Google UX Design Certificate Courses Review | 2024 Version

Summary

In this video, Aliena discusses the relevance of Google UX design certificates in 2024, debunking the myth of job guarantees and emphasizing their value for beginners. She shares her journey from eBay to founding Aliena Design LLC, highlighting the importance of practical experience over theoretical knowledge. Aliena advises on the necessity of UI design skills, product thinking, and building a strong portfolio, suggesting alternatives like Fast Track UX for a more industry-relevant education. She encourages patience and a growth mindset for a successful career in UX design.

Takeaways

• 📅 Google UX design certificates were released in 2021 and have become less relevant over time but are still valuable for beginners.
• 🚫 The certificates do not guarantee a job and should be pursued for knowledge, not just for the credential.
• 🔍 Google does not prioritize hiring based on having their own UX design certificates.
• 🏫 The course provides a theoretical approach to design, which may not reflect the practical methods used in the industry.
• 💼 For those considering a career in UX design, the Google UX design certificate can be a good starting point.
• 💡 The certificate program is well-suited for part-time learning with its bite-sized video format.
• 🔧 Course six and seven of the Google UX design certificate are less relevant due to the rise of Figma over Adobe XD.
• 💼 The Coursera plus plan offers access to a wide range of courses, including Google's UX design certificate.
• 🚀 A comprehensive journey into UX design involves more than just the Google UX design certificate and includes internships, personal projects, and a growth mindset.
• 💼 To become a successful UX designer, especially in big tech companies, one must fill knowledge gaps in UI design, product thinking, client projects, and portfolio development.
• 🔗 There are alternative courses like Fast Track UX that offer more practical and industry-relevant training for aspiring UX designers.

Q & A

When were the Google UX design certificates released?

The Google UX design certificates were released in 2021.

What is Aliena Design LLC?

Aliena Design LLC is the design company started by the speaker after leaving eBay.

Does having Google UX design certificates guarantee a job?

No, having Google UX design certificates does not guarantee a job. It does not significantly increase the chances of getting hired in the competitive market.

Does Google prioritize hiring individuals with their own UX design certificates?

No, Google does not prioritize hiring based on having their UX design certificates. The hiring process is independent of the certificates.

What does the Google UX design certificate teach about Google's design process?

The Google UX design certificate teaches the theoretical and academic way of doing design, which may not exactly reflect how Google does design in practice.

What is recommended for someone who is not fully committed to a career in UX design?

For those not fully committed to a career in UX design, the speaker suggests taking the Google UX design certificate for its value and knowledge, especially courses one to five.

Why is Figma preferred over Adobe XD in the context of the Google UX design certificate?

Figma has become the design monopoly in the design tools space, which is why it is recommended over Adobe XD, especially since Adobe XD is used in course six of the certificate.

What additional resources are suggested for someone serious about transitioning into UX design?

For those serious about transitioning into UX design, the speaker recommends the Coursera plus plan for access to various courses, including Google's data analysis and project management programs.

What is the speaker's personal journey in becoming a UX designer?

The speaker's journey includes starting with physical product design, learning design thinking, working in various design internships, doing academic papers, and finally starting a YouTube channel and her own design company.

What knowledge gaps exist between finishing the Google UX design certificates and getting a job?

There are several knowledge gaps including UI design skills, product thinking and business sense, client project experience, and creating an effective portfolio.

What alternative course is recommended for those serious about becoming a UX designer?

Fast Track UX is recommended as an alternative course for those serious about becoming a UX designer, as it is designed to teach practical design skills and help build a strong portfolio.

Outlines

00:00

🎓 Google UX Design Certificates: Relevance and Realities

The speaker, Aliena, discusses the Google UX design certificates introduced in 2021. She shares her personal journey of becoming a product designer at eBay and later starting her own design company, Aliena Design LLC. Aliena reflects on the changing relevance of the certificates, emphasizing that they do not guarantee a job and are not a direct path to employment at Google. She advises viewers to pursue the course for its educational value rather than for the certification alone. Aliena also clarifies misconceptions about the certificates teaching Google's specific design methods, explaining that they provide a theoretical approach to design that may not align with the practical realities of each tech company. She suggests that the certificates are a good starting point for those interested in UX design, especially for those not fully committed to a career transition. Aliena recommends taking courses one to five for their content quality and the inclusion of a mobile app design project using Figma. She also mentions the rise of Figma over Adobe XD and advises against using Adobe XD in courses six and seven due to its decreased industry relevance. Aliena suggests the Coursera plus plan for access to a wider range of courses, including Google's data analysis and project management programs. She concludes by emphasizing the importance of patience, a growth mindset, and a multifaceted approach to becoming a UX designer or product designer in big tech companies.

