Become a UX Designer Without Quitting Your Day Job with Kenzie Academy

Upskilling in the tech field has become necessary as opportunities in tech companies have multiplied tenfold. Most industry professionals focus on developing applications and analyzing data. However, others have discovered alternative paths into tech that are more creative. Among these paths is UX design, a field that has seen astronomical growth across all industries.

If you are among the thousands of career shifters wanting to explore their potential in UX design, Kenzie Academy provides immersive, high-quality education in this emerging tech field. Kenzie Academy’s UX design program offers a unique mentorship model that doesn’t rush the learning process and provides learners with the option to study at a more flexible pace. 

Read on as we dive deep into what makes Kenzie Academy one of the best learning partners for budding UX designers.

Why UX Designers Matter

Research based on app usage statistics indicated 204 billion app downloads in 2019 worldwide, bringing the average number of apps among millennials to over 67 per person. Interestingly, only 25 apps are actively used. Other reports reveal that 414 users visit websites of local businesses every month, and that users spend an average of only 0.05 seconds per visit before they decide whether to stay or leave the page. 

What do these stats mean? 

The short answer: Your UX design can make or break business success. 

With an increasing number of people relying on mobile apps, software, and other online platforms, companies will find it more challenging to stand out and retain users. Without an effective UX design, companies are at risk of losing promising high-profile leads. In fact, according to UX statistics, over 70 percent of online businesses fail because of poor visual design, usability, and slow loading time of websites and apps. 

This makes UX designers an essential part of a tech company. 

UX designers are responsible for transforming complex codes and visual design into a seamless experience that meets the expectations of end-users. They ensure that the design of a product looks visually appealing, is highly functional, and makes sense. UX designers must ensure that consumers have a positive experience when looking into products. If they can achieve that goal, businesses can expect a higher engagement and conversion rate. 

Armed with a core UX design skill set, you can explore various career paths and can potentially work as an interaction or GUI designer and UX researcher.

An Overview of Kenzie Academy’s Community-Driven UX Design Program 

Kenzie Academy describes UX designers as the “creative masterminds who shape the digital experiences of users.” With this in mind, the team behind Kenzie Academy’s UX Design Certificate Program offers a curriculum developed by industry experts who have worked for leading companies or are freelance UX designers. Part of this team is Dean Meacham, the lead facilitator for the training program. 

An Indianapolis native, Dean has been a part of Kenzie Academy since its inception. Before that, he worked for Angie’s List and Home Advisor. He brought his expertise in the design realm with him and now oversees the UX design classes. 

The UX Design Program has seen various changes over the years. This falls in line with Kenzie’s mission of bringing community-driven programs that enrich the lives of its learners. 

Dean shares, “As essential to design, in general, we never stopped iterating ourselves. So we’re always looking for feedback to update our course [in a way] that serves our learners best.”

In its third remodel, Kenzie Academy stepped it up further as they provided a more flexible UX design program. “The first change was customizing [the]curriculum to accommodate UX design learners who have 9-to-5 day jobs or are busy tending to their children.” Classes covering the same topic are available in different time slots where learners can attend as per their customized schedule. 

“[Learners] have the freedom to work through the weekly assignments to fit their schedules,” Dean adds. 

Kenzie Academy also actively seeks feedback from its learners and updates its different types of programs according to what is in demand. One of their recent updates is on how they instill design thinking within Kenzie learners through projects. 

Previous learners were given a large project to work on as they went through the five basic frameworks of design thinking. This time, Kenzie learners will be given smaller projects that allow them to practice and apply design thinking in varying scenarios. With more projects to work on, learners have more chances of sharpening their problem-solving skills. In effect, Kenzie produces job-ready graduates. 

When asked what makes Kenzie Academy’s UX Design Program unique, Dean shares that in addition to a comprehensive training program designed by experts, “We really try to make our course hands-on. We strive to create a solid sense of community, too.”

The Kenzie Academy UX Design Certificate Program Curriculum

The UX Design Certificate Program focuses on three areas: design skills training, soft skills training, and career coaching. 

