When it comes to taking the next step in your career, a UI design course can make all the difference. UI design courses equip students with new skills that allow them to build impressive portfolios and become more valuable prospects in the job market.
Top 10 UI Design Courses To Know
- Thinkful
- Noble Desktop
- General Assembly
- Flatiron School
- BrainStation
- UX Design Institute
- DesignLab
- Springboard
- Skillshare
- Udemy
Through the products they create, UI designers impact the everyday lives of consumers. Mobile apps, company websites and software all rely on sound UI design principles. A professional who knows how to navigate this field can develop products that attract customers and spur business growth, making UI designers even more vital contributors.
Below are 21 of the top UI design courses that share the skills, principles and tools students need to develop into high-performing UI designers.
UI Design Bootcamps and In-Person UI Design Courses
Thinkful’s UX/UI Design Bootcamp
Thinkful offers a UX and UI design online bootcamp that covers the basics, including user empathy, wireframe prototyping and interactive design. Each student is paired with a professional mentor from whom they receive advice and feedback, and the bootcamp culminates in a capstone project meant to build out students’ portfolios. Students may choose between full-time and part-time options, completing the bootcamp in five to six months. While the course costs $13,500 total after monthly installments, Thinkful lets students settle into their new careers before making regular payments.
Course Highlights:
- Covers UI design basics like wireframing and user empathy.
- Students get matched with mentors.
- Bootcamp culminates in a capstone project.
- Total cost is $13,500 under monthly payment plan.
- Flexible payment options available.
Noble Desktop’s UI Design Certificate
Noble Desktop leads a UI design certificate program focused on designing elements for websites and mobile apps. Both in person and online, this course reviews typography, color, composition and other UI design elements that go into developing responsive web pages. In addition to interactive lessons, students have eight one-on-one mentoring sessions at their disposal and can retake the course for free within a year of completing it. Tuition for the course is $3,995, but students can select the payment plan that accommodates their timelines and budgets. Students can also set the pace of their learning, choosing either a six-week full-time schedule or a five-month part-time option.
Course Highlights:
- Reviews elements of responsive web pages.
- Eight one-on-one mentoring sessions.
- Option to retake the program within a year.
- Personalized options for paying tuition.
- Part-time and full-time schedules.
General Assembly’s Visual Design Course
One of the most noteworthy names in the broader digital-upskilling groundswell, General Assembly has global locations ranging from Singapore to New York City. The company delivers an eight-week visual design course that teaches important principles like design discovery, color strategy, fonts and typefaces and more. Students can join sessions in person or online while selecting General Assembly’s payment options that welcome employer sponsorship to cover the $2,800 tuition.
Course Highlights:
- Teaches principles like color strategy and design discovery.
- Takes eight weeks to complete.
- In-person and online options.
- Full tuition costs $2,800.
- Payment options welcome employer reimbursement.
Flatiron School’s UX/UI Design Course
With tuition starting at $16,900 at most locations, Flatiron School represents one of the pricier coursework routes. But its strong reputation, enviable alumni list, deep curriculum and money-back guarantee helps assuage potential sticker shock. Flatiron School’s immersive UX and UI design course spans 40 weeks under the part-time plan and 15 weeks with the full-time one. Note that the full-time plan offers lab time for in-person attendees, cohort support and instructional staff. Regardless of the plan, students gain an understanding of areas like ethical design, animation and cross-team collaboration.
Course Highlights:
- Teaches ethical design, animation and other UI design topics.
- Tuition costs $16,900.
- Part-time and full-time course options.
- In-person and online offerings.
- Full-time option comes with in-person cohort and staff.
BrainStation’s UI Design Course
Available online anywhere and onsite in several North American locales (Chicago, NYC, Seattle, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Toronto and Vancouver) BrainStation’s UI design course covers an extensive range of core concepts and industry-standard tools. Students learn wireframing, sketching, design analysis and color theory while using tools like Figma, Stark and Tota11y. Dedicated units also cover app and mobile design and visual theory foundations. Scholarships are available, part-time and online formats are offered, and BrainStation partners with some of the leading tech brands for hiring, including Cisco, Adobe, Deloitte and Google.