05:00

🚀 Bridging the Gap: From Google UX Certificates to a Job in Design

Aliena outlines the knowledge gaps and additional skills needed to transition from completing the Google UX design certificates to securing a job in the field. She highlights the importance of UI design skills and proficiency in Figma, noting that many designers with Google UX certificates have UI design issues in their portfolios. Aliena provides a free Figma tutorial playlist for those looking to improve. She also emphasizes the need for product thinking and business acumen, as designers are often expected to contribute to a product's success and revenue generation. Aliena discusses the scarcity of junior design positions and the importance of networking and personal branding to attract client projects. She advises against using the Google UX certificate template for portfolios, suggesting instead that designers create a strong, concise pitch. Aliena also recommends Fast Track UX, a course she developed, which is designed to fill the gaps left by the Google certificates and other bootcamps. Fast Track UX covers advanced Figma skills, project selection based on personal strengths, and the creation of a portfolio that can attract client projects. Aliena positions this course as a comprehensive solution for those serious about a career in UX design, providing practical knowledge and community support. She encourages viewers to take advantage of the current pricing and enroll to gain access to exclusive learning materials and a network of design professionals.

Keywords

💡UX design certificates

UX design certificates refer to professional certifications in user experience design, which are designed to validate one's skills and knowledge in the field. In the video, the speaker discusses the Google UX design certificates, which were released in 2021, and their relevance to job seekers and professionals in the design industry. The speaker's personal journey includes obtaining these certificates and using them as a stepping stone in their career.

💡Product designer

A product designer is a professional who designs and develops products with the end-user's experience in mind. They consider usability, functionality, and aesthetics. In the context of the video, the speaker transitioned from a different field to become a product designer at eBay, highlighting the importance of UX design skills in product development roles.

💡Aliena Design LLC

Aliena Design LLC is the speaker's own design company, which they started after leaving eBay. This represents a milestone in the speaker's career, showcasing the entrepreneurial aspect of design professionals and the ability to apply UX design skills in a business context.

💡Relevance

Relevance, in this context, refers to the current importance or applicability of something, such as the Google UX design certificates, in the ever-evolving field of design. The speaker discusses how the certificates' relevance has changed over time and advises viewers on how to approach their value in the current market.

💡Coursera plus plan

The Coursera plus plan is a subscription service offered by Coursera that provides access to a wide range of courses, including the Google UX design certificates. The speaker recommends this plan for its value, suggesting that it's not only for the design certificates but also for other courses that can contribute to a well-rounded skill set.

💡Figma

Figma is a collaborative interface design tool used by designers to create and prototype digital interfaces. The speaker mentions Figma as the preferred design tool over Adobe XD, especially in the context of the Google UX design certificates, reflecting the industry's shift towards Figma and its importance in the design workflow.

💡Adobe XD

Adobe XD is a UI/UX design and prototyping tool. The speaker suggests not using Adobe XD for the course projects, as Figma has become more dominant in the industry. This highlights the need for designers to stay current with industry-standard tools.

💡Portfolio

A portfolio is a collection of a designer's work that showcases their skills and experience. The speaker emphasizes the importance of a strong portfolio in securing a job, suggesting that the Google UX design certificate's template is not ideal for a pitch. A good portfolio should be concise and effectively communicate the designer's abilities to stakeholders.

💡Fast Track UX

Fast Track UX is a course mentioned by the speaker, which is designed to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application in UX design. It is positioned as a more relevant and comprehensive alternative to the Google UX design certificates, focusing on real-world design practices and preparation for roles in big tech companies.

💡Economic downturns

Economic downturns refer to periods of economic decline, which can impact job availability and the demand for certain skills. The speaker discusses how economic downturns, combined with the rise of AI, have reduced the number of junior design positions, emphasizing the need for designers to adapt and enhance their skill set to remain competitive.

Highlights

Google UX design certificates were released in 2021 and have evolved in relevance since.

The speaker transitioned from eBay to starting their own design company, Aliena Design LLC.

Google certificates are still relevant for beginners in UX design.

Having Google UX design certificates does not guarantee a job.

The value of the certificates has decreased as more people earn them without fully engaging with the course content.

Google does not prioritize hiring based on the possession of their own certificates.

Google UX design certificates teach theoretical design methods rather than Google's specific design practices.

The certificates are a good starting point for those exploring UX design without a full commitment.

