learn about responsive design, wireframing and sketching, connecting with the company brand, and defining a product vision. You can expect to leave this class with a solid framework for applying UX principles and design to website design, development, and deployment. 

You’ll cover two main units in this workshop which are UX Interaction Design Essentials and Effective Design Strategy. During the UX Interaction Design Essentials portion, you can expect to learn how to come up with new ideas, sketch solution concepts, refine with wireframes, sitemaps, and flows, and express possible look and feel. Other topics include responsive design, hierarchy and dominance, brand presence, techniques to find structure, and task-based application, to name a few. The Effective Design Strategy unit covers user models, defining a product vision, design principles as a strategic tool, and effective prioritization. 

General Assembly: User Experience Design Bootcamp

Key Information: To get a good start on your certification path, consider taking the User Experience Design Bootcamp offered by General Assembly. This course is offered both online and in-person with varying schedules throughout the year. This bootcamp is offered as an all-levels course and has a tuition price of $250. The average class size is 20. 

Providing an enjoyable user experience is crucial to both attracting and keeping users. This class aims to take the mystery out of UX by giving you a simple introduction to what UX is while also explaining some of its core concepts of usability. You’ll be introduced to new concepts and ideas that will broaden your perspective on the human-computer interaction experience. 

During this bootcamp you will practice the design methods and strategies that lead to successful products, understand how UX fits into your team’s workflow, gain knowledge of the terminology of UX Design along with useful tips and resources, engage in hands-on exercises including research, scenarios, personas, card sorting, user flows, prototyping, and user testing, as well as practice your collaboration, brainstorming, and sketching skills. 

Noble Desktop: UX & UI Design Certificate

Key Information: What is the difference between UX and UI? This certificate course answers that question by introducing and teaching you to master both UX and UI design through 132 hours of hands-on instruction. Tuition for this course is $3,495 which includes live, project based training from industry professionals, 1-on-1 mentoring outside of class, course workbooks, and a verified digital certificate of completion. It also features small class sizes, the option to retake the course for free within 1 year of completion, and flexible payment plans. 

UX Designers focus on designing apps, websites, and other products that are easy and pleasant to use. UI Designers focus on the appearance of apps, websites, and other products so they are beautiful and visually effective. In this project-based certificate program, you’ll gain the skills to pursue a career as both a UX and UI Designer. 

Over the course of this program you will learn UX and UI design fundamentals which cover best practices for user-centered UX design and visual design, conduct user research and testing by studying your target user base, making user personas, and conducting testing to identify potential problems, design webpages and apps, as well as build your UX and UI design portfolio to showcase your designs to potential employers. You’ll also get valuable job preparation help and feedback including tips on developing your portfolio website and resume. 

Noble Desktop: Figma Bootcamp

Key Information: Figma is a modern design app that was built with UX Designers in mind. It focuses on designing user interfaces and user experiences, which makes this bootcamp a great choice for anyone looking to get certified in UX design. The tuition for Figma Bootcamp is $695 which includes 12 hours of hands-on instruction, live, project-based training from industry experts, course workbook, and a verified digital certificate of completion. You also have the option to retake the course for free within one year of completion. This course is offered both full-time and part-time and is an all-levels course for ages 18 and up. The average class size is 15.

Figma uses frames to effectively design web layouts for mobile, tablet, and desktop. It’s a vector-based app which allows you to scale for a variety of screen sizes without sacrificing quality or clarity. While using Figma you’ll find tools and features specifically relevant to UI and UX design such as components and built-in prototyping tools to name a couple.

In this bootcamp you will learn to design complex and realistic prototypes with advanced functionality. You will cover how to add interactions such as hovers, how to add animations to your designs using smart animate, and how to make specific areas within a screen scrollable, among other topics. 

FAQ for UX Design Certificates

What is the Difference Between a Certificate and a Certification?

Generally, the difference is that a certificate is awarded to students who complete a training course while a certification is given to students who pass an exam.

Should I Pursue a Certificate or a Certification?

What are your goals? What time constraints exist in your life? Whether you pursue a certificate or certification is going to depend on a lot of factors. Certificate programs are great for those who want to learn a new skill or prepare for a career shift while balancing a busy schedule. Certificate programs are designed to be quick and comprehensive, with many taking the form of bootcamps or combined unit learning, so if you can keep up with the focus demands, they are a great way to learn any given subject. Certificate programs also usually have a set curriculum with courses all offered with the same learning institution, so you won’t have to hunt for classes you think might teach the skills you’re after. 

If you can’t make a set class schedule work, a certification might be better for you. You’ll need to figure out what courses you need to take and what information you’ll need to learn before you take a certification exam, but it gives you a little more wiggle room with your time. You might have previous experience and want to take advanced courses instead of starting with the basics in a beginner-level bootcamp. You also might just need a class or two to refresh your memory. If you feel you can pass a proctored skills exam demonstrating your proficiency without enrolling in a certificate program, a certification path will be your best bet. 

You also need to look at what is being offered. Sometimes you might want to pursue one option or the other, but you might run into some snags as far as what is being offered in your area or when courses are being offered. Be open to a certificate program if there are no current certification courses available, and maybe look into getting a certification if you can’t find the right certificate course.

Do I Need to Become Certified to Find a Job?

No! As with any profession, you can get your foot in the door if you find yourself at the right place or the right time, or if you know someone that can grant you access. However, a much safer bet is to be as competitive as possible when situating yourself as a candidate. Holding a certificate or certification for the job you want is going to make you stand out from other applicants and also give you the confidence you’ll need in an interview. It shows employers you know what you’re talking about and are qualified to do the job. To get the best jobs you need to be able to talk the talk and walk the walk so to speak. Being a certified applicant will accomplish that. 

What Certificate Program is Right for Me?

Which is Better: In-Person or Online Classes

When it comes to in-person or online classes, one option isn’t necessarily better than the other. It just depends on your personal needs and preferences. 

In-person classes offer hands-on guidance as well as the ability to physically interact with group members and instructors. If you’re someone who needs or wants to get out of the house when learning something new, in-person classes offer that traditional avenue you’re looking for.

If you can’t make in-person classes work, or you simply prefer learning from the comfort of your own home or office, online classes are a great option. Online classes offer some of the same benefits of in-person classes including live instruction and real time exercises and discussions. Instructors are available to answer questions and will guide you through the courses as if you’re sitting in a classroom.

Online classes are a great option for those with busy lifestyles such as caretakers, or those with unconventional work schedules such as delivery or Uber drivers. Online classes are also more accessible, taking any commute time or extra stress out of the equation. Instead, online learners can log on at home without any extra prep and be ready for class.

Which is Better: Live Online or Asynchronous Classes?

This is also going to come down to personal preference, but there are some key differences you should be aware of. Live online classes are your best bet to stay focused and on target. They are set up in a way that makes it very difficult for you to miss something or skip over anything. However, you do have to follow a curriculum if you want to get the most bang for your buck. On the other hand, asynchronous classes require you to have a greater level of self discipline. You’ll need to make sure you don’t fall behind or prioritize other things above your courses. You will have more control over when you learn what with the format, though, which can be very appealing to those who have trouble keeping with a routine.