UX/UI Design

It’s one of the best investment I’ve done in my life! I enjoyed my learning with the curriculum, my mentor and my peers! I really appreciate that the mento team constantly iterates to provide us a better learning experience and a supportive community. The curriculum does not only teach you things you need to know to complete your Bootcamp projects but things you need to know as a UX professional! What surprised me is that even though I haven't completed my bootcamp, I already got referrals to interview and now I am really grateful that I am doing an internship program in Europe which has been my goal for a long time.

The best part of Mento Design Academy is the community that they have. The community is friendly and helpful. I love that they also have a bi-weekly study group session - it makes me feel like I'm not going through the journey alone. The curriculum is well-written and easy to follow. If you're looking for a boot camp to transit to UX, look no further!

I’ve participated before the pandemic in a 3 months course and also finished some other shorter courses online, including some on IDF platform. So, since this is not my first UX design course, I have some terms of comparison. The difference is that this is by far the most interactive and full of practice from them all. I love the fact that I was not bombarded with information and it was delivered gradually while doing the assignments. I can easily access more if I want or need and also get guidance from my mentor when I get stuck. I think this is by far a better way to learn and remember something - by focusing on the practice. The course starts with some good pointers on how to be practical about learning, inspires you to set a goal and prepares you to use the processes and tools. By the time you start your projects, you already have some confidence because of already doing these things. My guess is this was not an easy feat, to think about how to deliver it in such a good manner. I want to congratulate everyone for the wonderful job! I think it’s really awesome!

I'm really glad I ended up selecting this bootcamp among the many choices I had at my disposal. There are (4) primary reasons Mento stands out among other bootcamps: 1) The bootcamp structure is based off a mentorship relationship opposed to simply a teacher/student dynamic. Because of this, students develop a much closer and productive relationship that is more conducive to growth and development. This is essential when looking for a job, the Mentors know your goals, background, and talents. 2) Opposed to being a cookie cutter, do x y and z type of experience, Mento prioritizes critical thinking and applying true user centered design as an overarching philosophy. What this translates to is customized, personal products that allow you to stand out among others who may have followed a reused template. You infuse your personal strengths and interests, background, and goals into the work you do which creates a much more compelling candidate package in recruiter's eyes. Additionally, Mento doesn't hail any type of UX method as the ONE true method. Instead, you take each challenge as they are and critically apply what methods you think to be a good fit to solve that problem. In my eyes, that's great UX.
3) Unlike other bootcamps, the greatness doesn't end after you complete all the assignments. One of the major reasons I chose Mento is because they offer support and guidance when you actually start the job search. Instead of being left out drifting in an open sea of applications, you'll have experienced professionals coaching you along the way. Talk about a cheat code. They don't promise 100% results, no one can, but they give you blueprints, actionable advice, and access to their ridiculously expansive networks.4) Lastly, the professionals who curated this program, namely Radu Vucea (my mentor!) and Ioana Teleanu, are industry rockstars who have spanned the gambit of content creation, corporate, startup, hiring, recruitment, and now entrepreneurship. Talk about experience. As a Mento student, you have access to their literal decades of knowledge at your disposal. The only limit to how much you can access is your own ambitions. They emphasize being available to answer questions and make it a priority to converse with their mentees weekly. This bootcamp isn't perfect, none are. It heavily hinges on how much effort you put in yourself. However, this, in my eyes, is a benefit because it helps to curate the spirit of being a self starter, something that essential in a great UXer. In my own experience as a new designer (graduated from college knowing nothing about UX), this bootcamp is helping me to accomplish exactly what I set out to do - Create a portfolio that reflects who I am, what I want to do, and the awesome work I'm capable of doing. If this sounds like it can help you become the UX designer you want to be, stop reading & sign up - https://www.mentodesign.academy/ If this review helped you make your decision, make sure to tell them Todd McCauley sent you in the "Where did you find out about Mento?" section! Thanks!

I had a very difficult time choosing the right BootCamp for myself. It took more than a half year to figure it out, including dropping off from one Bootcamp after signing up. When I googled, there were too many options and different opinions. Since I was a total beginner, I didn't know "what I know and what I don't know". The only thing I knew was I wanted to be a UX designer and needed someone to guide me during the journey, but I was not sure which is the right way to go. After months of exploration, I decided to join Mento design academy and I'm very grateful and proud of my decision. Here, I'd like to share 3 reasons why I found joining Mento so valuable. (1) The community is just the right size and the atmosphere is very supportive and welcoming. You can connect with amazing people from all over the world via slack, online events, and online study group sessions. Thanks to this warm community, I've never felt alone since the beginning and the feeling of supporting each other with fellow students motivates me always. (2) The mentors are experienced, human, and supportive. The weekly 1on1 call helps the students ask questions, receive feedback, and be guided in the right direction. Students also can get support on slack besides the call. Personally, I appreciate my mentor always cares not only about my progress on the curriculum but also about my full-time job and mental health state. I tend to be frustrated with myself when I could not handle assignments as I planned but my mentor always encourages and guides me. What I like about Mento is its self-paced and the mentor helps us to keep on track while adjusting the journey in our real-life situations. (3) The curriculum is very practical and fresh. What I mean by "fresh" is that the contents of the curriculum are made by our mentors. So, the contents get updated based on students' feedback, and the mentor shares additional materials based on students' needs. I'm very thankful that the mentors always listen to us and stay open to feedback. The learning experience has continuously improved day by day. Last but not least, The key factor in my decision to join Mento was the free call before signing up. I was very moved by the passion and thoughts behind the Bootcamp and I could not stop signing up after the call. If you are still in a doubt, I highly recommend you book a call!