UX Design: Transform

› 10 weeks› Full-time

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At Academy Xi, you’ll develop the essential skills to land a coveted role in User Experience (UX) Design. Our Transform courses are specifically designed for students looking to transition into a new career. Here, you’ll discover how to think about design, instead of being told what to think.

Our expert-led course content is suitable for all types of learners and there are no prerequisitesor prior knowledge required to join! With a practice-based approach to the theory, each student has the opportunity to work on three real and unique client projects. While other education providers rely on case studies alone to simulate UX Design, we know employers are looking for UX Designers with real experience. With the Academy Xi Transform course, you have the opportunity to apply your learned skills, form a solid UX Design portfolio and ultimately improve your employability upon graduating.

As part of our Outcomes Program, attend complimentary workshops, practice interview techniques, develop your CV, leverage your LinkedIn profile, and access our dedicated team to improve your soft skills and transform your career.

Your success is our success, and if you’re proactive with the activities within the Outcomes Program, we’ll guarantee that you’ll land your first UX role within the first 180 days of graduating. (T&Cs apply)

Transform your career

http://academyxi.com/terms-and-conditions

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“After the UX Transform course, I landed a role as a Learning Designer at OpenLearning. Basically, they’re a fully digital online education organisation, with their own custom-built platform. I’m passionate about changing the world, and their CEO Adam knew about UX Transform and Academy Xi, and I was hired for the fact that I can now use the UX toolkit and Design Thinking into Learning Design.”

Steve King, Learning Designer at OpenLearning

“I recommend the UX Transform course to anyone who wants to learn or pursue a career in User Experience Design. I had no prior experience in the industry and Academy Xi equipped me with the UX skills, knowledge and confidence to become a UX Designer. I felt very supported throughout the course and the team are really helpful.” Troi-Saraih Ilsley, UX Designer at Isobar

“The UX course has been amazing. It has been the best course I’ve ever done. Academy Xi’s diverse, inclusive nature is really caring and allows us to flourish and be our true selves while working with real-life clients. Through this course, you not only learn skills to become a UX Designer, but you also learn skills on how to become a better person.”

Annemarie Sia, User Experience Designer at Leo Burnett

What our students say

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UX Design is a fast-growing and globally relevant digital skill set. UX Design is the process of creating and designing digital products and services that are useful, usable, and desirable.

The term UX stands for User Experience:

A user, a person who uses or operates something

An experience, an event or occurrence which leaves an impression on someone

UX Design is concerned with how a person feels when they’re using a digital product or service. Examples include apps, websites, software applications or any digital interface that an individual interacts with, such as electric cars and voice-enabled technologies. UX takes a Human-Centred Design (HCD) approach; taking the person using the product or service and placing them at centre of the design and development process. As a result, UX Designers create an environment where both customers and the organisation delivering a digital product, have consistently positive, meaningful and relevant experiences.

The discipline combines research, interaction design, information architecture, usability, and usability testing. With a variety of multi-functional skills, UX Design collectively enhances your employability across a range of industries.

What is UX Design?

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From fundamental research skills to everyday design solutions, you’ll learn the right theory and tools to implement. You’ll have the opportunity to practically apply UX knowledge from the very first week of the course. Get the chance to work on a variety of class activities/exercises that prepare you for your real client projects. Under the guidance of your highly experienced lead UX instructor and mentor, you’ll test your new UX tools, and learn soft skills such as negotiation and stakeholder management.

You’ll also virtually visit workplaces and see how UX Design is applied across a range of industries and settings. This is where you will start making connections and widening your UX network. It will also provide you with insight into the type of environment you see yourself working and thriving in.

Theory applied

Unlike other education providers who typically rely on case studies and simulated experiences, you will gain practical experience by working with real, live clients, managing stakeholders, deadlines, and providing recommendations that will significantly impact the company’s direction. From understanding the brief, through to delivering and presenting a final solution to your clients, you’ll be supported by your lead UX instructor. You’ll work in groups to solve UX Design challenges for three real, live clients, applying your new-found skills and building your portfolio.

