Mento Design Academy

Mento Design Academy is one of a kind, I say this because I have tried a few short courses before venturing into learning at Mento and the whole set up is simply amazing.

I love how the course curriculum is detailed and simplified. You get assessments at every stage to keep you grounded and ensure that every phase of the curriculum is well understood.

You also have access to a skilled/high-level mentor with years of experience. I particularly appreciate the fact that my mentor was very patient with me and she was willing to explain and put me through the difficult tasks that I couldn't get through on my own. The mentors at Mento are kind and very patient with your growth and willing to help you through as long as it takes you.

I also enjoyed the student community, where you can get help from your fellow student. There is also the study partner sharing for accountability and the weekly meet-up. If you are someone who struggles with self-paced learning be rest assured that Mento Design academy has put everything in place to help you stay committed to your own learning.  

I joined Mento right after completing a graduate certificate in UX Strategy. What I liked most about their program was that I’d get the chance to create unique case studies tailored to my background/interests alongside a mentor with a ton of design experience. It was also important to me that the curriculum was built by working designers, remote and self-paced.
When I started, I looked forward to gaining practical experience on how real-world design teams approach UX challenges. Mento has exceeded any expectations I had!
I’ve learned to apply critical thinking to design frameworks themselves and each deliverable. I’m also getting consistent practice communicating the reasoning behind the methods I choose to apply and my proposed design solutions. Gaining proficiency in relevant tools (e.g., Confluence, Trello, Figma, Miro, etc.) commonly used today has been invaluable. It’s almost as if I’m already working on a remote design team! This hands-on experience has given me the confidence I was searching for as a UX/UI designer. I’m very grateful to my mentor, Radu!
I’ve really enjoyed engaging in Mento’s online community meetings/events and on their Slack channel. Before, I had been learning UX in sort of a “silo.” Now, I feel part of a vibrant and encouraging global community that, otherwise, could’ve taken years and multiple design roles to build.
Mento has equipped me to be a more dynamic and skilled designer, which will be instrumental in securing the best possible remote full-time UX/UI role. I’m very happy with my decision to go with Mento. I couldn’t have imagined a better launching pad for my design career! 

I started this journey with some experience in the design industry but I needed to dive deeper into understanding the Ux principles and learn when and how to apply them in the real world.
The Mento curriculum is well-built, covering all user experience principles.The most valuable things I learned at Mento are writing, talking, and presenting my work to a future audience. They put a lot of emphasis on these skills, therefore you should be prepared to write and speak a lot at Mento. 🙂
I followed the curriculum at my own pace. I had plenty of time to learn and understand each lesson. Also, I had access to unlimited resources, and a friendly community ready to help. I worked with a mentor who taught me a lot about asking the right questions, making my design process smoother. The positive thing is that after each lesson, I received homework which allowed me to practice, understand and find the “why”s behind the new information.
After graduating, you will be ready to start or continue your carrier as a product designer with a better perspective on the industry. You will know how and when to apply the Ux principles, you will master how to talk about your work, and you will leave with a well-built portfolio to help you in your future interviews.

Before enrolling with Mento I spend some good 6 months searching and reading about all the different options out there. Although they seem to be very similar at first glance, the professional background of the Mento team Makes them stand out. I Have always been a bit sceptical about all the Bootcamps out there that “promise” a quick transition in UX within 6 months, And since my first “get to know” call with Radu, He was very transparent by setting The right expectations. Their successful careers, honesty by setting the right expectations and a curriculum that offers you the chance to work on real projects - In my personal experience that was what made them “different” from the others. You might be a bit unsure about reviews, but trust me: Book a call with them to get to know the program and you won’t be disappointed.

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 had a good experience with Mento Design Academy! A few key factors made me choose Mento over other boot camps. First, the price was very reasonable compared to other options out there. It made it much more affordable for me to pursue my goals.

Secondly, the weekly one-on-one mentor sessions were an amazing resource. I found them to be helpful in my learning journey. It was great to have someone to guide me and offer personalised advice and feedback.

Another thing that stood out to me about Mento was the opportunity to work on more personalised portfolio projects. I had the freedom to choose a project that aligned with my interests and career goals. It made the whole experience more meaningful and relevant to my future plans.

One thing to note is that the program can be quite intensive, especially if you're also working or studying full-time. Finishing the program by completing one test project and three portfolio projects in just six months can be challenging. I personally only completed one project before graduating, and I know others who finished one to two projects before graduating also. It seems like most people take longer than the initial six-month timeframe.

Overall, Mento Design Academy is a good boot camp. They provide you with a dedicated mentor and a vibrant and supportive community on Slack. If you're looking for a well-rounded and sociable learning experience, Mento is definitely worth considering.

