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Looking for a detailed review of the Google UX Design Professional Certificate? If yes, make sure you read this article till the end.
In today’s article, I am going to share everything you need to know about this certification course, such as who this course is best suited for, what you will learn in this program, and most importantly, whether holding this certificate will benefit your career or job prospects.
To provide you with the most comprehensive review of this course, I’ve reached out to several users who have not only successfully completed it but have also earned the Google Professional certification associated with it.
Here is what they said about the course:
My Experience- Google UX Design Professional Certificate: 7.5/10
“Having recently finished the UI/UX Design Essentials course, I’m thoroughly impressed. The course perfectly balanced theory and application, utilizing real-world examples to clarify concepts. The instructor’s expertise was evident, and the practical assignments mirrored industry challenges. The course community was invaluable, fostering insightful discussions. While minor technical issues occasionally emerged, the support team swiftly resolved them.
This course has equipped me with a strong UI/UX foundation and ignited my passion for the field. I’m excited to continue my UI/UX journey and would highly recommend this course to anyone delving into UI/UX design.“
Pros:
Cons:
Reviewed by ~ Jayesh Sarode
If you’d like, you can explore this course to see what it’s offering. However, I’d encourage you to read this article until the end before making any decisions. Now, I’m going to share my views about this course and cover everything important you need to know.
Let’s dive straight into it…
Google UX Design Professional Certificate Overview:
Google UX Design Professional Certificate is a part of Google Career certificates that help you learn all the essential skills about the user experience.
This course starts from the beginner level and gives you a solid foundation in UX Design. This training program includes a 7-course series that you have to complete in order to earn a professional certificate:
- Foundations of User Experience (UX) Design
- Start the UX Design Process: Empathize, Define, and Ideate
- Build Wireframes and Low-Fidelity Prototypes
- Conduct UX Research and Test Early Concepts
- Create High-Fidelity Designs and Prototypes in Figma
- Responsive Web Design in Adobe XD
- Design a User Experience for Social Good & Prepare for Jobs
Every course includes a series of video lectures, in-video questions, reading articles, practice quizzes, graded assignments, and peer reviews. In addition, you also get access to a discussion forum to interact with other learners.
You may also take notes during the video lectures or download the lecture to watch it offline. On average to complete the all-course series, it should not take more than 3 months (by studying 20+ hours a week). However, it completely depends on your speed of learning.
This professional certification course is available on Coursera but is taught by instructors who have already worked and working in this field at Google. You may also read our Coursera review.
Read also: Is CourseCareers worth it?
Who is Ideal for this course?
As I have already mentioned, this course starts at the beginner level, and prior experience in UX is not necessary. Whether you are new to UX design or have some exposure, you are welcome to enroll in this course. All you need is a laptop (or a computer) and an internet connection.
Now, the question is: who is the ideal candidate for this course?
Well, if you are eager to learn all about user experience – such as what makes a product attractive to users and how to design it in a way that resonates with everyone, leading them to both enjoy it and recommend it – then this course may be perfect for you.
(Keep in mind that a product could encompass a website, app, or any physical item.)
Irrespective of your profession, if you’re passionate about enhancing the user-friendliness of websites, apps, or physical products through your creative skills while also earning a substantial income, this course could be a great fit for you.
In general, I find this course is ideal for:
- Students who want to learn an in-demand skill alongside their academics.
- Individuals who want to switch careers to UX Design.
- Those who want to level up their business by improving user experience.
- Anyone (homemakers, working professionals) who wants to gain additional skills.
[Read also: Google Digital Marketing & E-Commerce Professional Certificate Review]
What You’ll Learn in This Course?
It is the most important thing to look for when you decide to enroll in any new course. If the learning material or syllabus sounds interesting to you, you are more likely to enjoy the course.
From the very beginning, I have been emphasizing that this course will teach you UX Design. However, let’s see what exactly you will learn in UX design through the Google UX Design certificate course.
This certification includes a total of seven-course series designed to provide you with a solid foundation in user experience. We’ll go through each course and explore what you will learn in them
1. Foundations of User Experience (UX) Design
This course is the first in a series, and its main focus is on the foundations of user experience. It covers the origins of user experience, its importance to businesses, and the concepts of good and bad user experiences.
Furthermore, the course teaches techniques for conducting research to enhance user experiences. I’d like to share an example of a better user experience that I learned during this course, and if you enroll, you’ll have the opportunity to encounter it too.
