Break into AI & UX Design by shipping real company projects.
Work with real teams. Ship a live product. Graduate interview-ready.
Apprenticeship Program
Apply anytime. We assess your skills, place you in the right program, and get you working on real client projects to build a portfolio that actually gets interviews.
🔸 Weekly lessons + live workshops
🔸 1-on-1 mentorship
🔸 Real client project experience
Backed & supported by designers who now work at
Does this sound like you?
No prior experience
You’re drowning in tutorials and blog posts but still don’t know how to run a project end-to-end.
Struggling with portfolioÂ
You need client work to build a portfolio—but need a portfolio to land clients. Classic catch-22.
Bootcamp Grad, Still Lost
The course ended, but real-world projects didn’t come with a syllabus. You need mentorship, not more modules.
Career Switcher
Your past experience is valuable, but hiring managers want proof you can deliver in UX—fast.
So, are you ready to....
Land your first UX role
Turn your live client project into a case study that recruiters flag as “must-interview.”
Stand out from the crowd
Real product impact + AI-driven UX chops put you ahead of 95 % of junior applicants.
Master the fundamentals
Learn core UX skills while shipping a real project.
Work alongside a mentor on real projects with real companies.
Learn UX by working on real design challenges for actual companies with hands-on mentorship, weekly feedback, and portfolio-ready results.
Here is what you will get
Real challenges
Work on a real product with a real business. No fake case studies, you’ll leave with a portfolio piece recruiters actually care about.
Weekly 1:1 Mentorship
Get personalized design feedback from industry mentors every week — no generic rubrics, just real advice on your real work.
Practical Weekly Learning
Every week, unlock short, practical lessons you can apply immediately.
Private community
Join a global community of designers and stay inspired through live classes.
Certification
Graduate with a DesignXP Certificate in UX/UI, backed by real-world project work and mentor sign-off — a credential you can confidently add to your portfolio.
... so far, I have been extremely satisfied with the program and its structure. It blends a mix of useful resources that every aspiring designer needs including design foundations, mentorship, and the opportunity to work on real projects. I really liked the education part of the program as it combines live interactive lessons with deliverables you then complete that mimic real-world scenarios that designers tackle in their day-to-day work.
How might we improve trust in AI feedback for designers inside Figma?
During this apprenticeship, DesignXP participants will evaluate the onboarding and usage flow of Spec AI inside Figma. Apprentices will conduct usability audits, identify drop-off points, and design improved onboarding screens, empty states, and AI insight cards.
How might we help UX teams turn messy research notes into clear, shareable insights using AI?
During this apprenticeship, DesignXP participants will support an ongoing ADUX Labs community project focused on building an AI-powered tool for synthesizing qualitative data. Apprentices will refine workflows, improve the user experience, and help gather real-world feedback through a live diary study
How might we design a seamless, scalable design system for early-stage startups?
In this apprenticeship, DesignXP participants will collaborate with Monstrum—a design agency that turns complex ideas into intuitive experiences. Apprentices will help audit existing design systems, identify UX inconsistencies across web and product interfaces, and contribute to the creation of scalable UI components and design tokens. The goal: enable Monstrum’s startup clients to ship faster without sacrificing quality.
How might we personalize learning for higher ed and adult students?
During this apprenticeship, participants will support CoralTalk, a startup building personalized AI teaching assistants. Apprentices will work hands on with the tool exploring interesting usecases within the education industry and how AI can tackle common painpoints from students and professors
How might we help a logistics company better communicate trust and capability?
This apprenticeship invites DesignXP learners to collaborate with ABLS, a 3PL logistics provider based in Oman. You’ll work on modernizing their company website to better appeal to both local and international clients. The project may involve redesigning service pages, improving UX writing, and creating mobile-first layouts. You’ll also get a chance to practice stakeholder communication and deliver work that has immediate impact on a global business.
Your Learning Journey
A comprehensive curriculum designed to prepare you for your apprenticeships & beyond.
