CareerFoundry vs Designlab: A Detailed UX Design Bootcamp Comparison
Many aspiring UX designers consider CareerFoundry vs Designlab as two primary bootcamps to equip themselves with the necessary skills to break into the industry. While Designlab and Careerfoundry appear similar in pricing and curriculum, they differ in study modes, time commitment, and financing options. Let’s delve into a detailed comparison to help you identify the best path for launching a UX design career.
Now, let’s get into the comparison itself. We will start with a table that briefly compares all the important aspects.
Careerfoundry vs Designlab: A brief comparison
| CareerFoundry | Designlab | |
| UX design bootcamp | UX Design Program | UX Academy |
| Program duration | 6-10 months | 15-30 weeks + up to 26 weeks of career support |
| Study modes | Online (asynchronous), Full-time, Part-time, Self-paced | Online, Full-time, Part-time |
| Introductory UX design courses | Free, 6-day online course | $499, 4-8-week online course |
| Time commitment | Full-time: 30-40 h/week for 6 months Part-time: 15-20 hours/week for up to 10 monthsFlexible: 15-40 hours/week for up to 10 months | Full-time: 40 h/week for 15 weeksPart-time: 20 h/week for 30 weeks |
| Learning style | Asynchronous online lessons, hands-on projects, dual mentorship | Online classes, tutorials with hands-on projects, 1:1 mentorship, peer review sessions |
| Design tools | Marvel, Figma, Adobe XD, Sketch, Invision, GitHub, Balsamiq, etc. | Figma, Sketch, Invision, Marvel, UXPin, Balsamiq, Adobe Creative Cloud. |
| Price | Upfront payment: $7,505Monthly installments: (no details) Loan (Ascent, Climb): $158/month for 60 monthsDeferred plan (Ascent, Climb): $0 upfront | Course deposit: $399Upfront payment: $6,850 (Total cost: $7,249)Six-month payment: $1,208/month (Total cost: $7,649)Flexible long-term financing: $218-$253/month |
| Job placement rate | 96% within 180 days of graduation | N/A |
| Job guarantee | Yes | Yes |
| Certificates | Yes | Yes |
| Portfolio | Real-world projects +optional bonus project (total number of projects not specified) | 4 capstone projects |
| Partner apprenticeships | Yes | No |
Detailed comparison: Designlab vs CareerFoundry
Curriculum and Course Quality
Designlab UX Academy curriculum comprises 480 hours of coursework, split into three major parts: UX/UI Design Essentials (7-14 weeks), Portfolio and Professional Career Prep (8-16 weeks), and Career Services and Support (up to 26 weeks). CareerFoundry UX Design Program curriculum is divided into Intro to UX Design (0,5-1 month), UX Design Immersion (3.5-7 months), and Specialization (1-2 months).
Designlab UX Academy Curriculum
Designlab’s UX/UI Design Essentials phase spans seven modules. Beginning with understanding UX/UI design, the course progresses through user research, ideation, information architecture, interaction design, UI design, and prototyping/testing. The final module focuses on creating a fully responsive web page using mobile-first design principles.
In the Portfolio and Professional Career Prep phase, Designlab students create four capstone UX design projects based on real-world scenarios. It involves creating portfolio deliverables, writing case studies, and assembling a unique online portfolio with four projects, including a responsive web page from a previous phase. Students craft a cover letter and resume and refine their online presence while formulating a strategic action plan for their job search.
The course concludes with the Career Services & Support phase, providing up to 26 weeks of career assistance, including 26 coaching sessions with a personal career coach and a median expectation of 14 weeks to secure employment post-graduation.
CareerFoundry UX Design Program Curriculum
Intro to UX Design consists of eight tasks, culminating in a central project. These tasks cover conducting user research, developing personas, creating wireframes, and other fundamentals of UX design. Each assignment builds a theoretical understanding of UX design principles and their practical application.
The UX Immersion module helps students develop a professional mindset and daily routine through six interrelated achievements. It covers essential topics like design thinking, user research, prototyping, UI fundamentals, usability testing, design refinement, and the end-to-end design process.
After finishing the core curriculum, students can specialize in Voice User Interface Design, UI for UX Designers, or Frontend Development for Designers to advance their knowledge. Every specialization consists of two accomplishments. With the help of specializations, students can expand their expertise in particular fields and develop the skill set necessary to succeed in their chosen field of UX design.