Remember in the past, ketchup was typically packaged in glass bottles, requiring repeated tapping on the bottle's back to get the ketchup out. This method often resulted in difficulties or excessive dispensing of ketchup. However, to improve the user experience, ketchup is now available in squeezable plastic bottles. This design change allows for easy dispensing of ketchup while providing control over the desired amount.
Similarly, you will learn most of the theories with great examples and appealing visuals. Further, you’ll learn about the product development life cycle (i.e. brainstorm, define, design, test, and launch), the basics of wireframes and prototype that every UX designer go through the process, and many more basic but essential things.
Now I could share everything I learned in this course but that will make the article so long. Rather I want you to take this Google UX design certification course, you’ll surely enjoy it.
2. Start the UX Design Process
This course prepares you for entry-level jobs in user experience design. You’ll learn to empathize with users, understand their pain points, and define user needs through problem statements. Generating ideas for user solutions and crafting user stories and journey maps are also covered.
By the end of the course, you’ll have completed the initial design phases for a mobile app project, which you can showcase in your professional UX portfolio. The instructor is a current UX designer and researcher at Google, providing valuable hands-on experience in real-world UX design scenarios.
The course consists of four modules and can be completed in approximately three weeks, with a recommended learning commitment of 10 hours per week.
[Read also: Careerist Review- Is it worth the cost?]
3. Build Wireframes and Low-Fidelity Prototypes
In the first course, I mentioned wireframes and prototypes. If you read it attentively, you would have noticed.
In this course, you will learn about two types of storyboards: big-picture and close-up. You will also learn how to create your initial wireframes and transition to digital wireframes using the design tool Figma. Additionally, you will explore prototypes and learn how to craft a digital low-fidelity prototype in Figma.
If you’re wondering what a wireframe is, it’s a rough structure that UX Designers sketch as a guide for creating the actual design.
There are numerous new concepts in this subject that I can’t fully explain here. However, if you find what I’m discussing intriguing, you should consider enrolling in the Google UX Design Certificate.
This course comprises 3 modules and takes approximately 3 weeks to finish, with a recommended study time of 8-9 hours per week.
4. Conduct UX Research and Test Early Concepts
This course covers the research process and testing, building upon the previous design work you’ve already done.
You’ll learn how to plan and conduct usability studies to gather feedback on designs. Based on research insights, you’ll make modifications to your low-fidelity designs.
Throughout the research process, you’ll delve into seven key elements: project background, research goals, research questions, key performance indicators, methodology, participants, and the script or questions for participants.
The upcoming module will concentrate on usability studies, a crucial concept in UX design. You’ll be analyzing and synthesizing feedback from participants, using it to enhance your designs. Ultimately, you’ll be sharing your research insights to achieve improved design outcomes.
This course comprises four concise modules and generally requires about 3 weeks to finish, with an average of 8 hours of weekly study.
5. Create High-Fidelity Designs and Prototypes in Figma
This course covers a variety of topics, ranging from creating mockups to constructing high-fidelity prototypes in Figma. It also introduces the concepts of gestures and motion, which enhance the user experience and usability.
Furthermore, you will learn about visual design elements like typography, color, and iconography. These elements play a significant role in improving usability and enhancing the user experience, as demonstrated in the popular note-taking app, Notion.
Additionally, the course teaches you the importance of giving and receiving feedback and how to implement it in your design process, a crucial step.
With six modules to complete, this course takes approximately four weeks, requiring a commitment of 9-10 hours per week.
6. Responsive Web Design in Adobe XD
Similar to the previous course, this class focuses on crafting responsive designs. You will acquire a solid understanding of the essential steps in UX design, enabling you to create a responsive website that is not only usable, but also equitable, enjoyable, and practical – as taught in the initial course.
Furthermore, you will gain hands-on experience with Adobe XD, a widely used UX design tool. Moreover, you will learn how to craft responsive layouts tailored to various devices such as phones, laptops, and tablets.
During the course, you will revisit concepts like wireframing, low-fidelity prototypes, and high-fidelity prototypes. However, this time, you will employ Adobe XD instead of Figma to create digital wireframes and mockups.
By completing these tasks, you’ll be able to showcase your responsive website work, share it with others, and explore job opportunities, all of which will be covered in the next course.
