For those who don’t know, user experience (UX) refers to an end-user's interaction with an organization and its products and services. The goal of UX design is to provide users with an easy, intuitive, and satisfying experience.
Most UX designers work in the digital space and are focused on users' interactions with websites, applications and other connected devices. As the sheer number and versatility of digital devices continue to grow, UX design is becoming one of the most sought-after skill sets in the modern workforce.
Jobs you can pursue with a Google UX design professional certificate include user experience designer, web designer, and user experience researcher. But keep in mind, great design takes time and practice, so while Google’s UX design cert can help launch your portfolio and prepare you for entry-level job interviews, the real work - and hopefully fun - will only increase from here.
This page will provide an in-depth review of Google’s UX design certificate, including what you'll learn, how much it will cost, and the jobs and salaries you can pursue once certified.
Google UX Design Certificate Overview
- Cost: 7-day free trial then $49 per month by subscription on Coursera
- Format: Online lectures, hands-on labs, graded assignments & quizzes
- Duration: Approximately 3 to 6 months (with 10 hours of weekly study)
- Skill level: Beginner. No prior tech or design experience is required.
Google UX Design Certificate Curriculum
Google’s UX design professional certificate is divided into 7 consecutive courses. Courses are taught by heavy-hitters in the industry, including current user experience researchers and designers at Google. Here are the course titles and some key skills you will gain in each chapter of the UX design program.
Just like it sounds, the inaugural course of Google’s UX design cert will serve as your introduction to the world of user experience design. You’ll learn what user experience is and why it’s important, as well as a synopsis of what you’ll cover in the Google UX design certification.
You will learn:
- Key UX concepts like user-centered design, accessibility & equity-focused design.
- What makes user experience design great
- Potential careers in the field of UX design
- Essential tools and techniques of UX research
In this chapter of the Google UX design training, you will begin the process of crafting a user experience. Lessons will focus on empathizing with users and identifying pain points, defining their needs, and coming up with ideas to solve their problems. You'll also start designing the first project that will go into your professional UX design portfolio - a mobile application.
You will learn:
- How to develop problem statements and brainstorm solutions
- Create empathy maps, personas, user stories and journey maps
- How to conduct a competitive analysis of the marketplace
- Start building a mobile app to include in your UX portfolio
Storyboarding, wireframing and prototyping are essential steps of the UX design process where you begin to shape the user journey and visualize interactions. Building on lessons from earlier Google UX courses, students will execute these crucial tasks using previously identified user data to continue designing their mobile app.
You will learn:
- How to create big picture and close-up storyboards
- Use information architecture to organize a mobile app
- Learn basic drawing and apply it to paper wireframes
- Make low-fidelity wireframes using the popular Figma design software
In this chapter of the Google UX design certificate you will learn how to collect, analyze and act on feedback about user experience designs. By the end of this course you’ll possess the skills to conduct a UX research project including background, research goals, questions, KPIs (key performance indicators), methodology and script.
You will learn:
- How to plan and implement a usability study
- Importance of respecting privacy and user data
- Garner insights from research and present findings
- Edit low-fidelity designs based on UX research studies
In this segment of Google’s UX design cert you’ll follow along with expert-led tutorials to build a high-fidelity mockup of your user experience project in Figma. Then you’ll turn that mockup into an interactive prototype, make research-based improvements, and learn how to share your UX design with the development team.
You will learn:
- Use Figma to create mockups & high-fidelity prototypes
- Apply common visual design principles to UX projects
- Wield design systems to organize and enhance designs
- Learn the importance of feedback and design critique
A responsive website delivers a consistent and intuitive experience across all screen sizes and devices, making RWD one of the most sought-after skills in our world of proliferating gadgets. In the penultimate Google UX course you will design a responsive website using Adobe XD, a leading platform in the UX space. This responsive site will go into your professional UX design portfolio.
You will learn:
- Showcase your UX skills with a responsive website using Adobe XD
- Apply the UX design process from previous lessons into RWD
- Plan information architecture and create sitemaps
- Learn how to create a design system in Adobe XD
In the final course of Google’s UX design program you’ll recap everything you learned to date, and fold all of these skills into developing a cross-platform application focused on social good. Additionally, active UX professionals at Google will prepare you to enter the job market, with interview tips, portfolio coaching, and an examination of real-world scenarios.
You will learn:
- Use your hard-earned UX skills to create a top-down cross-platform application
- Progressive enhancement and graceful degradation in cross-platform design
- Build out your professional UX designer portfolio for job applications
- Interview and job search tips from current Google UX designers
Google UX Design Training
In addition to the official Coursera training for Google's UX design certificate which is linked below, these courses and college degrees align with the curriculum of the Google UX design program.
- Earn Google's UX Certification
- User Experience (UX) Design
- Build Wireframes and Prototypes
- UX Research & Usability Studies
- Create Stunning, Interactive Websites
- Graphic Design in Adobe Applications
- Learn UI/UX Design & Development
- Build a Multimedia Design Portfolio
Google UX Design Certificate Exams
Upon completing the seventh and final UX design course you will earn your Google UX certificate. While there’s no final exam to become certified, each course contains numerous graded quizzes and assignments you must pass to progress and complete the Google UX design program.
Google UX Design Certificate Salary
Earning your Google UX design cert will provide the skills and credentials to pursue a range of careers. Here are some jobs you can get with a Google UX design certificate and the average pay for each role:
| UX Design Role | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Web Designer | $53,000 |
| User Interface (UI) Designer | $85,000 |
| User Experience (UX) Designer | $97,000 |
| UX Researcher | $111,000 |
| UX Architect | $130,000 |
Remember, these are national average salaries for popular UX roles, from beginner to expert. If you just earned your Google UX design certificate, and you’ve yet to accumulate work experience or an extensive portfolio, you will likely begin at a lower than average wage. However, a strong portfolio and a good interview goes a long way in this field, so don't be afraid to shoot your shot!
Source for salary data: Indeed.com
Google UX Design Certificate Cost
The average cost of Google's user experience design certificate is $294 (6 months average completion time X $49 monthly subscription fee on Coursera). The 6 month timeline factors in 5-10 hours of weekly study. The cost of your Google UX design cert may be higher or lower, depending on how long it takes you to finish the program.
Google UX Design Certificate FAQs
Here are some common questions from prospective students in the Google UX Design Certificate:
Do I have to take the Google UX design courses in order?
Yes. The skills learned in each course of the UX design certificate build directly upon the lessons of previous chapters, so you should definitely take the seven courses in sequential order.
Is the Google UX design certificate free?
No. The Google UX design certificate costs $49 per month via subscription on Coursera, however you can try out the program for free during the 7-day trial period. On average, students complete the Google UX design certificate in 6 months, for a total cost of $294.
Will I earn college credit for my Google UX design certificate?
Yes. The American Council on Education recommends 10 college credits for the Google UX design cert. The breakdown of credits by subject is 6 credits in user experience design, 3 credits in web design and 1 credit in career development. Visit this ACE web page for more information.
Is the Google UX design certificate worth it?
Yes, earning your Google UX design certificate is definitely worth it. While it won’t guarantee you a job, it covers the essential UX design skills, can assist in getting you an interview, and helps you build your portfolio - a crucial element in this field. Google's UX design cert also boasts a low cost and time commitment for the value it delivers.
