UX Boot camp Review. Was it all Worth it? | DesignLab UX Academy

[@robbintwobees]

LOL I'm actively crying -- another DL student linked me here and I'm like "wot why is my name on this playlist" HAHAHAH thank you for the shout out Mimi! For those who are still on these comments, Mimi was a regular in my sessions and her feedback and presentation style (as you can see) was always top-notch. She is properly talented and I'm so thankful you have this series to help others figure out what works best for them!

[@mimimichi]

Omg! You’re not crying, I’m crying! Thank you!

[@sarahmartin1533]

I'm so glad I found your channel. I have been learning front end development since November and have felt I made the wrong choice as I am way more interested in both UX and UI. I'm nervous about spending so much money on a bootcamp but I'm constantly hearing great reviews about deisgnlab and what is really important to me is a job guarantee. I've been researching for a couple months and feel like I am finally ready to pay for the foundations course and then apply for the bootcamp. I've been unemployed since February of 2021 leaving the healthcare field and have been using doordash to make ends meet. I want a better more fulfilling life and a job I genuinely like. I'm so nervous to pull the plug but know it is definitely needed!

[@biankadavis6842]

Hi Sarah have you started the bootcamp

[@lemonstar1261]

Front end web dev is becoming a really good skill to have for ux/ui designers. If you do both you will be super marketable. My goals is to have both certificates by the end of 2024 👍

[@themorenacoder]

I've also quit my job in healthcare last year to pursue a career in tech. I initially was intrigued by cybersecurity and general IT work, but UX/UI feels like a better fit for me. I may be leaving my current job sometime soon so I hope I can pursue the DL bootcamp full-time. We're all in this together! *virtual hugs*

[@AyseHauck]

oh my gosh! were in the same exact boat! i was self teaching myself front end web development (HTML CSS Javascript, react). but honesty, i found that i loved working on the creative portion of web development more so interested in UI/UX design. i feel like i wasted the past year learning skills for a job that i knew i wouldnt be happy doing. i hope im making the right choice now, by switching over to UI/UX

[@mrKYLieRIck]

@@AyseHauck i feel the same way! i thought i wasted my time learning front end, i now landed a job as a front end, it was an internship at first and then they gave me a permanent contract,however after two years and a half im seriously thinking to quit and focus more on UI UX design, also my senior wasn't so happy with my performance as a developer as it requires to know tons of things, and i feel like i can't keep up, i'd rather focusing more on the design... been looking for bootcamps and hopefully i can make this switch in my career

[@linorkirkpatrick]

After completing UX Academy, I can say it was totally worth investing in if you are serious. For me, I was not interested in getting my money back as I got so so much from the course, the community, the mentors, the group critic facilitators and other students, my career mentors and all the support... the value of this course is massive. It does take time breaking in to field, some will get lucky some will take time and it depends on where you live and the industry as well. About the mentors, you can always ask to switch after a call or two. If you end up signing up to UXA when you get to your capstone work, look for real projects or volunteer as you will get the chance to work with others.

[@wh00is007]

Glad to hear the good news.. I am thinking of signing up with them as well. I've been watching KZbin videos and blogs, but feel a classroom setting is where I should be at especially when I am trying to switch careers. 1) How long did it take you to finish the course, were you full time or part time? 2) What was the timeline when you were done with the course and landed a job? Thanks

[@zoeyzhang2622]

So glad I watched this video. It's encouraging to know that you are able to learn so much and get a job. I quit my job a while ago and ha've been studying on my own but it doesn't seems to work as well. Going to enroll in the foundation class and try really hard this time. Look forward to more videos!

[@mimimichi]

Glad it was helpful! I'm excited for your career in to UX !

[@Matt_Bowden]

I'm in school full-time right now for business but have been considering taking a year off to do a bootcamp and try to see if a career flourishes from it instead of pursuing school for another 4 years. I was thinking of doing the foundations course as well before the full progam, did you enroll yet and how have you found it to be?

[@NolanB91]

Start my Foundations tomorrow. Nervous but this makes me feel better

[@mimimichi]

Good luck! What an exciting time :)

[@shivangigupta8315]

Hi Nolan! How was your experience with UX-A? What was the best and worst thing about them? How much time did it take before you ended up with your first job?

[@henweezy21]

thank you mimi!! i'm starting ux academy next monday and just trying to mentally prepare myself lol. so excited tho!! :)

[@mimimichi]

Hi Henry! Yay how exciting, not gonna lie I'm pretty jealous. I miss it!