Learning Style
CareerFoundry and Designlab both provide online UX design programs with hands-on projects and mentorship. CareerFoundry stands out with a dual mentorship model. Designlab emphasizes 1:1 mentorship, capstone projects, peer review, and a supportive community.
Designlab
Designlab offers comprehensive lessons and tutorials with hands-on projects, peer review sessions, and weekly 1:1 sessions with a mentor. Each module consists of lessons with expert-written text and video content with practical projects. Weekly 1:1 video calls with a mentor provide students personalized guidance throughout the program. The weekly Group Critiques allow students to collaborate and engage in live design work discussions with peers.
CareerFoundry
CareerFoundry’s program is 100% online, asynchronous, and self-paced. It allows students to create their personalized schedules. Students get information both in text and video formats. The project-based curriculum helps to apply theory to solve real-world problems. A dual mentorship model offers students expert support from two mentors, allowing them to learn from different perspectives. Additionally, three specializations enable students to deepen their knowledge in the specific areas of interest.
Time Commitment
Comparing Designlab vs CareerFoundry, the former is more intensive, with a minimal commitment of 20 hours weekly.
Designlab
Designlab UX Academy requires 40 hours per week (full-time) for 15 weeks or 20 hours per week (part-time) for 30 weeks. The Career Services and Support phase lasts up to 26 weeks after graduation, with weekly sessions with a personal career coach. Based on student reviews, combining studying at Designlab with a full-time job can be challenging.
CareerFoundry
CareerFoundry UX Design Program offers students more flexibility. Students can opt for a flexible (15-40 h/week), full-time (40 h/week), or part-time (20h/week) study modes. Students can adjust their commitment from 15 to 40 hours per week to complete the course within ten months. This bootcamp can be more suitable for students working full-time.
Price
Both CareerFoundry and Designlab offer upfront payment options and monthly installment plans. Designlab stands out with its flexible long-term financing option, while CareerFoundry offers loans and deferred plans with Ascend and Climb. The total cost of Designlab UX Academy is slightly more affordable (~ $300) than CareerFoundry’s UX Design Program.
Designlab
Designlab requires a course deposit of $399 for all payment options. Students can make an upfront payment of $6,850, resulting in a total cost of $7,249. Alternatively, a six-month payment plan allows learners to pay $1,208 monthly, totaling $7,649. Additionally, Designlab provides a flexible long-term financing option, offering monthly payments ranging from $218 to $253. This financing flexibility is especially beneficial for students with budget constraints.
CareerFoundry
CareerFoundry provides two primary payment options. Students can opt for an upfront payment of $7,505 or choose a monthly installment plan. Alternatively, aspiring learners can apply for a loan to pay $158/month for 60 months through Ascent or Climb. A deferred plan with a $0 upfront payment to pay after graduation is also available.
Certificates
Designlab or CareerFoundry, both offer shareable certificates of completion.
Designlab
Upon completion of the program, Designlab UX Academy awards students a certificate of completion, accompanied by a professional UI/UX portfolio with four in-depth projects: two responsive web pages, an end-to-end mobile app, and a feature-based design.
CareerFoundry
CareerFoundry also issues a shareable certificate upon program completion, showcasing recent qualifications on LinkedIn for prospective employers or clients.
Help in Getting a Job
Both Designlab and CareerFoundry prepare students for UX design roles through comprehensive curricula, mentorship, and career services. While CareerFoundry emphasizes a job guarantee, partner apprenticeships, and a 96% placement rate, Designlab focuses on building a solid portfolio and postgraduation support with weekly career coaching sessions.
Designlab
Designlab’s comprehensive curriculum equips students with the skills to apply for junior or mid-level UX design roles. The students get comprehensive career services and support, including 26 weeks of post-graduation assistance and weekly one-on-one sessions with a dedicated career coach. The median timeframe to secure employment after graduation is 14 weeks. No placement rate is provided.
CareerFoundry
CareerFoundry offers a one-month Job Prep Course with career coaching, contributing to students’ success in interviews, networking, and overall job preparation. The specializations provide students with in-depth knowledge and practical skills in specific areas of UX design. Graduates fill various roles in entry to senior-level positions, including UX/UI designers, product designers, UX researchers, visual designers, and interaction designers. The platform boasts a 96% job placement rate, with the majority securing employment within 180 days of graduation.
Share your experience
That’s it! We hope you’ve found this comparison useful. Please share your experience in the comments as it will help other users make an informed decision.