Course Highlights:
- Online and national classrooms.
- Touches on wireframing, color theory and other UI design topics.
- Teaches tools like Figma and Stark.
- Scholarships are available.
- Talent network includes brands like Adobe and Google.
UX Design Institute’s Professional Certificate in UI Design
The UX Design Institute caters to those with a design background and professionals looking to upskill with its UI design certification program. The course starts at a discounted price of $1,750 and takes 12 weeks to complete. Students become familiar with tools like Adobe XD and Sketch while diving into topics like branding, layout, iconography, typography and design principles. To cap off this course, participants complete a project that prepares their portfolios for the job search process.
Course Highlights:
- Branding, iconography and design principles are a few topics.
- Takes 12 weeks to complete.
- Course is industry-approved.
- Students become familiar with tools like Adobe XD and Sketch.
- Final project makes portfolios job search-ready.
University-Affiliated UI Design Courses
University of Denver’s UX/UI Bootcamp
The University of Denver offers a UX/UI Bootcamp that covers both the theoretical and technical aspects of UI design. Over the course of 24 weeks, students learn how to follow research best practices, use tools like InVision and code in languages like HTML, among other skills. Students can then apply their knowledge to projects like AI sketches and responsive web pages. Additional support comes from tutor networks, one-on-one career coaching and soft skills training. Students can submit a request to DU to learn more about tuition and other program information.
Course Highlights:
- Course covers theoretical and technical aspects of UI design.
- Teaches skills in research, coding and UI design tools.
- Students apply knowledge to projects like AI sketches.
- Tutor network and career coaching give extra support.
- Students receive soft skills training.
University of California, Irvine’s Best Practices for iOS User Interface Design
The full roster of courses included in this University of California, Irvine seven-month specialization, offered online via Coursera, may include more programming than strictly UI design paths require or desire. But its Best Practices for iOS User Interface Design lesson, available a la carte, covers important precepts for Apple-focused UI designers, including the Human Interface Guidelines and UITableView. And those who do want to press into the full development course load will appreciate how it incorporates a range of the iPhone’s hardware. This beginner-level course comes in an online format and allows students to follow flexible schedules. Participants receive a shareable certificate upon completion.
Course Highlights:
- Focuses on topics related to iOS UI and Apple hardware.
- The iOS User Interface Design lesson is critical.
- Course takes seven months to complete.
- Online formats with flexible schedules.
- Shareable certificate upon completion.
University of Minnesota’s User Interface Design Specialization
Led by University of Minnesota professors, this four-month, four-course online Coursera sequence starts off with basics — like the difference in approach when tweaking an existing design versus developing a brand-new one — and culminates with a group-project capstone. In between, the program covers user research, prototyping and usability evaluation. Students can expect to dedicate about three hours per week to watching videos, completing readings or taking quizzes. This course is listed at an intermediate level, but students can tailor it to their needs with flexible scheduling and online course options.
Course Highlights:
- Taught by University of Minnesota professors.
- Touches on user research, prototyping and other UI design topics.
- Includes practice quizzes and videos.
- Culminates in a capstone project for portfolios.
- Intermediate course with flexible scheduling and online options.
Northwestern University’s UX/UI Bootcamp
Northwestern University provides training in areas like wireframing, UI design methodology and user-centric design research through its UX/UI bootcamp. Besides UI design principles, students can learn techniques like storyboarding and coding in popular languages like JavaScript. The bootcamp complements technical skills with a real-world focus, offering career coaching sessions and advice on how to craft social media profiles. NU presents this online bootcamp as part-time and full-time options, with the part-time route lasting 24 weeks and featuring classes held three weekday evenings each week. Those interested should submit a request for more information on the program.
Course Highlights:
- Course explores UI design methodology, wireframing and user-centric research.
- Students learn to code in popular languages like JavaScript.
- Participants receive career advice and social media support.
- Part-time and full-time options.
- Part-time option lasts 24 weeks, with classes held three weekdays each week.
