UXA-Logo-2022-01

12-week immersive program for young adults (18-24 years old) who meet eligibility requirements

NEXT offering: TBD

Program details are below, including an overview of eligibility criteria. 

Get notified for future offerings >

Learn design skills & build a portfolio to prepare you for a career in UX design

UX Academy is offered in partnership with MSP Tech Hire, Right Track, and Prime Digital Academy—a school that offers immersive learning opportunities for adults looking to career switch into tech. This collaboration offers an opportunity for young adults to explore the career pathway of user experience design, while being immersed in Prime's practice-based, collaborative learning environment. UX Academy is offered as a 12-week full-time immersive program for those who meet eligibility requirements. 

Students can expect to:

  • Work individually and with a team on a variety of client projects, with a focus on digital experience
  • Practice essential techniques for communicating with users and business stakeholders
  • Network with UX professionals, employers, and clients

Each participant will be provided with:

  • Free tuition (a $16,000 value)
  • A $400/week stipend for successful participation
  • A Mac laptop and required design software
 

What is UX?

User experience (or “UX”) is all about understanding how designs affect people. Designs include anything that humans interact with: physical objects, digital applications, and even services or experiences (like eating in a restaurant). UXers may research how people are feeling about a design as well as create potential solutions—or prototypes—for making the experience better for the intended users.


You might enjoy UX if you are interested in:

  • Doing research to understand what things are important to users and/or creating many different ideas based on that information
  • Taking an idea and thinking through the steps needed to make that idea a reality
  • Creating an interactive (clickable or tappable) version of an idea
  • Watching users interact with a design and talking to them about what's working or not working

What does the work look like?

A great way to see the type of work that you'll be doing as a student in UX Academy is to take a look at the portfolios of some of our Prime UX program graduates! Explore the following portfolios to see a variety of projects and the type of work that UXers do!

 

Want to dig deeper?

Get a sense of how the field of UX came to be, listen to the factors that influence UX in a business environment, and read about current topics being discussed in the industry.

The Design of Everyday Things

A well-known book in the UX field that will provide you with a great foundation for the practice

UX Podcast

A variety of topics related to business, technology, and people—the key components of a UX practice!

 

Inside Design blog

Hot and current topics are addressed by the team at Invisionapp (a common prototyping tool, and one we use in the program)

Eligibility & APPLICATION

UX Academy is designed to build the regional tech workforce by providing training and work experience for under-resourced young adults in sponsoring cities. Specific requirements may vary slightly depending on the sponsoring City of residence, but in general, students are expected to meet the following requirements:

  • 18–24-year-old Minnesota resident living in Saint Paul, Minneapolis, Brooklyn Park, or Brooklyn Center
  • High school diploma or equivalent
  • Must meet income criteria OR have a barrier to employment, as defined by the sponsoring cities

Applicants will be contacted by the relevant city's program representative to outline their city-specific eligibility process.

Sign up to be notified of 2024 UX Academy offerings >

 

INTERESTED?

Indicate your intent today!

Program eligibility applications for 2024 will open later this fall.

If you wish to be considered for one of our 2024 offerings, you will want to submit your eligibility application as soon as possible as seats are limited. All applicants will be contacted with more information about their eligibility status and the next steps for program enrollment.

Get notified of our 2024 UX Academy offerings

 

FAQs

What is the time commitment? 

UX Academy is a 12-week, full-time immersion program which means that you are expected to be in class, Monday through Friday, from 9am-5pm. Some light requirements, as well as opportunities for additional learning, will take place during evenings and weekends.

What will I be doing during that time? 

That time is spent in active practice, working with your peers on a number of different client projects, coached by your instructor. You will be using your computer (as well as your sketchbook!) for the majority of the day. We facilitate taking morning and afternoon breaks, as well as provide a 1-hour lunch break each day during which you can fully unplug. You will meet with your advisors at least once each week, as well as will have opportunities to hear from industry guest speakers.

Will the program be in-person or remote?

We are currently planning for the program to be in-person. However, if/as COVID-19 situation changes, we may need to modify our approach to maintain health and wellness for students and staff.

What software programs do I need for the program?

Access to the following software will be provided to you, at no cost:

  • Zoom
  • InVision
  • Keynote
  • Figma
  • Portfolio hosting tool

What are the laptop requirements? 

Mac laptops will be provided to program participants, at no cost.

Have a question not listed here?

Interested and eligible applicants can watch our previously recorded online webinar to learn more about what a UX career looks like and hear about the program curriculum and experience from staff and alumni!

What does the program application look like?

If you've been determined "eligible" for a city sponsorship and invited to apply to the program, please review this application Q&A webinar for tips on how to submit a strong application. 

 

INTERESTED?

PLEDGE AN INTERN TODAY!

Hosting a UX Academy intern is an immediately achievable way to demonstrate your commitment to diversifying and creating a more inclusive UX industry.
 
If you have the funds, willing mentors, and project work to be tackled, these folks have budding talent and inordinate amounts of gumption to work towards that shared goal! Plus, as an employer partner, you will be instrumental in helping to inform the manner in which we recruit, train, and provide career opportunities to under-resourced, under-represented, and predominantly BIPOC talent. 
 

Learn more about internships

 

Program or application questions

Leticia Ramirez 
Right Track Program Specialist (St. Paul)
Leticia.Ramirez@ci.stpaul.mn.us

Brant Ingalsbe
MSP TechHire (Minneapolis)
Brant.Ingalsbe@minneapolismn.gov

Madison Hurst
Brooklynk Program Coordinator (Brooklyn Park, Brooklyn Center)
Madison.Hurst@brooklynk.works
(763) 453-2706

 

UX community engagement

(Including pro-bono projects, instruction opportunities, or internships for program graduates)

Ange Wang
Prime Digital Academy
Sr. Director of UX Instruction & Strategy
ange@primeacademy.io