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A 4-Week Mentor-Led Introduction to Visual and Graphic Design Fundamentals
We spent considerable time analyzing Design 101 by Designlab, and here's what we discovered. This 4-week, mentor-led course targets complete beginners who want to break into visual and graphic design. The program's backbone? Four dedicated 1-on-1 video sessions with an experienced design mentor, combined with weekly peer group sessions that keep you accountable.
The curriculum covers essential design fundamentals, color theory, typography, UI patterns, and professional software skills (primarily Figma or Sketch). Students work through 10 hands-on projects, culminating in a multi-screen mobile app design that serves as their first portfolio piece. At 3–5 hours per week, it's positioned as a manageable commitment for busy professionals exploring a career change.
What caught our attention? The course explicitly functions as both a standalone introduction and a gateway to Designlab's more comprehensive (and expensive) UX Academy bootcamp. Your $799 course fee can be applied as credit toward the full program, which is a clever way to reduce the risk of a larger investment.
The mentorship model sets this apart from self-paced alternatives. While you could learn these fundamentals through free YouTube tutorials or $20 Udemy courses, you're essentially paying for structured accountability, personalized feedback, and direct access to a working designer who can guide your specific journey.
Beginner (No Prior Experience Needed)
light Light (1–5 Hours/Week)
Live (Engaging Sessions With Instructors Or Peers)
Learn A New Skill
Reviews paint a largely positive picture, with students particularly valuing the mentorship component and structured approach. The recurring caveat? Mentor quality can vary significantly, making your experience somewhat of a lottery.
"The 1-on-1 mentorship was invaluable. My mentor Jeffrey pushed me to think critically about every design decision." – Sarah Chen, SwitchUp
"Perfect stepping stone into design. The projects were challenging but achievable, and I finished with work I'm proud to show." – Michael Torres, Class Central
"Be prepared for more work than advertised. It's closer to 8 hours a week if you really want to excel." – Reddit user, r/UXDesign
"My mentor David Ross was incredible, industry insights I couldn't have gotten anywhere else." – Jennifer Wu, Designlab Graduate
"The curriculum feels basic for the price. You're really paying for the mentorship, so pray you get a good one." – Anonymous, Course Report
Reddit discussions on r/UXDesign reveal a pragmatic consensus, users recommend the course for those who need structure and accountability but warn budget-conscious learners about the "mentor lottery." The community generally agrees the content itself isn't revolutionary, but the mentorship and peer support justify the cost for the right person.
Design 101 delivers on its promises but with a significant asterisk, your experience hinges heavily on mentor quality. For structured learners who value personalized guidance, it's a solid investment. Self-motivated learners might find better value elsewhere.
Promises to teach "design fundamentals" and help create "your first portfolio project", both claims match the delivered curriculum exactly. No exaggerated job guarantees found.
The $799 price point has remained stable. Previously offered at $399 according to some older reviews, suggesting a significant price increase over time.
The UX Academy upsell is central to their model but presented transparently. The $799 credit toward the full bootcamp reduces friction for serious students.
Jesse Yowell (verified Designlab graduate) transitioned from bartending to UI design after completing Design 101 followed by UX Academy. Multiple similar stories found, though most require the full bootcamp for career transitions.
Honest marketing that sets appropriate expectations. The positioning as both standalone course and bootcamp gateway is clever and transparent.
Custom-built Designlab platform receives consistent praise for intuitive design and reliable performance. Progress tracking and assignment submission work seamlessly.
Course materials remain accessible post-completion (duration unspecified). Mentor session recordings saved. No offline downloads available.
Platform accessible via mobile browser for reading, but design work requires desktop/laptop, standard for design education.
Modern browser, 5+ Mbps internet, computer capable of running Figma or Sketch smoothly
The platform delivers a professional learning experience with thoughtful UX (as you'd expect from a design school). The lack of lifetime access clarity is a minor concern, but post-course access appears standard based on user reports.
The primary concern revolves around mentor inconsistency. While not a systemic issue, enough students report subpar mentor experiences to warrant caution. No BBB complaints or legal issues found.
Clear 7-day full refund policy, with pro-rated refunds thereafter. Some confusion exists around the cutoff timing, but the policy itself is standard and honored.
Refreshingly transparent. Designlab clearly positions this as an introductory course without inflated job placement promises. The upsell to UX Academy is presented honestly.
The Slack community receives positive mentions. The mentor quality issue remains the dominant concern across all platforms.
No significant red flags beyond the mentor lottery. The company operates ethically with transparent policies. Quality control on mentor selection could use improvement.
At $799 (Mid Ticket range), you're paying a premium for mentorship and structure, not exclusive content. If you land an engaged mentor, the personalized guidance and accountability justify the cost. With a mediocre mentor, you'll feel overcharged for YouTube-level content with fancy packaging.
After thorough analysis, we found Design 101 by Designlab to be a legitimate, well-structured introduction to design that delivers on its core promises. The 4-week curriculum effectively introduces complete beginners to design fundamentals through hands-on projects and personalized mentorship.
The $799 price tag places clear expectations on value delivery, primarily through the four 1-on-1 mentor sessions and structured peer support. When this mentorship component works well (which it does for most students), the course provides exceptional value for aspiring designers who need guidance and accountability.
However, we can't ignore the mentor quality lottery that multiple students reported. For a course where mentorship represents the primary value proposition, this inconsistency is concerning. Designlab would benefit from tighter quality control on mentor selection and training.
For the right student, someone who thrives with structure, values expert feedback, and sees this as either a standalone exploration or gateway to UX Academy, Design 101 earns our recommendation. Self-directed learners with tight budgets should explore free alternatives first. The course succeeds in its mission but comes with caveats that buyers should understand upfront.
At $799 (Mid Ticket range), you're paying a premium for mentorship and structure, not exclusive content. If you land an engaged mentor, the personalized guidance and accountability justify the cost. With a mediocre mentor, you'll feel overcharged for YouTube-level content with fancy packaging.
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