The course is affordable and covers a wide range of design theories and techniques.

Course one to five of the Google UX design certificate are particularly recommended.

Figma has become the dominant design tool, surpassing Adobe XD.

Course six and seven of the Google UX design certificate are time-consuming and can be skipped.

The Coursera plus plan offers access to a wide range of courses, including Google's.

The journey to becoming a UX designer is not a short one and requires patience and a growth mindset.

The speaker's own journey included various roles and learning experiences before and after obtaining the Google UX design certificate.

UI design skills and proficiency in Figma are crucial for a strong portfolio.

Product thinking and business sense are essential for designers in tech companies.

Client projects are important for gaining experience and positioning oneself in the market.

A good design portfolio should be a pitch, not just a list of skills.

Fast Track UX is a course that fills the gap between Google's certificate and real-world design needs.

The design field offers endless possibilities, especially in the age of AI and content economy.

Transcripts

Google UX design certificates were released in 2021,

and I took it in 2021.

One year later, I became a product designer at eBay

and fast forward to today,

I'm no longer with eBay because I started

my own design company, Aliena Design LLC

Many things have changed in the past few

years that made Google certificates less relevant than

before, but still relevant enough for beginners.

Hey everyone, I'm Aliena and

welcome back to my channel.

In this video I will break down Google

certificates and whether it's relevant this year.

Here are some major questions I want to answer.

First, is Google UX design certificates job guaranteed?

Absolutely not.

Just by including the Google certificates on

your resume doesn't really increase the chance

of getting hired in this competitive time.

And in fact, I've seen more and more people

just clicking through the certificates in order to get

their certificate, which actually decreases its value even more.

If you want to take the course, take

it for its value and its knowledge.

Do not take it for the certificates.

Will google be more open to hire

you if you have the Google certificates?

Unfortunately, no.

Google hires and fires people

based on its own timeline.

If they are not hiring, then they are not hiring.

In fact, when I was interviewing for Google,

not a single person in the room even

knew that there were Google certificates.

Does Google UX design certificates teach

you how Google does design?

Not exactly.

When I was taking the certificates, my

biggest incentive was to learn how do

big tech companies like Google do design.

I even replaced all of my previous clients projects

with my Google certificates personal projects just to make

things things look more Google and look more thorough.

Now that I have the experience working for big

tech, and now that I have an entire network

full of people working in tech, I can tell

you that Google UX certificates will teach you the

theoretical and academic way of doing design, which is,

in the ideal world, the best thing to do.

But that factors out a lot of real

life elements and tech companies each uses a

slightly different way to do design.

If you are interested in exploring more about UX design

and not yet fully committed to this career transition, I

think Google UX design design is good for you.

It is affordable and it touches on a lot of theories,

techniques and knowledge you need to know as a designer.

It breaks things down into bite size pieces

like two to five minutes videos.

So it makes perfect sense if you are a

full time student or if you have a full

time job and want to take this part time.

I especially think certificate one to certificate five

are very good for you.

The content is spot on and it will take you through

doing one personal project for a mobile app using Figma.

So take course one to five.

Course six will ask you to use Adobe XD.

But something that happened after the release

of the certificate is that Figma became

the design monopoly of design tools space.

So use Figma.

Don't use Adobe XD in course six and course seven

each requires you to do one more additional project.

So that's very time consuming.

You can just scan through it or skip it.

And if you want to take this certificate, I highly

recommend the Coursera plus plan because it not only gives

you the access to this certificate, but there's also tons

of coursera courses out there that you can take.

For example, Google also has its data analysis program

and project management program, which I both took, and

they've both helped me in a very unexpected way.

The link of that is in the description.

Now, if you are very serious about transitioning into

UX design, then I'll make it clear that just

taking Google UX design certificate is not enough.

Here's my story.

I started by doing physical product

design like designing chairs and desks.

Then I did a UI design paper on smart home products

like, you know, Alexa to control the lights and stuff.

Then I learned design thinking from Stanford D school.

Then I worked for Stanford D school as a design intern.

Then I did a UI design

internship in a startup in Tokyo.

Then I did a product design

internship in a Silicon Valley startup.

Then I did a paper on brain computer interface UX

design, like the Neuralink thing Elon Musk is doing.

And finally I did the Google UX design certificate.

And after that I did another design

contractor role at a mortgage company.

And then I started my personal

brand which is this YouTube channel.

And after all that I got a

senior design contractor role at eBay.

So please be patient and adopt to a growth mindset.

This journey is not a three month journey.

