UI MASTERY CERTIFICATION

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UI Mastery Certification

DESIGN YOUR WAY TO UI EXCELLENCE

A new, studio-style program led by design leaders at the top of their game — where critique and hands-on practice help you build the clarity, polish, and judgment behind great UI.

Great Design Still Takes a Trained, Human Eye.

In an AI-powered world, "good enough" design will be easier than ever. But "great" — design that earns trust, feels effortless to use, and moves business metrics — will still require a designer with judgment, taste, and precision.

Whether you're aiming for a promotion, a new role, or just want your work to finally reflect your potential — this program is built to get you there.

A Studio Model Built for Growth.

Great designers are made through practice, feedback, and iteration. In this program, you’ll be designing and refining every week, with expert guidance and peer critique to sharpen your eye.

THE 8-WEEK EXPERIENCE
LIVE Kickoff event (week 1)

Cohort-wide session to launch the program experience with energy and purpose

Async Content

Written + interactive modules to support your practice

LIVE 1:1 Mentorship

All students will have two 1-on-1 sessions with the Designlab Design Fellow leading their studio group

LIVE Weekly studio sessions

90-min live critique sessions in small groups led by a Designlab Design Fellow (6-8 students)

LIVE Closing Session (week 8)

Wrap the program with a focused session on how to turn your progress into career leverage — whether that means updating your portfolio, reframing your resume, or having stronger conversations about your work and value as a designer

Capstone project

Apply everything you learn to 
a portfolio-worthy design project

Here's what craft means to Duolingo: your visual design is very good... You have interaction design details that make us go, wow, that's nice. You have built and designed work that looks like it belongs in other people's hands. Visual design actually really, really matters.
— Mig Reyes
VP Product Experience, Duolingo

From Pixels to Polish, System to Strategy.

What makes UIs great? We’ve carefully scaffolded the course to walk through the elements that make products look and feel special — helping you sharpen your judgment, clarity, and visual precision.

UI POLISH
Visual Realism

"Lit from above" vs. "lit from within" metaphors

Design choices inspired by physical materials and depth

Tangibility that feels modern, not ornamental

Contrast/Balance

Foreground vs. background clarity

Stroke & surface contrast

Managing contrast across themes

Micro-Typography

Optical sizing, spacing, and line rhythm

Choosing & pairing typefaces for UI

Tabular alignment and number format

Finesse & Flexibility

From individual components to systems thinking

Pattern recognition and purposeful deviation

Crafting consistency with room for exploration

LAYOUT & STRUCTURE
Space & Containment

Modals, sidebars, off-canvas containers

Visual weight of chrome vs. content

Primary vs. secondary axes in layout

Visual Hierarchy

Proximity and grouping

Content-first organization

Connecting layout to impact

Nav Patterns

Web, app, mobile web, desktop, tablet

Platform-specific patterns and constraints

Adaptive systems that retain structure

Cognitive Chunking

Reducing load

Digestible segments

Step-by-step flows

Content in context

CLARITY & USABILITY
Flow Patterns

Sequential vs. non-linear flows

Input and feedback patterns

Designing intuitive system status and transitions

Productive Friction

Friction as a tool to prevent errors

Supporting better decisions through pacing

Clarity vs. convenience tradeoffs

Visual Alignment

Grids, spacing, and edge alignment

Removing dissonance through rhythm and balance

Unity across typography, layout, and interaction

Feedback Loops

Choosing the right prototyping fidelity

Early, low-stakes async testing

Making your work tangible for stakeholders

Take Your Career Up a Level.

The UI Mastery Certification isn't just about building better interfaces, it’s about making a stronger case for your next career move.

In an increasingly AI-powered world, designers who bring judgment, precision, and polish stand out. This course helps you build that edge — and show it.

Case study-worthy final project
A polished UI redesign built to showcase system thinking + visual excellence
Mentor-reviewed design work
1:1 critique from senior designers at top companies
Professional certificate
A credential that signals advanced UI and system-level design fluency
Career
Leverage
Designed to help you earn that next role, title, or level-up conversation

Design Better.
Get Paid.

Designers who consistently deliver polished, scalable designs are the ones who get promoted.

This course helps you break through the mid-level plateau by building the craft and system thinking companies expect from Senior and Staff designers — with compensation to match.

Role
Avg u.s. based salary
Mid-Level Designer
$90,000–$120,000
Senior Designer
$130,000–$160,000+
Staff / Principal
$160,000–$190,000+

Meet the Experts Behind the Program.

NEVAN SCOTT
Lead Instructor & Course Creator

Nevan Scott is founder and Head of Education at Button School. 
A seasoned educator and product designer, Nevan has taught thousands of designers through his courses at General Assembly, Ironhack, and now Designlab — including the popular Advanced Figma and Prototyping in Figma programs.