[@shivangigupta8315]

Hii! I am still deciding whether or not I should enroll. How was your experience in UX Academy? Did you end up getting a job post the bootcamp?

[@themorenacoder]

Hi Mimi! I've been binge watching your videos lately. I'm also a fellow psych degree grad who is considering making the switch in to UX/UI. I have a couple years of experience in healthcare and I always had an interest in working in tech. Currently thinking about jumping the gun and applying for Design Lab's bootcamp. Thank you for sharing this invaluable information!

[@mimimichi]

amazing! So excited for your journey in UX! Thanks for watching

[@michellebracken68]

I start today! Thank you Mimi!

[@BraleyBailey]

Thanks for sharing your experience. Im clicking the link for the DL course right now :)

[@juliahyndman3920]

So happy I found your channel Mimi! I just started researching careers in UX design and your videos have been so helpful and encouraging. Thank you for your time and effort! Can't wait to watch your next one :)

[@Pvps808]

Thank you! I am in the beginning phases of figuring out what I need to know for my UX design career and this video was very helpful. 🙏🏽

[@candidjasmine7960]

You're so good girl. Keep going and inspiring young girls 😍

[@th3L3p3rs]

Ive narrowed down my choices to DesignLab, Springboard and Avocademy mainly due to affordability. Does anyone have any negative critiques that can help eliminate a choice or 2?

[@pattermoon1]

I know it’s not what you asked sorry but I’ve been having a good experience with springboard for my first month so far :> Edit: just adding that it’s well organized and I really like the way you can track your progress, easy to follow etc ❣️

[@traviskam1332]

Which one did you choose?

[@raymondmarino3129]

I loved your video I’ve been doing google ux course for the past 5 months and I just felt like it wasn’t getting to me the point were I would be job ready. But I start ux foundation in June and I am very excited

[@limewired.studio]

Thank you for the info! I have been interested in learning Ux Design for a while now and wasn’t sure if DesignLab would a good choice. Many questions have been answered in this video and I appreciate you explaining your journey and what to do and what to watch out for. Keep up the great work!

[@mimimichi]

Hi! There's so many bootcamps out there right now, so I'm glad to hear I could help. Can't wait for you to start your journey into UX. Thanks for watching

[@Bwash001]

Mimi! so glad I stubbled across your video, keep up the stellar work. Inspiring left and right.

[@SilentDancerProd]

Your video was greatly organized and succinct. It is definitely the best I've seen so far. Thanks!

[@ShinelSymone]

I would love for you to do a layout of preparing a case study ! new subscriber ! and goodluck with everything ! im currently in Journalism and I want to do a switch over and eventually migrate so im trying to learn as much in the meantime seeing the programs cost are a lot at the moment .

[@mimimichi]

Yes, thanks for reminding me - I'll add that one to the list! 🙂 Ugh, I totally know how you feel, it's a big investment, but you're doing the right thing by trying to learn as much as possible before making any decisions. Thanks for watching!

[@justanotherangryyapper]

this was such an insightful video! im on the ends of the ux foundations course and ive been very nervous about ux academy so this definitely helped! and i feel you on the mentor matching - i was worried and so anxious when getting paired with my mentor - i was really lucky to get one that worked well with me! from what i notice, people get new mentors when they go into ux academy so that's going to be another round of anxiety lmfao. since i started foundations, ive been very curious on whether designlab focuses on real world prep and soft skills it would be nice to hear your experiences on that as well and how you combat this issue! im so excited to see you grow your youtube and share with everyone your ux journey and tips! oh and last thing regarding the portfolio, ive always wondered how people stand out with theirs since everyone from bootcamps have almost identical work - would be a cool video to hear your insights on this :D

[@mimimichi]

Thanks for watching! Yes, you'll get a different mentor specifically for UX Academy so remember to just trust your gut, switching is really easy if you have to :) I'll definitely try to do a video in the future on learning real-world skills during your bootcamp. I'll have to check out all the portfolios out there and will brainstorm for a video on that at some point. Really appreciate the tips and feedback! Good luck on your bootcamp journey, it's gonna be fun!

[@xprofesh]

thank you SO much for this!! you've made me feel even more confident on my career switch

[@mimimichi]

You got this! Thanks for watching :)

[@knicolestyle]

Great video! I'm un UXA right now and these tips are very helpful, especially the portfolio one!