Work on three real client projects

W E E K S 1 - 3

W E E K S 4 - 9

Towards the end of the course, we’ll ensure you’re prepared to head intothe UX industry. Create a UX Design portfolio, finesse your resume andLinkedIn profile, and participate in interview technique workshops.

By the end, you’ll present your portfolio to industry experts, UX hirers and recruiters at our Industry Showcase event. It’s your time to shine and unveil all the hard work you’ve done.

Industry preparation and portfolios

W E E K 1 0

Our approach

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TIME ACTIVITY

AM

Morning stand-up with the team

Guest lecture: Learn user-testing

Speed dating exercise for user-testing

LUNCH Get to know your classmates over lunch

PM

Client meeting: Initial briefing and Q&A with real-life client

Synthesis: Team discussion and idea generation from client brief

Field trip to UX agency

EVENING

Attend any complimentary event at Academy Xi (optional)

A typical day in a UX Transform class

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UNDERSTANDING USERS

DESIGN AND PROTOTYPING

STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT

• UX research• Online surveys• Data analysis• Empathy mapping• Affinity mapping/diagrams• Card sorting• Taxonomy• Personas• Usability testing

• UX software (Figma and InDesign)

• Sketchnoting• Wireframing• Prototyping• Visual design principles• Customer journeys• Information architecture• Design best practices• UX and navigation• User flows• Designing for accessibility • Form design

• Design thinking• Minimum Viable Products• Feature identification• Competitor analysis• Heuristics

PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT

COMMUNICATION AND SOFT SKILLS

ADDITIONAL DISCIPLINES

• Project and stakeholder management

• Design sprints• Waterfall methodology• Agile methodology• Lean methodology• Content strategy

• Pitch presentation techniques

• Designing experiences• Visioning• Personal branding

• UX in Virtual Reality• Service Design• UX copywriting• Persuasive design

What you’ll learn

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Our live client projects give you the opportunity to practically apply UX skills to real problems by working on three different client projects.

In small groups, you’ll be guided (as a Junior UX Designer would be) through the end-to-end process of delivering a client brief, and practicing the necessary UX skills that will increase your employability. This will include:

• Taking and adapting briefs • User research, including interviewing users• Co-design workshops with clients• Client and stakeholder management• Prototyping and wireframing • User-testing with users/customers• Final presentation of the research findings,

insights, and proposed solutions to client.

Throughout this learning journey, you’ll be guided and mentored by your lead UX instructor and mentor. Show off your new technical and soft skills in your research, delivery, and presentation of your final solution.

Stand out from the crowd with a compelling portfolio of three real client projects and demonstrate your capabilities through a well-structured resume—together these will become your ticket into the UX industry.

Live client projects

After the course, you’ll have the opportunity to showcase your work to industry leaders and recruiters. We’ll invite our industry connections, recruiters, and companies looking for fresh UX talent. Here, you’ll present your best self and your portfolio to these prospective employers. As a great opportunity to develop your UX network and practice your pitching skills, the showcase event is where you could land your first UX role.

Industry showcase event

Your project work

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• Work on three live-client projects (not case studies or simulations)

• Real-world approach to UX methodologies and tools

• Responsive, individual support from instructors and mentors

• Passionate UX instructors and practitioners sharing real-life experiences

• Guest lectures from UX industry leaders• Field trips to leading UX companies• Career guidance from UX recruitment

consultants• Outcomes Program with job offer

guarantee*

• Continuously-evolving, industry-relevant content

• Free access to Academy Xi bootcamps and workshops

• Student-centred support staff • A chance to showcase your work to

industry leaders and employers• Extensive network of industry partners

• Proven career success of Transform graduates and alumni—90%+ of active job seekers receive job offers within 180 days of course completion*

• Spacious, convenient CBD campus and facilities

• Healthy snacks and kitchen facilities provided to sustain energy and brainpower

What makes us the best

9*T&Cs apply

http://academyxi.com/terms-and-conditions

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Our course is curated by industry experts to align with the needs of the ever-evolving and competitive UX industry. With regular reviews from industry employers, our course remains up-to-date with current methodologies and practices, so you learn and embed the skills that set you up for success. After course completion, our students will typically enter the industry as a junior to mid-level UX designer. However, this will vary and depend on the specific student and their professional background.

