Digital Workshop Center - Fort Collins, Colorado

Andi H.

I took part in the Digital Marketing, Graphic Design, and UX Design certificate programs. The programs are pass/fail weighted mostly in participation. Which takes a lot of pressure off students so they can focus on learning, creating, and fine-tuning their new skills. Or, that’s how I felt. The online class environment was also really helpful in that regard. The instructors were all supportive and seemed genuinely invested in our success. They also offer career coaching sessions which can be really helpful. It’s been my experience that these classes are mainly targeted for beginners. Regardless, there's always things to be learned as each instructor and student has their own approach to creativity and problem solving. Mainly these courses helped me to better conceptualize my ideas and professional goals which was the most beneficial. All in all - all good things!

Jessica R.

I did the UX Design course with Digital Workshop Center from Oct 2023 to Feb 2024. It was a fun and engaging experience. I learned a lot and I look forward to using the experience I’ve learned to future jobs. I took the course from Italy and even though the hours were night/early morning for me, it worked because I have small children. Also my instructor was understanding of the time difference for me. I enjoyed this class and would recommend it to anyone considering it. Especially military spouses or veterans using the VA Benefits.

Dat T.

As someone keen on transitioning into the UX Design field, I embarked on the UX Design program at the Digital Workshop Center with the goal of becoming certified and gaining the skills necessary to enter the industry. Initially, the curriculum and course content seemed exactly what I needed—promising a balanced mix of soft and hard skills essential for a UX Designer.

Curriculum and Course Content: While the curriculum appeared comprehensive on paper, the execution fell short of expectations. The course lagged behind schedule, leading to a focus more on soft skills development than on the hard skills crucial for UX design. Although soft skills are undoubtedly important in UX design, the imbalance left me feeling underprepared in terms of technical abilities.

Quality of Instruction: The graphic design instructors excelled in teaching hard skills, providing step-by-step guidance and hands-on assistance in class. Their approach was practical and engaging, which contrasted with the UX Design instruction. The UX Design teacher prioritized soft skills over technical training, which, while valuable, meant that there was insufficient time dedicated to developing the hard skills that are vital for entering the UX design industry.

Practical Experience: Expectations for hands-on design work were not fully met. The course emphasized UX research extensively, which, although important, came at the expense of practical design experience. Contrary to my expectation of completing two high-fidelity projects, the class completed only one low-fidelity project. My capstone project involved finishing the high-fidelity elements of this project, which was not the comprehensive design experience I had anticipated.

Resources and Support: The program provided additional materials for self-study, and the offer of 1:1 mentoring at the program's conclusion was a valuable resource. However, these resources could not fully compensate for the gaps in the curriculum.

Outcome and Personal Growth: The program was effective in enhancing my user research skills but fell short in equipping me with the practical design skills and software proficiency necessary for a UX Designer. While I appreciate the importance of research in the UX process, the lack of emphasis on design and software tools was a significant drawback.

Overall Experience and Recommendation: For those new to UX Design, this program offers a broad overview of the field, focusing significantly on the conceptual and research aspects. However, for individuals looking to emerge from the course job-ready, equipped with the necessary hard skills and software knowledge, this program may not meet expectations. It serves as a stepping stone for beginners but may not suffice for those aiming to dive deep into UX design's technicalities.

Matthew F.

I just finished the Video Design course with DWC and feel safe to recommend any course they offer because each instructor I had was at the top of their field and very very professional. The assignments involved real-world working projects that could be used in your portfolio and the informaiton provided was exactly what was needed to learn or enhance your skills. Every staff member that I worked with were extremely professional, helpful, and friendly. DWC is highly recommended.

Stephanie V.

I do not feel that this course prepared me in any way for the UX Design field. I was forced to watch YouTube videos and conduct extensive research to teach myself each concept. When questions were asked, we were shown how to "google it" and copy what we see. I am currently taking the Google UX course to learn UX Design so I am able to confidently work in the field. Figma and wireframes were not taught until the end of the course. We were never taught high fidelity wireframes or how to create a case study. We finished the course with low fidelity wireframes. I was not sure if I even completed it correctly. I watched a few YouTube videos and realized there were better ways to complete the wireframes I had questions about.

We spent much of the course googling our questions in the live class, as opposed to being taught the process during the session. Photoshop and Illustrator are no longer used in UX Design and should be replaced with Figma. I paid for a course to teach myself Figma, which was actually required to complete the majority of the coursework and is used extensively in the field. I will not be recommending this program to other veterans. It was a stressful process with no successful outcome.

Adrianne S.

I took the Introduction to UX Design course. I learned so much and gained proficiency in Adobe Illustrator a program that has plagued me throughout my career. I would definitely recommend DWC to anyone looking to break into UX design or even get a refresher in Adobe or figma.

August T.

Teaching includes showing how to make the product. What programs could we use to make certain visuals? Having more visuals of what you are talking about instead of talking in circles. Breaking out into small groups to discuss topics. Allow student-led teaching. It's hard enough to learn over Zoom, but please make it more interactive and visual for future students. I spent more time watching YouTube videos and doing the Google UX course than I should have had to. I feel like I learned nothing in this class and when I would ask questions, they would be met with "google it" or "You just gotta do it". This program felt like a scam for veterans. I don't feel like I am prepared to go into the UX workforce.

Bryan H.

I am new to the school, and so far I am very impressed. The staff are fantastic to work with, and are very knowledgeable . I am taking the Digital Marketing course, and the instructor is outstanding. The information is current, and useful. I will take more classes because you get exactly what you pay for, no fluff, and no unnecessary filler classes. You learn from very experienced instructors that have real time experience and use the most current information . Thank you.