Even if you see a lot of YouTube videos

saying that how they break into UX design in

three months, there is a lot behind that story.

So I don't think it's rational to expect that

one program can make you a UX designer.

I'm especially talking about becoming a UX designer

or product designer in big tech companies.

In the United States you can earn

from 100K - 400K USD per year working as a

UX or product designer at big tech companies.

I think Netflix pays the most.

If you want to know the step by step process of

what you need to learn to become a designer in big

tech company, right now I have a PDF guide.

It is free in the description.

You can grab that and after you download PDF,

you will automatically be put into my email list.

So you will hear from me from my email list as well.

Let's say you finish the Google UX design certificates.

What are some knowledge gaps you need to fill

in between the certificates and getting a job?

First is UI design skill and Figma.

When a recruiter decides whether or not to

hire you, they will open up your portfolio

and they will scan through the project banner

which includes the UI design of your project.

If that UI banner has some

major issue, you are immediately denied.

And most designers have seen graduating from Google

UX certificates have some major UI design issues.

Because this course doesn't focus on UI design.

You may be using accent color in the wrong spot.

You may have multiple call to actions in the same page.

A lot of people also use a body

font size that is just way too large

or you have problems aligning everything.

I have a free Figma tutorial playlist that

you can follow, so if you want to

level up your Figma skill, check here.

This is the free version. Of course.

There's also a paid version which

I will talk about it later.

Second is product thinking and business sense.

Most tech companies are calling their designers product designers

these days because at the end of the

day a designer designs for the product.

Your title is whatever your company wants to

call their designers, whether you are called a

UI/ UX/ product/ web/ interaction designer.

At the end of the day you need to design something.

You need to deliver a Figma file that solves the

user problem and help the business to generate more annual revenue

All of my projects in eBay are related to

pay per click advertising at eBay

and if I can't think business, I won't get a job.

Third is client project.

It's very obvious that junior design positions

are close to non existence right now

and this is not just happening in

the design industry, it is happening everywhere.

Economic downturns plus the rise of AI will

make junior positions less and less common.

This is not something we can control, so

instead of complaining about it, let us focus

on something that we can control.

In a time like this, it is crucial to use

networking skills and personal branding to attract client projects.

First, after working on a few client projects,

you can position yourself as a senior designer

and compete in the senior contractor design market.

Fourth is portfolio.

Google UX certificates provide you a template that

you can follow for your portfolio, but I

do not recommend using that template.

That template is more like writing an essay.

It lists out everything from top to bottom

from start to finish of what you've done.

It's an essay.

It's not a pitch.

A good design portfolio is a pitch.

And you also need to pitch your portfolio to

business stakeholders who have very little time and patience

and may not even understand UX design.

You need to make your portfolio and

case studies strong and concise instead of

a list of everything you can do.

And of course I have a video on that. It's right here.

It's a little bit advanced, but I think

my audience, you guys are okay with it.

Finally, is there any course similar to

Google certificates that's more relevant today?

Absolutely, yes.

You shall check out Fast Track UX.

It's designed for people who are

serious about transitioning into UX design.

This is a course developed by me and

I will teach you how design is done

in big tech companies, not in theories.

I will also show you what it's like to

go into meeting room where you are the designer.

And then there's also other stakeholders like a

PM, an engineer, and someone from the leadership.

It will take you through basic and advanced figma skills

and also take you through one project of your choice.

You will not use a prompt generator, you will choose a

project of your own based on your strength and by the

end you will have a portfolio that looks like a pitch

and have a marketing strategy for yourself to attract your first

client project so that in one to three years you can

become a senior designer in big tech companies.

This course pretty much fills in the

gap of Google certificate design bootcamps and

many master programs out there.

I know this because I'm either the promoter or a

guest lecturer of all these programs and I just finished

producing every single episode in Fast Track UX

and right now it is priced at a japanese watermelon.

It will only go up from here.

So if you want to unlock things you cannot,

learn from YouTube and unlock a community where you

can ask for co-working partners and design feedback,

the best time to enroll is right now.

Link in the description

Transitioning my career from software engineering to UX design is the best

design decision, the best decision I've ever made

and I only see myself doing more design

in the age of AI and content economy.

There is endless possibilities in the design field today,

but it probably will make more sense after we

wait for ten years and then look backward and

then well be like why haven't I done that?

As always, I'm Aliena, SUBSCRIBE for

more design and business related content.

The link to Coursera plus my free PDF guide

and also my course is in the description.

If you like this video you will also like this video.

And I will see you in this video. Bye.