Interested? This course consists of six modules and can be completed in 4-5 weeks by studying for 9-10 hours per week.
7. Design a User Experience for Social Good & Prepare for Jobs
This is the last and perhaps the most essential course to consider in UX design if you want to make a career in this field. In this course, you’ll design a responsive app and website focused on social good.
Throughout the course, you’ll acquire a wide range of skills that will be showcased in your portfolio. These skills include understanding user needs, identifying pain points, generating design ideas, creating wireframes and prototypes, conducting design testing for valuable feedback, and more.
In addition to a compelling portfolio, you’ll also learn the importance of establishing a professional online presence and the benefits it brings. Lastly, you’ll gain the knowledge to secure a UX job and explore freelance opportunities by developing a business plan and acquiring strategies to attract your first client.
The course consists of six modules and typically takes around six weeks to complete.
How much Google UX Design Certificate cost?
If you’re interested in the course content and considering enrollment, allow me to provide you with information about the associated costs.
This Google certification course is accessible through Coursera, and its pricing is determined by Coursera itself.
The course’s price is contingent upon the duration you take to complete it. Coursera states that if you engage in part-time study for fewer than 10 hours per week, the completion time will extend to approximately 6 months, incurring a cost of less than $300.
Alternatively, if you possess swift learning abilities and can dedicate over 20 hours per week to your studies, you can finalize the course in under 3 months, thus reducing the total cost to $147.
In India, this Google UX Design Professional Certificate costs you a little cheaper.
Coursera charges only INR 3444 for this course for 6 months, which is incredibly affordable. If you can finish it in 3 months, the cost is even lower at INR 2296, as recommended by Coursera. Keep in mind that there’s no trial period, but there’s a 14-day refund period.
Alternatively, you may also sign up for Coursera Plus and get access to thousands of professional and specialization programs. If you are inclined to learn several skills with Coursera and earn many valid and accredited certificates, Coursera Plus can be worth considering. For more information, you may read our Coursera plus review.
Regardless of your location, Google UX is very affordable compared to other courses like UX Portfolio Booster on PeakXD and General Assembly UX Design course, which cost over a thousand dollars.
Additionally, Coursera provides financial aid for its courses and offers a free audit option. This can be beneficial for financially disadvantaged students who want to access the course.
Is the Google UX Design Professional Certificate worth it?
I’ve already mentioned that this certification course is created by Google, with instructors who are experts and experienced professionals in the field. The Google professional certificates aim to provide job opportunities in technical support and high-growth fields for individuals without a college degree or experience.
If you trust Google and believe what I’m saying, I assure you that the certificate is valid. It is definitely worth pursuing, especially for those interested in learning UX design and building a career in that field.
The course starts from the basics and provides a solid foundation in UX Design. You’ll learn a great deal and gain practical experience using tools like Figma and Adobe XD. By the end, you’ll be prepared for an entry-level job in UX Design.
In addition, you’ll receive complimentary access to the Big Interview portal and Google’s Interview Warmup practice tool. There are also opportunities for mock interviews, resume-building workshops, career coaching sessions, and more.
The course is available on Coursera, and they have done an excellent job of making it engaging by including in-video questions, readings, quizzes, graded assignments, weekly challenges, and a discussion forum for interaction with other learners.
How do you earn this professional certificate?
Since the Google UX Design Professional Certificate is offered directly by Google, it’s important to include this credential on your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV to showcase your skills.
But how do you earn this professional certificate?
Simply paying for the course won’t be enough to obtain the certificate. To earn the Google User Experience (UX) Design certificate, you must complete a portfolio that features three major UXD projects and three case studies. These projects are designed to prepare you for a job in the field of UX Design.
The assignments for the projects are as follows: Project 1 (Mobile App) in Course 2, Project 2 (Responsive Web Design) in Course 6, and Project 3 (Design a User Experience for Social Good) in Course 7.
By the time you complete this certificate, you will have designed two mobile apps and two responsive websites, which you can proudly share on your social media as your accomplishments.
How hard this certification course is to complete?
The course is specially designed for the beginner level and everything you’ll learn from scratch.
From the beginning of this course, you’ll be introduced to the basics of user experience and then how to use wireframing and prototypes with tools like Abode XD and Figma.
In my opinion, if you take the course in proper sequence, you’ll never find any content hard to understand. In fact, along with every video lecture, you’ll get detailed reading notes and references to further clear your concept.