The design skills training aims to equip Kenzie’s prospective learners with technical skills and knowledge, particularly in design thinking. Design thinking is the culmination of research and problem-solving skills to formulate a design that prioritizes the needs of the end-users. 

Each week, the program gets more rigorous as learners delve into complex problems and frameworks of UX design. The learners also get to apply the concepts they learned by doing actual exercises and projects. 

The UX Design Certificate Program covers user discovery, wireframing, visual hierarchy, testing, and presentation, among others. Learners also try their hands in navigating advanced tools typically utilized by UX designers. 

Kenzie ensures that learners have enough time to absorb the lessons through study hall and independent study time. They are also encouraged to connect and interact with their classmates and seek guidance from course facilitators and mentors. These efforts create a positive and inclusive environment for Kenzie learners.

Built-In Career Guidance

At the same time, Kenzie Academy hones prospective learners to become well-rounded talents that possess the soft skills that tech companies seek. The Student Services team consults with the learners and helps them address their challenges. The team also provides mentorship and coaching to boost the personal growth of learners to help them in their path of building successful careers. 

The Placement team assists learners in crafting effective resumes and LinkedIn portfolios. They also help in sharpening their interview skills. Most importantly, Kenzie trains its learners on building a competitive portfolio that will set them apart from other talents. Finally, online mixers where learners can meet industry experts from renowned companies are also available. 

Kenzie Academy weaves all of these activities into the weekly schedule of its future UX designers. Each week, they can expect a mixture of lectures, Q&A sessions, and application reviews. 

The program costs $13,000 and lasts for nine months. Anyone who is a dedicated learner can join Kenzie Academy. The admissions process includes an interview with an admissions counselor and a Kenzie Academy Skills Check.

Is UX Design for You?

Becoming an effective UX designer means having the tech skills to work with advanced tools, complex frameworks, and the ability to understand the consumers’ behavior and needs. It’s the perfect combination of art and science. 

As you take a step toward becoming an effective UX designer with the help of Kenzie Academy’s training program, here are the qualities that you’ll need.

UX Designers Are Empathic 

In every aspect of a UX designer’s job, the main goal is to bring solutions to the end-users. Hence, to be a successful UX designer, you have to relate to what the end-users need. On the other hand, a UX designer also needs to be empathic to the business. UX designers who acknowledge the constraints companies face can align their concepts and design to achieve the required goals.

It’s a win-win situation for the company and the consumers.

UX Designers Are Eager Learners

There is no clear-cut formula when it comes to establishing a positive user experience. For every product, the audience changes, and so do their expectations, behavior, and needs. This is why a UX designer needs to be a lifelong learner.

The best way to battle with industry changes is to prepare and adapt. As a UX designer, immersing yourself in different types of programs, learning essential tools, seeking mentorship from your seniors, and asking questions can propel you to be a highly adept professional. The goal is to create a habit of learning to increase resilience.

UX Designers Are Effective Communicators

Working on a product, from ideation to implementation, involves communicating with experts in several disciplines. Expect to work with software developers, software engineers, product designers, and strategists.

Harnessing the skill of storytelling as a UX designer translates to effortless collaboration among different professionals in the team. Effective communication is also vital when engaging with clients, resulting in more relevant insights that you can use to create strategic plans and designs.

Do these sound like you?

Anyone with the right attitude and aptitude can start a career as a UX designer, whether they’re a design enthusiast or a graphic designer trying to improve their skills. Make a strong headstart when you enroll with Kenzie Academy. 

Become a UX Designer at Your Own Pace

Trusted by hundreds of students, Kenzie Academy has seen 11 batches graduate from its UX Design Certificate Program and start fulfilling careers as UI designers, UX engineers, and UX researchers, to name a few. 

Be part of a growing community of Kenzie’s UX design learners and master the discipline first-hand from top-notch industry experts. Check out how to join the next batch of Kenzie Academy learners.