Format:
100% online
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Duration:
9 months, 10 hrs/wk
Finish early by putting in more hours
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What Is UI/UX Design?

If you've ever looked at a website or app and thought of ways to make it easier or more aesthetic, this is the career for you. UI and UX Design focuses on what the industry calls the "user journey." So what do UI and UX stand for?

  • User Interface: UI Designers focus on the visual aspects of the digital interface, such as font, color, buttons, menus and more. They make the look, feel and interactive features of an app, website or touchscreen aesthetically pleasing and intuitive.

  • User Experience: UX Designers focus on improving the ease of use of a product. They identify and create solutions for things that may confuse or frustrate users as they interact with a digital or physical product. 

With the UI/UX Design Bootcamp at Stony Brook University, you can become a trained UI/UX designer in 9 months. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts the demand for UI/UX Designers will grow 16% by 2031. Now you can learn both sides of this exciting and in-demand career 100% online and become part of Stony Brook family.

Why Become a UI/UX Designer?

The UI/UX Design field is growing fast. You'll be on the front lines of exciting product designs and new technologies. Plus, you'll never get bored as you pivot from product to product, creating unique user experiences and functional and visually appealing interfaces. 

As for the job market, UI/UX Designers are vital to the functionality and personality of a business's brand and product, so it's a career with plenty of entry-level job opportunities and upskill potential. 

  • TechTarget lists UI/UX Design as one of the top 10 entry-level tech jobs in 2023. 

The UI/UX Design Bootcamp at Stony Brook University provides the fundamentals you need to succeed. UI/UX Designers can make up to $150k or more at top companies like Amazon, Microsoft, and Google. Take a look at some job roles and annual median advertised salaries in New York:

  • UX Designer - $105,216

  • UI Designer - $96,512

  • Motion Designer - $87,296

  • Information Architect - $113,684

  • UX Researcher - $121,088

Annual Median Advertised Salary. Source: Lightcast; Oct 2022 - Sep 2023; 0-3 years minimum experience required. New York.

How To Become a UX and UI Designer?

Jumpstart your UI/UX design career with this highly interactive, 100% online program.

  • Progress through a series of courses, including intro to basics, conducting research, prototyping and more.

  • Complete hands-on exercises in UI and UX design practices and an exciting capstone project with the skills you learn throughout the lessons.

  • Even though the course can be completed in 9 months, you can finish early by working ahead.

  • Optional career units will help get you ready for your first job through researching, networking, resume writing and even mock interviews.

Students

Innovative UI/UX Design Curriculum

Designed to get you job-ready, the UI/UX Design Bootcamp at Stony Brook University opens the door to new opportunities with an industry-leading curriculum. You'll start with the design basics and then go through high-level design system coursework. Through hands-on exercises, targeted projects, and guidance from mentors who work in the field, you'll be able to demonstrate your abilities to potential employers.

NEW! AI Learning Units

Leverage AI tools to create more intuitive and engaging design, and set yourself apart as a designer equipped with the latest knowledge and skills. We've added seven new optional units to our curriculum to allow you to learn AI alongside key topics in UI/UX. New AI units include:

  • Introduction to AI and Its Relevance to UX.

  • AI-Enhanced User Research.

  • Dynamic Persona Building and Journey Mapping with AI.

  • Information Architecture and Ethical Considerations in AI.

  • Designing for AI: Tools, Practices, and Usability Testing.

  • Prototyping for AI: Tools for Prototyping AI-Based Systems.

  • AI and Usability Testing: Adjusting Techniques for AI Systems.

Intro to Design Tools

  • Explore the landscape of design tools and gain an understanding of how to use them.

  • Learn the essential elements of Sketch, Adobe XD, or Figma and practice using one of these tools.

Wireframing

  • Incorporate learnings from user tests and iterate on your designs as you transition into digital wireframes.

  • Develop an understanding of the importance of designing for edge cases.

  • Begin considering transitions between screens.

High Fidelity Mockups

  • Learn about the importance of accessibility and the value of inclusive design.

  • Understand the fundamentals of accessibility, the WCAG guidelines and how to perform a basic accessibility audit.

  • Understand the fundamentals of grids.

  • Learn techniques to design high-fidelity mockups of screens using your design tool of choice.

  • Learn how to facilitate critiques to quickly get and incorporate feedback as you build your designs.

  • Examine best practices to consider when communicating with other designers and stakeholders as you create high-fidelity mockups.

Complete A Capstone Project While Building A Job-Ready Portfolio

Capstone is just a fancy word for finding a solution to a real-world problem. In the capstone project, you'll work end-to-end on projects that will showcase your UI/UX skills in a way that employers will recognize. Not only that, you'll have the option for other portfolio-building projects—including a comprehensive 40-hour industry design project for a recognized company.

Capstone 1

This is a multi-month, end-to-end design project that includes each phase of the design process and will help you sharpen your new UX and UI skills you’ll learn throughout the course.

Design Sprint

This is a Google Ventures-style design sprint that will allow you experience working on a complete project in a short (1 week!) timeframe.

