Google UX Course: Worth it?

A few months back, I finished the Google UX Design Certificate course.

I’m a third-year interactive media design student and already work as a designer, so UX wasn’t totally new to me. Wireframes, prototypes, user flows? I’ve been there. Still, I wanted to level up my knowledge and spruce up my portfolio, so I gave it a shot.

If you’re just starting out, this course is honestly a dream. It’s super clear and covers all the basics: figuring out what users need, sketching ideas, testing things out. For someone with zero experience, it’s a perfect way in. Easy to understand, not too pricey, and it has that Google stamp of approval. For me, though, a lot of it felt like revisiting old notes. I knew the drill, but I kept going to see what I could pick up.

The big win for me was their research angle. Google’s all about the details—user interviews, surveys, usability tests. Super organized and data-driven. It’s not the wild, creative vibe I usually roll with in interactive media, but it brought some serious structure to how I work. Now my portfolio has case studies that feel solid and professional, thanks to those methods. Some people say it’s too rigid or “Google-y,” especially if you’re not aiming for a tech job, but I adjusted the process to fit my own style.

Was it worth it? Definitely, if you’re new to UX. It’s a rock-solid start. For me, it wasn’t essential, but it gave my skills a push and helped polish my portfolio. That certificate doesn’t hurt either.