I really enjoyed being a part of Mento while I was maneuvering my career change into UX Design. Out of all the programs out there to choose from I thought Mento was going to be the best fit for my learning style. The program was designed in a way that helped me understand the role of a UX Designer at my own pace. I was lucky enough to have a great mentor, Alex. He helped me through the challenges I faced throughout the course and also helped me manage my moments of low motivation to get through the course.  The way the course is structured  allowed me the flexibility to learn at my own pace which made a huge difference in how I retained the information provided. The community itself is very inviting which is comforting for someone stepping into a new career path. The slack channel is always buzzing and provides a space for all the resources one would need when they begin their UX Design journey. I’m very happy with my time at Mento and all that I gained out of my experience.

I have highly praised Mento to all my friends for the quality of many aspects such as the very well organised curriculum with A to Z techniques and methods, a kind and welcoming community, on Slack, where you can participate as much as you want and need; there’s always something happening and your help and feedback are always appreciated by colleagues in their projects, everyone is very supportive. What brings it all together is a wonderful group of mentors, extremely open and sincere, motivating and supportive. Ioana is my mentor and I couldn't be happier. Ever since our first meeting, I knew that we would get along great; I really admire her and her humour is my type of humour and I think that’s great :) her experience is impressive and she’s very dedicated to the Mento community as well as Radu, they make a great team! Radu is the first contact I had with Mento and after one hour of talking I knew I wanted to join their community; his past experience is very inspiring, as well as the initiative of building this awesome platform that is so helpful for many of us in different parts of the globe. 

I recently graduated from Mento Design Academy, and I can only say that I am so grateful to the mentors and the community. It has been a very steep learning curve, but there are plenty of people to help you get there. It took me 7 months to graduate (a little longer than I planned, due to circumstances). By the time I finished I had 2 portfolio projects and I felt confident that I was ready to continue learning in a real work environment. Mento also offers career support for 6 months after graduation, and you'll remain a part of the community forever!

I chose Mento over other UX bootcamps because it was one of the few programs out there that was created by designers with their own unique content. Other bootcamps graduate hundreds, even thousands of students every month. Mento has a smaller, tight-knit community that made me feel seen and cared for as a student. I've graduated now, and I still get check-ins from my mentor and even the founder of the bootcamp regarding my UX journey. Although the program is remote, I never once felt like I was alone throughout the course. They foster a vibrant community via Slack, host weekly student community meetings, pair you up with a student buddy and of course a Mentor who is a leader in their industry. All these aspects helped me keep the momentum going even now, post graduation. If I did it again, I would absolutely choose Mento! 

Mento Design Academy is an amazing place to learn design skills and build a unique portfolio that caters to my interest and the industry I want to work in in the future. The community is incredibly friendly and supportive, and they encourage you to develop your own style and approach to design. You'll get 1:1 mentorship from experienced designers who can help you hone your skills and provide personalized feedback. Overall, I highly recommend Mento for anyone looking for a personalized, supportive, and fun design learning experience.

Enrolling in a bootcamp is an investment that requires commitment, time, effort, and money. You want to know that you are making the right decision. My first admissions call with Raluca sealed the deal. It was clear that she loved what she was doing and that she was passionate about supporting and encouraging others who also wanted to embark on the UX/UI journey. Several months into the program and it’s safe to say that I have not looked back once.  Before starting the bootcamp I had the lingering fear that I would complete it still feeling wholly unprepared to step into a UX/UI role. Even though there’s a lot more to learn, I now feel confident that this will not be the case. Let me explain why. The curriculum is carefully curated, diving into the theory you need to get started. It is interesting and thought provoking. The curriculum is broken up nicely and allows you to learn something, followed by a well-thought-out task where you practically apply and explore what you’ve learnt. Which brings me to my next point: mentors! Every student gets paired with a mentor that works in the field. My sessions with Pia have been a game changer for me. The weekly meetings have allowed me to ask questions, get feedback and reflect on my tasks, share my challenges, and gain valuable insights. As a bonus I’ve also gotten to know a wonderful human! Another thing I absolutely love about Mento is the community. It’s a wonderfully supportive and encouraging community of fellow students, graduates, and mentors. Mento creates loads of opportunities for students to connect with one another by assigning you a bootcamp buddy and running biweekly student community meetings. They also host awesome events with experts in the field. Last but not least, Mento encourages you to choose portfolio projects you want to work on. This really allows you to explore what it is you are most interested in, in the field. This ultimately aids you in building a portfolio that speaks to who you are as a designer.  It's important to mention that what you choose to put into it also plays a role in your experience. Mento provides the knowledge, hands-on experience, resources and community you need. I would highly recommend Mento Design Academy to students who are looking to transition to UX/UI Design.