Capstone 2

This is another end-to-end project that incorporates each stage of the design process. You’ll apply all of the methods you’ve learned from the course while working with real-world constraints.

Industry Design Project

This is a ~4-week real-world project. You will be partnered with a company and use your design skills to help the company tackle a business problem. While working on this project, you’ll apply all of your course learnings and hone your professional and collaborative skills:

  • Identify a customer problem to solve.

  • Conduct competitive research.

  • Sketch, design, and build a prototype.

  • Perform usability testing and identify improvements.

Get Student Support 24/7

The UI/UX Design Bootcamp at Stony Brook University may be 100% online, but you are never alone. From the carefully curated curriculum to the final capstone project, you'll have access to a support network, ensuring you never fall behind.

  • Regular 1:1 Mentor Video Calls: To help you stay accountable, you'll meet with your mentor live to discuss projects and pain points and get feedback.

  • Dedicated Mentor Calls: We have a vast network of professionals. You'll get additional access to other mentors in our community at no extra cost.

  • Online Community: Stay in touch with other students in your cohort. Connect with other students and discuss the industry, review group projects or reach out for feedback.

  • Student Advisors: Having gone through a bootcamp, student advisors can help you with logistical questions like time management, accountability or other issues that might pop up as you move through the curriculum.

Optional 1:1 Career Coaching Sessions: Included in optional units, this is an opportunity to work with a career coach over and above your 1:1 mentorship. Your career coach can help you develop the next steps for your UI Design or UX Design career.

Online student support

Meet Our Mentors

We only accept 1 in 12 mentor applicants to ensure you’re set up for success. Throughout our 9-month UI/UX Bootcamp, you'll get insights from on-going video calls and 1:1 support from hand-picked mentors.

angelo-lo-presti
Angelo Lo Presti
Sr Product, UI/UX Designer
meg-clayton
Meg Clayton
Sr UX Designer
deb-howell-novak
Deb Howell-Novak
Sr UX Designer
matthew-weprin
Matthew Weprin
Sr Manager, Design & UX

Is the UI/UX Design Bootcamp at Stony Brook University Right For You?

If you love aesthetics, you can collaborate with others or have a knack for finding solutions for design flaws, this program is perfect for you. Whether you're considering a job change or have always wanted to design websites or digital interfaces, now's the time to explore the fascinating world of UI/UX design. 

Prerequisites

Special backgrounds are not required, but strong communication and collaboration skills, creativity and artistic sensibility will help you be successful as a UI/UX Designer.

FAQ

What is UX?

UX Stands for User Experience. According to prolific designer Don Norman, "User experience encompasses all aspects of the end user's interaction with the company, its services and its products."

What is UI?

UI stands for User Interaction: It focuses on the aesthetics or the look of the product a user interacts with.

What does a UX/UI designer do?

UX designers are responsible for a user's overall experience as they interact with every aspect of a product or service, such as an app or multi-step form.

UI designers are responsible for determining the visual elements (e.g. menus, buttons, icons, etc.) that a person uses to interact with a product or service.

What skills are needed to become a UI/UX designer?

You’ll need a mix of design skills we’ll teach you, such as wireframing and prototyping, as well as a strong research acumen. You’ll also need a set of soft skills that you can develop over time, such as empathy (understanding users’ pain points), the ability to communicate with internal and external stakeholders and collaboration across all parts of the company.

What type of jobs can you do after a UI/UX design bootcamp?

There are a variety of jobs that you can take based on your interests and career goals. The above listings in the Careers section are some of the most common titles (UX Designer, UI Designer, Motion Designer, UX Researcher and Information Architect).

As you move up in your career, you’ll find more advanced specialties or ones that require technical proficiencies, such as coding::

  • UX Strategist.

  • UX Architect.

  • UX Product Manager.

  • UX Analyst.

  • UX/UI Engineer.

  • UX/UI Developer.

  • Product Designer.

How long does it take to become a UI/UX designer?

In 9 months, our bootcamp will equip you with the technical skills you’ll need to build an impressive UI/UX portfolio and launch a successful career in UI/UX design. If you are motivated to power through the material at a faster pace, we allow you to study on your own time and finish the course earlier.

What is the salary of a UI/UX Designer?

According to Lightcast, the annual median advertised salaries of roles in New York requiring 0-3 years experience are:

  • UX Designer - $105,216

  • UI Designer - $96,512

Are UI/UX designers in high demand?

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that web developer and digital designer jobs will grow 23% between 2021 and 2031, faster than the average for all occupations.

Is this program really offered by Stony Brook University?

Yes, Stony Brook University has partnered with Springboard to offer online tech bootcamps. Springboard developed the curriculum in partnership with industry experts and hiring managers, and administers and leads the courses. This partnership allows students like you to build technical skills while earning a certificate of completion from Stony Brook University.

More Questions About the Program?

Speak to our enrollment team by completing an application, email Carolina, our enrollment advisor or explore more frequently asked questions. 

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