[@mimimichi]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@goldenvox]

This review was very helpful - thank you!

[@STalvacchia]

Great review! Lots of helpful points in there.

[@HiZelia]

What is the difference between this course compared to the Google one at Coursera?

[@victorialetnich8380]

Please do a video on how you do a case study! I would find that so helpful.

[@jimeeroquai]

how are you reading my mind? you've answered literally all of my questions and have spoken to all of my concerns. amazing video, talking points, and super thoughtful pros and cons expressed with clarity. will you be my Designlab mentor?!

[@mimimichi]

So happy to hear I was able to help! ahah that's a fantastic idea:) Thanks for watching, Jim!

[@gloriareyes6556]

Great, so helpful!!!!

[@fanfang3068]

Thank you for your informative video!

[@RuggeroCarrara]

Excuse my curiosity, but I'm intrigued by your title 'Senior UX Designer' considering your limited experience. Could you share more about your background in the field?

[@itsjulayy]

Did design lab teach you how to use figma/sketch tools?

[@Nisha_C]

Do you have a video on how to layout the case study?

[@JShortie177]

Do you think the market is over saturated with the rise in boot camps now?

[@mimimichi]

My personal opinion, I think the it's getting more competitive out there. Jr. Designers are having to find more ways to stand out.

[@mainhinduhu8470]

m already 28 and i was a cabin crew .i left my job n now m jobless for 6 months..i love ui ux but not sure if m too old to get a job

[@christinamitchell5441]

Thanks Mimi!!

[@mimimichi]

You are so welcome!

[@PreetiKarmakar]

hey mimi, can you pl share what tools and gadgets are needed to become a UX designer? Is it a must to have ipad? and/or mac book?

[@catherineflores2917]

I literally started looking into design lab, is it actually good? Im in my mid 30s, dont have experience but i have done content creating, social media managing, and some graphic design experience. Im wanting to switch into my first actual career and ux ui design definitely has been my first choice.

[@mimimichi]

Hey! It's never too late for a career change so happy you're considering a switch! The bootcamps definitely has it's pros and cons so I'd say do as much research as possible! I have a ton of videos on bootcamps here too: kzbin.info/aero/PLhpdkiYfotU1zXzF_so9MT1IoqEbVf3d1

[@catherineflores2917]

@mimimichi thank you and I'll have to binge watch all the videos you have 😅

[@Guardiangs-wl2lm]

how do you feel about Skillcrush ux/ui stuff?

[@CathrineTaylor]

Thanks for all of this information! I am researching UX boot camps and I’m leaning towards Design Lab. Would you recommend skipping the UX Foundations course or did you find it helpful? Does week one of the main UX boot camp review the foundations?

[@mimimichi]

Hi Catherine! I suggest the UX Foundations course, especially since it is applied to your UX Academy tuition and you'll get familiarized with how the courses and mentor relationships typically work before going into UX Academy. There was no repeated material from Ux Foundations to UX Academy so it's definitely different materials that you will be learning. Hope that helps, and thanks for watching :)

[@hautewire]

@@mimimichi wish springboard did that just started and i'm on the fence it's soooo disorganized and i hope i didn't make a bad choice i got a half scholarship so it was 6k too no way i'd pay 12 i have a design bg though so the 1st assignments are so lame i feel like i'm wasting my time and considering refunding to try something else was the curriculum and doing the work well designed? the ux of it, itself, sucks i did get started early though i wish they went over it with me/us more before jumping in

[@thudtso1]

Hi Mimi Michi, Do you have any advice on who to pick for mentor ? I am starting Designlab bootcamp now and I heard someone have to switch mentor many times before finding the right one. Thanks a lot.

[@yours.truly562]

Hey Mimi! Love all your videos. Do you have an affiliate discount code for Design Lab?

[@mimimichi]

Hi, thank you! Here ya go: share.designlab.com/4vvep52ir03q

[@ajparker7699]

Hi, I love your videos so much! Thank you for all the free advice, you've helped me gain so much clarity on deciding if I want to pursue UX. I remember you mentioned a book about receiving and giving criticism and I can't find the video or the link to it. If you remember which book this is, could you please let me know? THANK YOU

[@mimimichi]

Articulating design decisions. My forever favorite!

[@lsal4260]

Just found your channel and it's extremely helpful! Was wondering why you chose this route vs a traditional coding bootcamp and would you ever suggest that route for someone looking to pivot into tech from a different field?

