UX Academy is an intensive, rigorous program—requiring at least 40 hours of coursework each week on the full time track, and 20 hours part time.
We want students to succeed, not struggle—and that’s why we enforce strict admission criteria for the program. The application process has the added benefit of clarifying in your own mind exactly what you’re looking for and why.
This, in turn, means that being accepted onto the program is already a huge vote of confidence, not only in your technical potential as a designer, but also in the passion and commitment you’ve demonstrated in your application.
We’ve received over 700 applications to UX Academy in the past year, and in this article we’re sharing with you the 5 qualities that set apart successful applications.
Budget about 10 to 15 minutes to complete your application, and make sure you're in a quiet area with a device that allows you to record and save video.
1. Tell us why you want to be a designer.
Before you apply, make sure you know exactly why you want to be a UX designer. We want to know what about UX design motivates you, why you want to learn with Designlab, and how you plan to use the skills you learn in UX Academy after graduation. Make sure you fully understand your own motivations for taking UX Academy before applying.
We also require all students to submit a video as part of their application, so make sure you complete your UX Academy in a quiet place with a device you can record video on. A video helps us to get to know you, and understand where you’re coming from. It also demonstrates your communication skills, which will be an important factor in your success on the course.
UX Academy is highly interactive, and we want to see how you express yourself and communicate your thoughts. In the video, we'd like you to answer the question, "What does UX design mean to you?" in 1 minute or less. If you're nervous about this, try practicing in the mirror first. You can even time yourself to make sure you're staying within the limit. You don’t need to be the world’s greatest orator! What we’re looking for is enthusiasm, and a willingness to speak up and get involved.