If you’re concerned about the graded assignments and quizzes then I must those are not very hard unless you learn the course effectively. If you make wrong answers you’ll also get the right solution for them to learn where you made mistakes.
It may possible you may find a few projects are hard to design but with the expert’s guidance during the course, you’ll surely able to complete them.
To finish up, below I’m going to highlight the key pros and cons of the Google UX Design Professional Certificate which are the most important part of this course review.
What I like about this course (Pros):
What I don’t like about this course (Cons):
My Rating: 4.7/5
Alternatives to Google UX Design Professional Certificate:
Google professional certificate is not only the option to learn UX Design. There are many online platforms available that also help you to learn and master these skills. Nevertheless, here I am going to feature some best alternatives to this course:
Udacity UX Design Nanodegree:
Udacity is renowned for its Nanodegree programs, including the Nanodegree certificate in UX Design.
Similar to the Google UX Certification, Udacity offers a beginner-level course that covers the fundamentals and provides hands-on experience with tools such as Figma for creating high-fidelity prototypes. Interestingly, two instructors from the Google UX certification course also teach at Udacity.
The Nanodegree course structure is excellent, and Udacity provides career support to help you secure a job. However, it’s important to note that the Nanodegree is not accredited by any institution, unlike the Google UX certification. Additionally, it focuses exclusively on Figma and does not include Adobe XD, which is something to consider.
You may read our Udacity review.
UX & Web Design Master Course on Udemy:
Udemy offers hundreds of courses in various fields. This is one of the UX Design courses on Udmey that has a high enrollment and rating. The course is very affordable and doesn’t take more than a week to complete by studying 10 hrs a day.
In this course, you’ll start from the basics and build a good foundation in UX design. However, this course teaches you to design a responsive website with WordPress. You won’t get any exposure to tools like Figma and Adobe XD.
Additionally, Udmey certificates are not valid but the skills you’ll gain are worth considering. I highly recommend reading my Udmey review.
Read also: Udemy Vs Coursera Vs Udacity- Which is best?
UX Fundamentals on Pluralsight:
Similar to the previous course, this course will clear all your basics on user experience. It’s just 2 hrs of course but gives you lots of basic information. In a few minutes, you will quickly user research, wireframes, prototypes, and a few more basic concepts.
This course is available on Pluralsight which is a well-known online learning platform and taught by Krispian Emert, who has over 10 years of experience in the field of User Experience. You may consider this course if you just want to explore the basics of User Experience.
Now It’s your turn:
So, in this Google UX Design Professional Certificate review, I have shared everything you need to know about this course.
Now I’d like to hear from you: Do you have any thoughts or questions about this Google Professional Certificate course? And, Were you satisfied with my review?
Let me know in the comment…
Google UX Design Professional Certificate FAQs:
Is the Google UX Design Professional Certificate worth it?
If you’re interested in learning UX Design from the ground up, I highly recommend taking this course. In my experience, it offers a wealth of essential information and valuable guidance. The course instructors are experienced professionals from Google who actively work in the industry. Additionally, you’ll have the opportunity to work on real-life projects and earn a valid, accredited certificate. All in all, I firmly believe that the complete course is worth your investment.
Can I get a job after a Google UX certificate?
Well, getting a job depends entirely on your skills and your ability to showcase them. The fact that the certificate is offered by Google itself increases your chances of landing a user experience job at a practitioner level, especially if you have followed the course diligently and absorbed the knowledge it provides. During my research, I came across several individuals who secured positions at reputable companies and were able to earn a decent salary.
More Certifications that Are Offered by Google:
As mentioned earlier in this article, the Google UX Design Certification is a part of the Google Career Certificates.
These certificates, crafted by senior practitioners at Google, are tailored to prepare individuals for entry-level positions in high-demand fields such as cybersecurity, project management, UX design, digital marketing, and more. No prior knowledge or experience is necessary to enroll in these programs.
In today’s review, I’ve covered the Google UX Design Professional Certificate, providing essential information about the program.
Here are other Google certifications and courses I’ve reviewed on my blog:
- Google Project Management Professional Certificate Review
- Google Digital Marketing & E-Commerce Professional Certification Review
- Udacity Digital Marketing Nanodegree review
- Meta Social Media Marketing Professional Certificate Review
Let me know if you want me to review any other certification programs.