Georgia Tech’s User Interface Personalization Course
The Georgia Institute of Technology offers many online courses, including this free, five-week overview, via edX, of what’s now among the most chattered-about concepts in UX and UI design: personalization. That’s the near-ubiquitous design element of self-customizing an app or a website’s experience based on data like location and preference history. Students will engage with topics like the difference between adaptable and adaptive user interfaces, approaches to UI personalization and accessibility issues in UI design. Participants should expect to dedicate about three to four hours per week to this introductory edX course.
Course Highlights:
- Audit track is free.
- Course takes five weeks to complete.
- Course requires three to four hours per week of engagement.
- Students learn about UI personalization approaches, among other subjects.
- Introductory-level course.
California Institute of the Arts’ Visual Elements of User Interface Design
California Institute of the Arts is helping students gain a quick understanding of UI design through this beginner-level UI design course. Students learn how to combine images, icons, colors and typography to produce crisp interface designs. Throughout the course, students can track their progress as they navigate online lectures, practice quizzes and graded assignments with feedback. Part of Cal Arts’ UI/UX design specialization, this course takes 16 hours to complete and comes in an online format with adjustable deadlines.
Course Highlights:
- Beginner-friendly course; part of UI/UX specialization.
- Teaches about UI design elements like icons and typography.
- Tracks progress through quizzes and assignments.
- Takes only 16 hours to complete.
- Online format and flexible deadlines.
Online-Only UI Design Courses and Tutorials
DesignLab’s UI Design Course
DesignLab enhances the design knowledge of participants with this intermediate UI design course that requires previous software experience. Students can refine their skills in imagery, color and typography while building interfaces with bold gradients and geometric layers. For additional help, students can leverage four mentor sessions with a vetted professional designer. The course takes four weeks to complete for those who spend 10 to 15 hours per week on course materials, and students earn a certificate of completion at the end.
Course Highlights:
- Intermediate course that requires software experience.
- Students build interfaces with bold gradients and other UI elements.
- Four mentor sessions with a vetted professional designer.
- Four-week course with 10 to 15 hours of weekly participation.
- Certificate of completion at the end of course.
Springboard’s UI/UX Design Career Track
This nine-month course by Springboard offers a high degree of human support, including weekly calls with industry experts and an unlimited number of career-coaching calls. Students learn design fundamentals like design thinking, user research and interaction design; are exposed to real-world guidelines like Google and Apple platform specs; and get face time with Sketch, Adobe XD and Figma. Students can choose between upfront, monthly and deferred tuition plans. And Springboard’s job guarantee means a student gets a full refund if they don’t secure a UX/UI design job six months after graduation.
Course Highlights:
- Teaches fundamentals like design thinking and user research.
- Covers tools like Adobe XD and Figma.
- Calls with industry experts and career coaches.
- Range of tuition options.
- Guaranteed refund if a student has no UX/UI job six months after graduation.
Interaction Design Foundation’s User Interface Design Course
The Interaction Design Foundation gets professionals up to speed with the latest design methods in this beginner UI design course. Students receive an overview of ways to organize content, simplify data entry, clean up their interface design and perform other UI design tasks. Online lessons include discussion forums, with answers graded by design experts. The course is estimated to take up to seven weeks to complete, but students can go at their own pace since there are no hard deadlines. With a membership that costs less than $20, students can sign up for the course and gain permanent access to all course-related materials.
Course Highlights:
- Reviews methods for streamlining UI design processes.
- Online lessons with discussion forums and expert graders.
- Can take seven weeks to complete, but self-paced.
- Students can sign up for course with low-cost membership.
- Membership enables permanent access to all course materials.
Skillshare’s DESIGN RULES: Fundamental Principles + Practices for Great UI Design
This top-rated UI design course by Skillshare drills deep into UI design theory while also offering practical strategic advice. The course encompasses 51 video lectures spanning over five hours from UX design and development coach Joe Natoli. The lessons touch on UI elements like colors, icons and typography while teaching UI design principles and techniques to follow. Students can then practice what they’ve learned by completing a hands-on class project. A Skillshare membership costs $32 per month, making it an affordable option for those looking to strengthen their UI design knowledge.
