It only took 4 months, but here we are, I completed the Google UX Design Professional Certificate Program. While I don’t have a UI/UX job (necessarily)… this post is intended for lifelong learners, curious minds, and future designers. So let’s talk about what I learned from the certification course and if it was “worth it.”
Certification Content
This course was not my first dive into UI/UX. I was introduced to UI/UX concepts during my last semester of undergrad in CPSC 311: Human-Computer Interaction (UI/UX). I will admit, taking the fundamentals twice did get a bit boring. However, the fundamentals of UI/UX are about establishing a common vocabulary and goals, vs learning how to design. Maybe it felt obvious to me because of my art background, but ultimately we are all users in a world full of interfaces and experiences. We are UI/UX natives, but it is up to the designers to translate what we see and feel into something even better for everyone else.
Content-wise, the course went over similar concepts to CPSC 311, even mentioning the same books that were required readings for the class. Of course, in an introductory setting like these, it would be impossible not to mention Don Norman, the man that coined the term UI. While the Google UX Certificate experience will not be the same for someone brand new to the field, they do a great job of reviewing concepts throughout the course. By the time you are through, you are sure to be an expert.
Projects into Portfolio
At this point, you might be wondering why I did the course if I already knew the fundamentals of UI/UX. The point of any course is to be able to build out your knowledge beyond the course. In this case, I used the Google Certification as a roadmap to help me put together my UI/UX portfolio.
Without the guided assignments motivating me to design, iterate, and explore, I don’t think I could have put together as strong of a portfolio in such a short period of time.
I am so proud of myself for publishing this portfolio. I pushed myself to make it exactly like the mock-up I created in Adobe XD by coding it from scratch using the REACT framework.
Check out the published portfolio here.
Mantra and Motivation
4 months of working on one class on top of work and other projects is a lot. The only way I was motivated to finish this course was from my internal drive. At the beginning of the course, they ask you to create a mantra about why you will complete the certification. This was mine:
I choose to complete the Google UX Design Professional Certificate Program because I want to land my dream job doing something that helps the world become a better place.
October 12, 2022
Coming back to this mantra reminded me why I was doing the course and pushed me through even when my momentum was waning. It also segues into how this course is still relevant to almost any job, not just UI/UX jobs.
Final Takeaways
I am currently working in communications for a local college. On the surface, that might seem like it has nothing to do with UI/UX, and yet communications is very much centered on user interactions. From emails to handouts to posters, I am constantly thinking about how might a user interact with this content and furthermore, how can we gather KPIs (Key performance indicators) to improve our communications. Design, evaluate, and iterate, it’s all part of the communication cycle.
After both courses, I have a hard time not bringing UI/UX into everything I do. So despite completing the program and earning my Google UX Design Certificate, I am still working on my mantra to make the world a better place.
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