Praise for Nevan’s Programs

Meet Some of Our Design Fellows

Each small-group studio session is led by a Designlab Design Fellow — an experienced product designer selected for both their craft excellence and teaching ability.

Design Fellows work at top product companies and are deeply versed in system-aware, high-polish UI. You’ll meet weekly with one of our Design Fellows in live sessions and also receive one-on-one feedback during the program to keep you moving forward with clarity and confidence.

JUNE KANG

June Kang is a Product Design Manager at Meta with over 10 years of experience within cross-functional team environments. He is passionate about helping designers craft thoughtful, scalable solutions and elevate their work through a strategic, systems-driven approach.

Quinn Hoang

With past experiences at Hinge, MileIQ and other growth-stage startups, Quinn helps teams focus on initiatives that drive business goals while building an experience that serves users. She enjoys helping designers find their authentic voice, and teaching them how to balance data-informed decisions with intuition and user empathy.

Al Lucca

Al is Head of Design and Creative at Semafor, a leading tech and news publication. He has experience across major media companies including Axios and Paramount (formerly ViacomCBS), and has also worked with the United Nations and ran his own studio.

Recognition of Your Craft.

At the end of the program, you’ll receive the UI Mastery Certification — a visual symbol of what you’ve accomplished: weeks of focused practice, thoughtful critique, and meaningful growth.

The certificate is something you can display proudly, but its real value lies in what it represents — a deeper command of your craft, a stronger body of work, and the confidence to take your next step as a designer.

For Serious Designers Ready to Uplevel Craft and Career.

HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER THIS PROGRAM IS RIGHT FOR YOU?

The UI Mastery Certification is intended for experienced designers who are ready to push their skills, sharpen their eye, and lead with craft. To maintain a high bar for discussion, feedback, and project quality, admission into the program is selective.

THIS PROGRAM IS FOR YOU IF...
You have a minimum of 2+ years of experience as a UX, UI, or product designer — and you're ready to push past the plateau
You’re proficient with Figma and want to use it with more precision and purpose
You understand responsive design and design systems — and want to build more elegant, scalable UI
You’re looking to develop real craft, not just check a box or watch videos
You value clear, constructive feedback and want to grow through thoughtful critique
You can commit ~8 hours a week to sharpening your skills, shipping work, and showing up for your peers
THIS PROGRAM MAY NOT BE A FIT IF...
You're just getting started in design and still building foundational skills
You're not yet confident using Figma or working with design systems
You're looking for a self-paced course without live sessions, deadlines, or accountability
You’re unable to consistently make time each week for sessions, projects, and peer feedback

Transform Your Design Career in 8 weeks.

The full tuition investment for the program is $2,499.
Enroll by July 11 to unlock our early bird rate of $1,999.

Payment plans available. Many designers are reimbursed by their employers — we can help you with the paperwork.

Your application helps us ensure strong peer fit.
No payment due until accepted.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the requirements for admission into this program?

The UI Mastery Certification is designed for working UI, UX, and product designers with at least 2 years of professional experience. While that’s the minimum requirement, we expect many participants will likely have 5+ years in the field. Admission is selective — we want to ensure every student is ready for the depth and pace of the program.

If you’re unsure whether you’re a good fit, please set up a time to speak to our admissions team.

Why is an application required for this program?

This is an intensive, advanced-level program with weekly projects, live critique sessions, and in-depth feedback. We ask applicants to complete a short application (~5 minutes) so we can make sure that:

  • The program is aligned with your experience and goals

  • Cohort members are at a similar level

  • Everyone gets the most out of the experience

It’s not about gatekeeping — it’s about setting you (and your peers) up for success.

What is the program format?

This is a studio-style program that blends asynchronous coursework with live sessions and individual mentorship. Each week, you’ll complete hands-on project work and join a small-group session facilitated by one of our Designlab Design Fellows — experienced senior product designers.

You’ll also meet 1-on-1 with your designated Design Fellow twice over the course of the program to dive deeper into your goals, project work, or career development.

What is the time commitment required for this program?

We recommend planning for 8–10 hours per week. That includes live sessions, async content, and project work. The time commitment will vary based on how quickly you work, but this is designed to be a meaningful investment — and like any real growth, it takes effort. The more you put in, the more you’ll gain.

What is the schedule for the program?

The program is organized over eight weeks with a clear weekly cadence:

  • Week 1: Opening cohort-wide session

  • Weeks 1–8: Asynchronous content + hands-on project work

  • Weeks 1–8: Weekly studio sessions with your peer group and Designlab Fellow

  • Week 1–4: First 1-on-1 mentor session

  • Week 5–8: Second 1-on-1 mentor session

  • Week 8: Closing cohort session

Each element builds on the last, guiding you toward a polished capstone project in the final two weeks of the program.