There are various career pathways available to our graduates, including:

As an emerging field, the UX career path is packed with well-paid opportunities. The average salary for a mid-level UX Designer in Australia is $100,000-$120,000.

As part of Academy Xi’s Outcomes Program, our students can access dedicated employment support to help find relevant UX roles within 180 days of course completion. (T&Cs apply)

Career outcomes

http://academyxi.com/terms-and-conditions

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What were you doing before Academy Xi?I completed my Bachelors in Industrial Design but couldn’t find a job that I was interested in. I worked part-time in retail and felt sort of lost and feeling worried about my future.

What are you doing now?Currently I work at a creative agency—Leo Burnett as a Graduate UX Designer and I love it!

What would you say to someone considering taking the UX Transform course?Sometimes you just have to take that first step and go against the flow. Be fearless and go to information sessions on topics you want to learn more of, talk to people and find out what it’s all about. I feel that the course not only provided me with the tools, it also helped me grow as a person and be a better team player.

What were you doing before Academy Xi?Before the UX course, I was studying, working in hospitality, and volunteering as an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth mentor.

What are you doing now?I am currently pursuing my UX career at a global digital agency called Isobar.

What would you say to someone considering taking the UX Transform course?For me, Academy Xi assisted in kick-starting my UX career by teaching me the relevant UX skills to build my portfolio. With Xi’s guidance, I was taught how to properly showcase my projects and how to incorporate storytelling into my work.

With fears about my age and lack of industry experience, Academy Xi gave me valuable career advice which helped me gain the confidence to be myself during the interview process.

With that said, the hard work and the guidance from Academy Xi is what helped me land my job at Isobar.

Annemarie SiaGraduate UX Designer and Researcher, Leo Burnett

Troi-Saraih IlsleyUser Experience Designer, Isobar

Success stories

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What were you doing before Academy Xi?I was taking on all sorts of work, teaching myself skills as I went. From 3D designing chandeliers and kitchens, to copywriting, to designing motion graphics for startups and working as a Journalist for The Australian.

What are you doing now?I am working as a Junior Consultant for M&C Saatchi’s innovation design consultancy, Tricky Jigsaw. I’m assisting in the definition, design, and delivery of our clients’ CX and Service Design strategy. My work includes product strategy, UX Design and facilitating the alignment of teams.

What would you say to someone considering taking the UX Transform course?A lot! But most of all, I recommend putting the work in, listening, and pushing yourself to be better in all aspects of UX. It’s not an easy ride, but nothing worth doing ever is.

Mark BrenchleyUser Experience Associate, Tricky Jigsaw

What were you doing before Academy Xi?Studying for my Masters of Fine Arts and working part-time in retail and part-time as a freelance photographer.

What are you doing now?Product Designer at Inspace XR. My role involves sitting between product, clients and business and making sure the engine runs smoothly.

My research and design thinking supports the business in making key strategic decisions as well as driving the product roadmap in response to customer feedback and market trends.

What would you say to someone considering taking the UX Transform course? Cherish the time you have with your classmates—it’s a whirlwind 10 weeks and they will become your closest friends, counselors, accomplices and teachers.

Vienna ChenVirtual Reality Product (UX/UI) Designer at Inspace XR

Success stories

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Suely LuElissa Santamaria

Chandré Jansen van Vuuren

Lurnea Simmons

Penny Cai

Amanda Maykot

Lindsey Liao

Student portfolios

https://www.uxfol.io/elissasantamariahttps://suelyludesign.com/https://thedesignstories.design/https://www.lurneasimmons.com/https://chandrejvv.wordpress.com/https://www.amanda-maykot.com/https://www.uxfol.io/lindseyliao

Someone must do it, so why not you?

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Ready to change the world?

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