55. Learning the ABCs of UX Education With Julia Debari

55. Learning the ABCs of UX Education With Julia Debari

1:18:59

This week I chat with Julia DeBari to discuss the overwhelming world of UX education. We dive into the pros and cons of academia, bootcamps, and self-taught paths to UX Design.

From academia to bootcamps and self-learning, we unpack your options for your journey into UX.

In today’s episode, I’m thrilled to welcome Julia DeBari, a true gem in the UX field. With a rich background in UX design, education, and operations, Julia brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our discussion on UX education.

Julia and I dig deep into the heart of UX education, exploring the nuances and intricacies of different learning paths. Julia’s experience, particularly in the realms of bootcamps and design education, sheds light on the evolving landscape of UX learning. We discuss the pros and cons of traditional academia, the dynamic world of bootcamps, and the self-driven route of learning, providing a comprehensive view that’s rarely discussed in such detail.

This episode is not just a discussion; it’s a treasure trove of wisdom for anyone just starting out in their UX career. So dive in as we unravel the “ABCs” of UX education with Julia DeBari and discover how to tailor your educational journey to fit your unique career aspirations in UX design.

Topics:
• 05:49 – Look for a career portfolio, not a ladder
• 08:54 – Colleges have accreditation program
• 15:04 – Types of education
• 18:23 – Certificate programs are often outsourced to private companies
• 20:32 – Certificate vs 4 yr degree
• 23:13 – University pros and cons
• 28:57 – Self-taught certificates
• 30:53 – Pros and cons of self-learning
• 35:20 – Red flags of boot camps
• 42:50 – Money-back guarantee
• 44:15 – Green flags
• 45:17 – Dedicated mentors who can focus on you
• 54:35 – Red/green flags of university programs
• 64:40 – How to get the most out of your investment

Helpful Links:
• Connect with Julia on LinkedIn
• juliad.com

Julia DeBari
Senior Service Designer | UX Educator & Mentor | Design Program Manager | Speaker | Accessibility Champion

About Julia

Julia has flown from San Francisco to Stockholm for a three-day weekend just to immerse herself in the experience. She approaches life with a quiet, principled version of humanism, deep thoughtfulness, and imagination, guided by her inner vision, personal values, conscientiousness, and integrity. With over two decades in the field, Julia has dug into user experience design, design education, and design operations. She’s passionate about optimizing processes and facilitating workshops. Her mission is to help improve people’s lives and businesses through human-centered design, systems thinking, and servant leadership.

Connect with Julia on LinkedIn

Support Our Sponsors

This week’s episode is brought to you by Figma Academy.

We usually talk about soft skills here on the show, but let’s not forget hard skills are important too. Mastering tools like Figma can be crucial in today’s job market.

Back in episode 49 Tommy Geoco mentioned ‘knowledge debt,’ and how you’ll pay for learning either with your time or money. If you don’t have time to learn it on your own, Figma Academy is your fast track to mastering Figma, and you’ll be in good company—over 4,000 designers from industry leaders like Shopify, Microsoft, and Amazon have already signed up.

The course is hands-on, and you’ll be part of a talented cohort of designers. Plus, they host live Q&A sessions every Thursday to clear up any questions you have.

Want your company to foot the bill? Lofts of designers have done just that, and Figma Academy even offers an expense template to make it a breeze to get approval from your boss.

And because you’re all awesome listeners, I’ve teamed up with Figma Academy to offer you a $100 discount. Just head to beyonduxdesign.com/figma and use the promo code BEYONDUX at checkout.

This Week’s Audio Book

Check out Build: An Unorthodox Guide to Making Things Worth Making by Tony Fadell.

Written by the inventor of the iPod, Build, offers an unconventional approach to product creation and business leadership. Fadell shares lessons from his extensive career, emphasizing the importance of curiosity, persistence, and learning from failure. He blends personal anecdotes with practical advice, guiding readers through the intricacies of building successful products and teams. The book is a treasure trove of insights for aspiring entrepreneurs, designers, and anyone interested in the art of innovation, particularly relevant for those in the UX design field seeking to create impactful user experiences.

Download Now

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Meet your host

Jeremy Miller

Designer // Host // Mentor

I’m Jeremy. I’m a product designer from New Orleans. Here are some things I want you to know about me:

I rally around research
I’m dedicated to design
I’m crazy about collaboration
I’m sweet on the soft skills
I’m entranced by the end users
I’m passionate about the product

But most importantly, I know you can’t build great software without great relationships.

So join me here and learn about how to build truly great software.

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55. Learning the ABCs of UX Education With Julia Debari