Is this program live or asynchronous?

Both. The program combines flexible asynchronous learning — to fit your schedule — with live engagement moments that bring structure, accountability, and community. These include weekly studio sessions, a kickoff, a closing session, and 1-on-1 mentorship.

How does the 1-on-1 mentorship aspect work?

Every program participant gets two 60-minute video sessions with one of our Designlab Design Fellows. These are scheduled directly between you and the Design Fellow facilitating your weekly group sessions — the first during the first half of the program, and the second during the second half.

You can use these sessions however is most helpful: to review project work, talk through design challenges, get feedback on your portfolio, or discuss your career goals.

What are peer group sessions and how are they scheduled?

Each week, you’ll meet for a 90-minute studio session with a small group of peers, facilitated by one of our senior Designlab Design Fellows. These sessions are where you’ll share in-progress work, give and receive critique, and build your design judgment.

When you enroll, you’ll select your peer group time — we offer multiple time slots during the week, including both 12pm ET and 6pm ET on various days. If none of those times work, contact admissions, and we’ll do our best to accommodate you.

What are the dates/times for the other live sessions?

In addition to weekly studio sessions, the program includes:

  • A cohort-wide kickoff session on September 12th at 12pm ET.

  • A closing session on November 7th at 12pm ET.

  • Two 1-on-1 mentor sessions scheduled individually

While the opening and closing sessions will be recorded in case conflicts arise, students are strongly encouraged to attend these sessions in order to get the most out of the program.

Can you tell me about the project work in the program?

The course includes four progressively challenging projects that simulate real-world UI design work:

  1. Flashcard App — A focused mobile project on hierarchy, spacing, and core interactions

  2. Scheduling App — A multi-pane desktop UI focused on navigation and data-heavy design

  3. Calculator App — A highly polished mobile UI with fine-tuned micro-interactions

  4. Shared Budgeting App — A complex, multi-user interface focused on feedback and transparency

Each project is paired with detailed lessons and critique opportunities to help you level up your skills.

How does the capstone project work?

In the final phase of the course, you’ll create a self-directed capstone project that pulls everything together. You can choose from a list of suggested prompts or propose your own idea.

You’ll submit a short proposal, get feedback, and use the final weeks to create a high-quality case study you can proudly share in your portfolio — with continued feedback and support from your Designlab Fellow and peers along the way.

Do you offer any discounts?

Yes! We’re offering early bird pricing of $1,999 (regularly $2,499) for anyone who applies and enrolls before July 11th.

If you’re part of a team interested in enrolling together, reach out to our admissions team — we’re happy to discuss available options.

Are there any flexible payment terms available?

Yes. Enrollees will have the option to pay a $500 deposit to secure their seat in the program, with the remainder billed when the program starts.

CAN I USE MY COMPANY'S LEARNING & DEVELOPMENT BUDGET FOR THIS COURSE?

Absolutely! Many of our students’ tuition is sponsored by their employer. If you have any questions about how to do this when you’re enrolling for the course, please reach out via our Help Center contact form.

Also, to help you with requesting reimbursement, feel free to copy / paste / edit the below email text:

***

Hi {Manager Name}


I’m writing to you about a course called UI Mastery Certification that I’d love to enroll in using my learning & development budget. The course is on Designlab, a platform that’s trained thousands of UX / UI / Product Designers who work at companies like Netflix, Amazon, and Google.

The course is designed to help me:

  • Sharpen my visual design judgment and polish
  • Build mastery in layout, spacing, and component design
  • Learn best practices for cross-platform UI patterns
  • Create a high-quality, portfolio-ready capstone project
  • Collaborate in weekly critique sessions with other experienced designers

The course format was specifically set up with working designers in mind and is a mix of asynchronous lessons, hands-on project work, and weekly studio sessions facilitated by a senior product designer. The course costs $2,499 USD (or $1,999 with early bird pricing), and you can check out the course details here.

Thanks,
{Your Name}

WHAT IF I’M PART OF A TEAM THAT WANTS TO TAKE THIS COURSE?

We welcome small team enrollments and can often accommodate multiple participants from the same company. Please contact advanced.admissions@designlab.com to coordinate or set up a call with our team.

Due to the hands-on nature of the course and limited seats, larger group enrollments may be limited, and all participants must meet the experience requirements to ensure a consistent and valuable cohort experience.

What if I don't like the course?

The UI Mastery Certification is backed by The Designlab Happiness Promise. After you've fully participated in the course, if you're not satisfied, you can get your money back. Read more here.