Designlab UX Academy review

Designlab UX Academy is the most portfolio-focused program here. It covers the full UX and UI process, from research and strategy to visual design, prototyping, testing and portfolio storytelling, with AI workflows mixed in. Students complete over 100 hands-on exercises and four capstone projects, one of them for a real client, and get 30 1:1 video sessions with a mentor plus group critiques. A panel of design hiring managers reviews your portfolio before you graduate, and Career Services then matches you with a coach for resumes, cover letters and job search. You can study part-time over 36 weeks at 20 hours a week, full-time over 21 weeks, or self-paced for up to 18 months. Most students start with the 4 to 8 week Foundations course, which includes 8 mentor sessions and a $500 credit toward tuition. The cost is the catch: $7,999 upfront, or $8,399 on a monthly plan with a $400 fee. A tuition reimbursement program applies if you meet its conditions and do not land a qualifying role within six months.

Who it is for

career changers who want weekly 1:1 mentoring

Price

$7,999 paid upfront ($399 deposit plus $7,600); $8,399 on a 6 or 10 month payment plan.

One-Time Payment $7,600 Total Cost $7,999
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 12, 2026.

Key features

• 30 1:1 video sessions with a design mentor
• Over 100 hands-on exercises and four capstone projects, including a client capstone
• Part-time in 36 weeks at 20 hours a week, full-time in 21 weeks, or self-paced up to 18 months
• Career Services with a career coach after graduation
• Optional Foundations course of 4 to 8 weeks with 8 mentor sessions and a $500 credit toward UX Academy

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Four capstone projects give more portfolio material than any self-paced option
• Strength: Portfolio reviewed by a panel of design hiring managers before graduation
• Strength: Tuition reimbursement program if you meet the terms and do not land a qualifying role within six months
• Weakness: $7,999 upfront is the highest price on this list
• Weakness: Monthly plan adds a $400 processing fee
• Weakness: Most students need to take Foundations first

Key facts

• Mentor sessions: 30 in UX Academy, 8 in Foundations
• Duration: 21 weeks full-time, 36 weeks part-time, up to 18 months self-paced
• Capstones: Four, including a client capstone
• Upfront price: $7,999 total
• Payment plan: $8,399 total over 6 or 10 months

Where it ranks

Designlab UX Academy is No. 4 in our Best UX Design Courses verdict.