Course Highlights:
- UX design coach guides lessons.
- Helpful UI design techniques.
- Covers basic UI elements like colors and icons.
- Students gain practice through hands-on class project.
- Membership to take course costs $32 per month.
Udemy’s Complete App Design Course - UX, UI and Design Thinking
Another highly-rated Udemy bestseller, this app design course offers an enticing option for beginners with a mobile focus. The 60-plus lectures run more than three hours and include sections on color theory, typography essentials, text overlaying and vertical and horizontal alignment. It’s led by the London-based App Brewery, which has a roster of app development online courses that may also be of interest. (App Brewery is also an official partner of Flutter, Google’s UI platform.) Students can purchase access to this Udemy course for an upfront payment of $119.99 or $16.58 per month.
Course Highlights:
- Focuses on mobile app development.
- Features over 60 lectures that last about three hours.
- Provides a look at UI concepts like color theory and vertical alignment.
- Led by London-based App Brewery.
- Costs $119.99 up front or $16.58 per month.
CareerFoundry’s UI Design Program
One of the most respected online-only tech learning platforms, Berlin-based CareerFoundry has earned high marks for its highly-vetted mentors who help with portfolio development, tutors who provide daily feedback and student advisors for general assistance. Students can get a feel for the company through a UI design mini-course that contains seven 15-minute lessons. Prospects can also participate in a free consultation to learn more about the UI design program. This experience serves as a stepping stone for CareerFoundry’s UI Design Program, which lasts 15 hours a week for nine months.
Course Highlights:
- Seven 15-minute lessons.
- Provides a quick look into CareerFoundry and its supportive culture.
- Helps participants decide if UI design is right for them.
- Free consultation to discuss options and information.
- Acts as a stepping stone to the company’s UI Design Program.
DesignerUp’s Product Design (UX/UI) Bootcamp
This video-driven online course by DesignerUp caters to the self-paced learner. It includes 11 modules with various lessons, plus quizzes and assignments, which add up to a three-month course for full-time participants and a six-month course for part-timers. Even though the focus is on independent learning, mentors are available through one-on-one strategy sessions and upon students’ request. While there’s a one-time payment of $1,997 for lifetime access, prospects can submit a request to discuss payment options or get their employers to cover the costs.
Course Highlights:
- 11 modules with quizzes and assignments.
- Self-paced course.
- Can take three to six months depending on time invested.
- Access to mentorship from instructors.
- One-time payment of $1,997 with other payment options.
Learn UX’s UI Design Tools Video Courses
Despite the site’s title, Learn UX actually focuses more on interface design than user experience — although both get attention. The free video collection appears to be a particularly attractive option for those homing in on specific programs, with tutorials available for Sketch, Framer, Abstract, Adobe XD, Flinto, Zeplin, Figma, Principle and InVision Studio. Students can also dabble in HTML and CSS coding, webflow techniques and UX/UI basics like usability and user testing. The animated site was nominated for an Awwward, which spotlights the best in web design, so you know they walk the walk in terms of aesthetics.
Course Highlights:
- Free video courses.
- Courses focus on specific programs like Sketch and Figma.
- Offerings in languages like HTML and CSS.
- Courses cover UX/UI basics and webflow techniques.
- Award-winning animations and visuals.
Learn UI Design’s UI Design Course
Another self-paced video-course option, this course is broken down into 53 manageable lessons — 35 hours of demo-focused video in total — with a series of downloadable assignments and a collection of PDF “cheat sheets.” The curriculum kicks off with a Sketch introduction, then moves on to aesthetic fundamentals, color, typography, interface components (including dataviz, photography selection and vector editing) and real-world tips for things like building a portfolio and finding clients. The course was created by Seattle-based freelance UX/UI designer Erik Kennedy, whose clients include Amazon and Soylent.
Course Highlights:
- 53 lessons and 35 hours of video content.
- Course comes with assignments and cheat sheets.
- Curriculum covers UI design topics from typography to aesthetic fundamentals.
- Students get advice on real-world issues like how to find clients.
- Led by UX/UI designer whose clients include Amazon and Soylent.
