Are you a university student in Nigeria seeking a fulfilling career in user experience (UX) design? If so, the Google UX Design Professional Certificate offers an excellent opportunity to acquire the skills necessary to launch your professional journey in this dynamic field.
Emmanuel, a third-year computer science student at the University of Lagos, is passionate about user experience (UX) design. He dreams of becoming a UX designer and creating products that are easy to use, enjoyable, and accessible. However, Emmanuel’s busy schedule, filled with classes, assignments, and extracurricular activities, makes it difficult for him to attend traditional UX design classes. So, he discovers an alternative that aligns perfectly with his ambitions, the Google UX Design Professional Certificate.
In this article, we will discuss the Google UX Design Professional Certificate and how it’s a great opportunity for University Students in Nigeria to launch a successful career in UX design. We will also explore the growing demand for UX designers in Nigeria and the estimated salary for UX designers in the country.
What is User Experience (UX) Design?
UX design is the process of crafting products that are easy to use, enjoyable, and accessible. UX designers focus on the interaction between users and products, such as websites, apps, and physical objects. They ensure that these products are intuitive, efficient, and meet the needs of the users.
Why is UX Design a Lucrative Career Choice for Nigerian University Students?
UX design is a rapidly growing field with a promising future. The median entry-level salary for UX designers in the United States is $112,000 (₦88,424,000). And there are over 138,000 open jobs in the field. As the demand for digital products continues to rise, the need for skilled UX designers will only increase. If as a university student in Nigeria, you happen to secure a UX design job that is as lucrative as this, you will be set for life.
What Skills Will You Learn in the Certificate Program?
The program consists of seven comprehensive courses designed to equip you with the essential skills for a successful UX design career. The program will teach you the following crucial skills:
- User empathy: The ability to understand the needs, goals, and behaviors of users.
- Problem definition: Identifying and analyzing user pain points and opportunities for improvement.
- Ideation: Developing innovative solutions to user problems.
- Prototyping: Creating wireframes, prototypes, and mockups to visualize your designs.
- UX research: Conducting user research to gather insights and validate your designs.
- Figma: Mastering the popular UX design tool Figma to create interactive prototypes.
- Portfolio building: Crafting a professional portfolio to showcase your work.
Benefits of Earning the Certificate
The Google UX Design Professional Certificate offers numerous benefits. So, here are some of the benefits of the UX design certificate from Google that university students in Nigeria will get:
- Learn from industry experts: The program is guided by Google experts with in-depth knowledge and experience in UX design.
- Gain in-demand skills: Equip yourself with the skills sought after by top employers in the field.
- Build a portfolio: Create a compelling portfolio to showcase your work to potential employers.
- Earn a recognized certificate: Obtain a certificate from Google, demonstrating your expertise to potential employers.
- Connect with top employers: Upon completion, you can apply directly for jobs with Google and over 150 U.S. employers, including Deloitte, Target, Verizon, and Google itself.
How to Enroll and Embark on Your UX Design Training
The Google UX Design Professional Certificate is a self-paced online program that provides you with the skills and knowledge you need to become a UX designer. To enroll in the program, follow these steps:
- Go to the Grow with Google Website.
- Scroll down and click on the Explore All Training and Tools button.
- Scroll down and in the Google Career Certificates section, select UX Design Career Certificate.
- Login to your Coursera account or create a new one, if you don’t have one.
- Click on the Enroll for free button.
- Click on the Start Free trial button.
- Proceed to proceed to pay and check out.
The program offers a 7-day Free Trial, during which you will have unlimited access to all courses in the Certificate. You can watch lectures, try assignments, participate in discussion forums, and more. You will not be billed until the trial ends.
After the trial ends, you can continue learning for $24 (₦19,000) per month. The program is self-paced, so you can learn at your own convenience. However, it is recommended that you dedicate at least 10 hours per week to the program to complete it within 6 months. The faster you complete the program, the more you save.
So, if you manage to complete the program in 6 months without any delay. You will pay approximately $144 (₦114,000) which is affordable to some students. This is like getting a fantastic deal on a priceless asset. As you’ll see at the end of this article, the potential earnings from this certificate far outweigh the investment. This is because the skill you’ll learn has the potential to help you earn much more money than you paid for it. So, it’s like a great deal.
Upon completion of the program, you will receive a Professional Certificate from Google, which you can share on your resume, LinkedIn, and CV to showcase your newly acquired UX design skills.
How to Get a Good Certificate As A University Student In Nigeria
To optimize your learning experience and maximize your chances of success, consider these tips:
- Attend all classes: Dedicate time to attend all scheduled classes to fully engage in the learning process.
- Complete all assignments: Diligently complete all assignments, including quizzes, projects, and peer reviews, to solidify your understanding.
- Engage actively: Actively participate in class discussions, ask questions, and seek clarification from instructors and peers.
- Seek feedback: Seek constructive feedback from instructors and peers throughout the program to identify areas for improvement.
Embrace the challenge, work diligently, and utilize the available resources to unlock your potential in the rewarding field of UX design. With commitment and dedication, you can achieve your career goals and make a significant impact in the world of user experience.
The Growing Demand for UX Designers in Nigeria
The demand for UX designers in Nigeria is growing. UX design, also known as User Experience, is a digital skill that is in high demand.
Some reasons for the growing demand for UX designers include:
- Digital presence: Businesses in sectors like e-commerce, fintech, telecommunications, entertainment, and media are improving their digital presence.
- Awareness: There is a growing awareness of the impact that design teams can have on revenue and business objectives.
- UX maturity: Companies are increasing their design teams as they increase their level of UX maturity.
According to the Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook growth for designers is more than double the national average for all job growth through 2026. And they said it’ll grow 16% in 2032, which is a lot more faster than other growths. And it is just 2023 but we can see the quick rise in demand for UX designers.
Estimated Salary Of UX Design In Nigeria
According to Glassdoor, the estimated total pay for a UI/UX designer in Nigeria is ₦325,000 monthly. The average salary is ₦150,000 per month. Also, according to Professions.ng, Junior UI/UX designers in Nigeria earn between ₦65,000 and ₦180,000 monthly, while senior UI/UX designers earn between ₦220,000 and ₦500,000. This depends on their years of experience and competence. Entry-level UI/UX designers in Nigeria can expect to earn around ₦1,500,000 to ₦3,000,000 per year. Designers with 3-5 years of experience may see a significant increase in their salary range, ranging from ₦3,500,000 to ₦6,000,000 per year.
In conclusion, most UI/UX designers have their day jobs and still have side hustles and freelancing gigs where they earn extra income. The Google UX Design Professional Certificate is an excellent opportunity for Nigerian students to learn from the best in the industry and gain the skills they need to start a successful career in UX design. With hard work and dedication, you can earn a good certificate and achieve your career goals.