Module 1: Course Overview

Course Structure

The Netflix UX/UI Design Boot Camp is a 16-week course covering the information and skills that the field of UX/UI design needs. The classes meet twice a week for three hours each. Every class combines lectures, demos, and in-class activities.

The class environment is highly collaborative. We expect the students to work with their peers and take part in the discussions.

Schedule Overview

The boot camp has two sections: user experience (UX) and user interface (UI). During the first eight weeks, you'll explore the design thinking process known as the double diamond and the learning foundations of UX design. You'll then transition into UI design. In this section, you'll learn the building blocks of visual design and interaction design. Each section will end with a two-week group project, where you'll apply your new skills to create a case study.

The boot camp has the following high-level schedule:

Weeks 1-6: UX

  • Introduction to UX and design thinking
  • User-centered research and problem definition
  • Ideation, lo-fi prototyping, and user testing

Weeks 7 & 8: UX Capstone

  • Group Project 1

Weeks 9-12: UI

  • User navigation and responsive design

  • UI systems architecture and analysis

  • UI branding and responsive web design (RWD) navigation

Weeks 15 & 16: UI Capstone

  • Group Project 2

Assignments and Grading Breakdown

This section describes the components of the course and how they'll each contribute to your course grade.

Grading

Your course grade will depend on in-class participation, homework assignments, and projects as follows:

  • Attendance and participation: 30%

  • Homework assignments: 20%

  • Group Project 1: 20%

  • Group Project 2: 30%

While this course is collaborative in nature, your work is your own. You will be expected to create, present, and explain your own material.

Class Activities

Through in-class activities, you'll explore the fundamental techniques that the design industry uses. You don't need to perfectly carry out the activities. The purpose of doing the activities is to practice the design techniques that you'll apply later in your assignments. Be sure to read the directions for each exercise before starting it.

Review and Feedback

An essential step in every design cycle entails feedback. This offers an opportunity for you to reflect on what you're doing right and on how to improve. After each activity, you and your class will engage in a review session to both give and receive feedback on each other's work. By receiving feedback from your peers and the instructional staff, you'll gain a new perspective and better understand how to improve.

When giving feedback, try to be thoughtful, constructive, and encouraging to support your peers.

Homework Assignments

Each week, you'll complete a take-home assignment to apply the concepts that you learned in the class. These assignments will mimic different stages of the design process and showcase your skills as a designer. Be prepared to spend up to 10 hours per week on assignments.

Group Projects

At the end of each section, you and a small group of your peers will carry out a two-week design sprint. You'll produce prototypes and create case studies that you can use in your design portfolios to showcase your work.

Support

As mentioned earlier, you're not in this alone! You'll be joining a community that includes instructors, TAs, and student success managers, as well as additional support from mentors and career services.

Instructor

Your instructor is the lead facilitator for your learning experience. Instructors have practical experience in the field, so they're exceptional resources for offering insight, examples, and advice to help you succeed. The instructor manages all the virtual classes, guides the TA team, and monitors your progress.

TAs

TAs offer support, guidance, and critical feedback and evaluations of your assignment submissions. TAs attend the virtual classes, help troubleshoot issues, and lead small breakout groups.

Student Success Manager

Your SSM is the person to contact for any questions about the course structure, delivery, or policies. If you're struggling or feel that you need support, don't hesitate to reach out to your SSM.

Your SSM is available during standard business hours via both Slack and email.

Peers

During the course, you'll chat with other students, ask for help, and assist others during class via Slack and Zoom. Research in online learning shows that the students who answer questions from their peers perform the best. It makes sense! A terrific way to solidify new learning is to teach it back to someone else.

Slack

Slack deserves its own mention. Slack is a community space where you can converse with classmates and ask the TAs questions. We encourage you to follow the Read-Search-Ask method. If you get stuck, start by thoroughly reading the course content. Then search for answers online (ask your instructional team for tips about places to search). Finally, if you still feel stuck, ask your question in Slack. Remember that one of the goals of this course is to help you learn to problem solve as you encounter new technologies in the workplace.