[@mimimichi]

Thank you! I have never had an interest in coding for some reason and have always gravitated to designing rather than building. I would do your best to research every aspect of each role before pivoting as they are all very different.

[@RowlandvilleTexas]

You went to school in person over 8-10 months, correct? What are your thoughts on the current 4 month online approach?

[@mimimichi]

Hi, I did virtual for around 8-10 months. I don't have experience with in-person

[@tylerriggs95]

What about the capstone projects? Were they with actual clients or “fictional” ones? I heard this difference will matter a lot in when job searching.

[@mimimichi]

Capstone projects at Designlab were mock, but they did not prevent me from landing my UX Design job as I was able to articulate my design decision and showcase that I understood UX principles.

[@tylerriggs95]

@@mimimichi awesome! Glad it worked out for you!

[@abcemilyxyz]

Where’s your bodysuit from hehe and thank you for the video ✨

[@mimimichi]

Skims!! The cotton mock tank, it's the best. My KZbin uniform is basically Skims

[@Hey.StelaIsHere]

I totally agree with you about mentorship. All my mentor sessions only last 10 minutes. (they promised a full hour). The support team asked me if I wanted to change mentors but I think its too late to change mentors especially when I'm almost done with the program.

[@mimimichi]

So sorry to hear about your experience! Luckily, the design crits are just as important and I hope you got value from those

[@anhle5087]

Hi Mimi, did you come from a design background before taking the bootcamp?

[@mimimichi]

Hi! I have a major in Psychology, but no previous graphic design or ux design background. Hope that helps!

[@chochweet91]

I'm a frontend developer looking to quit my job because I realised coding really burns me out and I regularly have to stretch my working hours to meet deadlines. I was curious to know if this is something even you have to deal with as a UX designer?

[@mimimichi]

Hi! Work/Life balance is incredibly important to me. Over the years, I've had long hours for product launches or client deadlines, but I would say they are a few times a year if that. It honestly depends on the organization and their culture, whether or not they see work/life balance as something that's important to their organization. During interviews, it's really important to ask these types of questions to avoid long hours everyday.

[@chochweet91]

@@mimimichi Thank you for that insight

[@ankurmishra3498]

You Presented it so well that only at 14:49 I realised I have the same sofa in my house😹😹

[@mimimichi]

haha no way! 😂

[@Angela-lp7zw]

Very helpful!

[@mimimichi]

Wahoo thanks Angela!

[@tiff7805]

How many case studies did you complete in your bootcamp that you could add to your portfolio?

[@kimarodri]

I really want to get into UX but I cant afford bootcamp. 🥺

[@mimimichi]

Could always go the self-taught route. I don't have experience with it, but there seems to be a lot of videos out there right now :)

[@ankurmishra3498]

1 Question from UX designers, please help🙏 Background - I’m a marketer by background with an official current title of product manager, but also have made an app for trade partners from scratch with a team of 4 developers, which has received 50k downloads in 4 years. App is made for channel trade partners and is not open for general public, it has helped me optimise few business processes and save crores of leakage money each year and boast sale. Apart from coding almost Everything else is done by me only including information architecture, flows, wireframes, non interactive Prototypes and all of this is done using Ppt and excel only. For strategic planning of business related to the app, I’ve worried with senior vp marketing and Regional sales managers and branch sales heads Question - I want to move completely to UX and UI, do I need to attend a bootcamp? Is this background a good fit for this industry?

[@quincexv916]

Thanks

[@melxdionne]

What Laptop would ya'll recommend for a UX beginner/ student on a budget? Thank you.

[@mimimichi]

Hi Mel! I use a MacBook but if you’re looking for affordability , honestly any type of laptop would work. Especially since design tools like figma or invision can be accessed from web browsers. Hope that helps!

[@alebassol]

Hi mimi i just found you and im loving your journey, thank you so much for sharing it. I am a graphic designer really interested in UX design but i haven't really found a course that is both price and content worthy From your experience, would you still recommend the DesignLab UX academy bootcamp for someone in my situation? Thank you!

[@Marco-sp2li]

I’d recommend the google certificate for UX design

[@alebassol]

Hi! Have u done it? Could you tell me about your experience. Thanks!

[@Marco-sp2li]

@@alebassol I’m doing it right now currently! It’s great. Really informative n affordable. 39$ a month for a 6 month program

[@yaritzagonzalez842]

Does this program have real professors teaching the course or is it more like careerfoundry where you go at your own pace and learn on your own?