UX Foundations & AI Workflows
Learn the mindsets, tools,
and industry landscape
that modern designers
thrive in
Discovery & Research
Master how to frame
problems and gather
insights
Structure & Flow
Turn messy insights into
clear design directions
High Fidelity Design
Bring your ideas to life with
professional polish
Testing & Storytelling
Validate your work and
present it with impact
Learn live with industry experts.
Gabriel Reichelt
Melissa Anne Morgan
Ashitosh Hiremath
Annie Ma
Tejasvi Arora
Het Shah
Kartik Dhaduk
Monique Lourenco Lopes
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Gabriel Reichelt
Melissa Anne Morgan
Ashitosh Hiremath
Annie Ma
Tejasvi Arora
Het Shah
Kartik Dhaduk
Monique Lourenco Lopes
Kick off your journey with designXP.
Your journey with DesignXP
Step 1: Apply
Submit a short application with your goals, experience, and portfolio (if you have one).
Step 2: Oral Design Exam
A short interview or async video where you talk through your design thinking.
Step 3: Skill Review & Placement
Our team evaluates your skills and recommends the best program for you.
Step 4: Craft a Standout Case Study
Turn your project into a portfolio-ready story. We’ll help you document your process, showcase your thinking, and prepare it for recruiters.
Step 5: Launch with Confidence
Graduate with a polished case study, a DesignXP certificate, and clarity on how to apply, interview, and stand out in today’s UX job market.
Step 6: Stay Supported After Graduation
Even after the program ends, you’re not on your own. Get continued access to our private community, live office hours, and career resources — from portfolio updates to interview prep.
Meet your mentors.
Aadil Khan
Aadil is a UX researcher and designer with almost a decade of experience holding roles at IBM, The Bank of Montreal, & XE.com. He also is an award winning design mentor and currently teaches UX Design at the Toronto Metropolitan University. At DesignXP, he helps learners gain real-world experience and build standout portfolios.
Muhammad Jaffar
Muhammad is a design leader and founder of Monstrum (formerly Joypad), a studio that has driven over $500K in annual revenue by transforming complex ideas into high-impact digital products. With 40+ client partnerships and 20+ MVPs launched, his work blends creative direction with business strategy. He’s also built pathways for emerging designers—offering real-world experience, mentorship, and portfolio-ready projects. At DesignXP, Muhammad brings that same vision to the next generation of design talent.
Here's what people say about our mentors.
Choose your path to a UX career
Frequently Asked Questions
Get answers to commonly asked questions.
No prior experience is required! Our program is designed for beginners, career switchers, and early UX learners. We provide the foundational training and support you need to confidently take on real-world projects.
Most students spend 5–8 hours per week on coursework and skill-building. Once you're placed into real projects, this typically becomes 8–12 hours per week, depending on project scope. All programs are flexible and self-paced, so you can study around your schedule.
No problem. If your assessment shows you need more foundational skills first, we’ll place you into one of our self-paced courses (like The Figma Lab, UX Research Foundations, or Foundations of Design) before the apprenticeship. You’ll still get full access to resources, the community, and support — and we’ll re-evaluate when you’re ready.
After you apply, you’ll complete a short oral design exam so we can understand your skills, communication, and goals. Our team reviews your application and assessment, then recommends the best program path for you. Once you're apprenticeship-ready, we match you with real companies based on project availability and your interests.
Absolutely — and you should. You’ll be working on real projects with real companies. Most students use these deliverables as case studies and proof of experience on their portfolio, resume, and LinkedIn.
Yes. If you enroll and decide the program isn’t the right fit within the first 7 days, you can request a full refund. After that period, the program becomes non-refundable due to the project sourcing and mentorship commitments we make on your behalf.
An apprenticeship at Design XP is a mentored, project-based learning experience. You’ll work on real projects for real companies, guided by experienced designers — with the goal of building skills and creating portfolio-ready case studies. An internship is typically a formal role where you're part of a company’s team and contributing to their product’s output. Our apprenticeship is designed to help you learn, grow, and showcase your work — not replace a junior designer.
Ready to finally get real UX design experience?
No degree required. No gatekeeping. Just bring your determination and design passion.