[@mimimichi]

Hi! Similar to career foundry, but with dedicated mentors who are real working UX designers outside of designlab

[@haileyhwang9068]

Thank you for your insights on ux design course! I am currently working fulltime in industrial design field and I was looking at UX/UI design as my side hustle. Im not looking for a career change, I do love my current job but I want to expand my skills and also want to take advantage of work from home situation for more income. I work 9-5 in Eastern time zone and in my dream world it would be perfect to have ux/ui job 5-11est (2pm-8pm pst) for client or company in west cost. Is there any demand for part time ux/ui designers in the industry? Looking forward to seeing more of your upcoming videos! Cheers 🙌

[@mimimichi]

Great question. You can always look into freelance work since the hours are essentially set by you, but there are a lot of variables that are involved. Thanks for watching :)

[@mtc1516]

Hey thank u so much for sharing! I'm currently working in retail like 50hours per fortnight contract atm. I studied graphic design graduated 2 years ago still haven't found any field related job and feeling so depressed! That would definitely be a hope for me tho! I wonder did u chose part time course plan (28 weeks)? plus im from Sydney so the time difference might be an issue that miss out the webinar or mentor session. Would they offer me ux jobs Near Sydney as well that's my main concern😅 Thanks again! 🙏🏻

[@mimimichi]

Hi! Thanks so much for watching and sharing your experience. In terms of the part time course, I have a video on it here if you want to check it out: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aoSxk4yvmNFmg7M Much of the UX jobs these days are remote, so there is definitely potential to find jobs in Sydney. Feel free to DM me on my Instagram @mimimichi_ux We can try and find a time to connect!

[@unbornharbor]

But did you get a good job? That's the most important thing, right.

[@mimimichi]

Hi Chelsey! Great question, totally agree. I sure did! I have a couple videos that explain how, when and what job I ended up landing straight out of boot camp, if you wanna check em out How I landed my first UX Design Job: kzbin.info/www/bejne/r3nPZaaaerCrqpY How I became a UX Designer with no experience kzbin.info/www/bejne/eHiyZ36Cjd5giqs Thanks for the support :)

[@nitroboostux4692]

should i choose this or careerfoundry? what job did you get?

[@mimimichi]

I don't have experience with Careerfoundry, so I can't speak to it. I ended up getting a UX Design Internship role before moving up to a UX Design role

[@ariannemartinez6744]

Will the bootcamp work if you're currently working full time?

[@mimimichi]

Yes! Plenty of students were working full time jobs while enrolled in the Bootcamp. I would suggest taking the part time course with Designlab if you have a full time job you need to maintain!

[@ariannemartinez6744]

@@mimimichi thank you!

[@constructivegirl]

How long are the classes each day?

[@mimimichi]

Hi Emily! Designlab is all virtual so you study at your own pace.

[@fabigail3]

I have no experience in UX and Im looking into Design Lab. I think Im going to take the foundation course. Do you automatically get accepted into UX academy after completing the foundation course? Also, do you think a graphic design degree is necessary to succeed in the industry?

[@mimimichi]

Hi Hi! If you have prior visual design experience, then you would meet the pre-requisites to enroll in UX Academy without having to take the Foundations course. If you're new to visual design, they you would have to take it, as it's a pre-req for UX Academy. I enjoyed it, because it helped me gain familiarity with how Designlab runs their curriculums instead of just jumping right into UX Academy and you will learn skills for Figma and Sketch, which is super important. Also, the tuition is absorbed into the overall UX Academy tuition, which is great. Lmk if you have any other questions: here's my link to sign up for Foundations or Academy as well, at no cost to you:) share.trydesignlab.com/4vvep52ir03q To answer your second question, in short, nope - I don't have a design degree. Definitely, don't need it to succeed, but learning foundational visual design skills is essential, which you'll learn in both UX Foundations & Academy. Hope that all helps

[@naomihachan4886]

Did you get to work with real clients for your projects?

[@mimimichi]

Hi! No, I did not. We had scenarios provided by the bootcamp

[@feels6233]

Let me guess you’re an affiliate and the best looking and anomalously one of the most successful

[@MinisterRedPill]

Screw the job. Run a business, that should be the goal of anyone taking these courses.

[@detzey]

senior in 2 years...

[@feels6233]

*Shyness and introversion are completely unrelated