UX Academy (myuxacademy.com) vs Designlab — what is the difference?
If you searched for “UX Academy” and found two different things, you are not confused — there genuinely are two separate products with the same name. UX Academy (myuxacademy.com) is an independent UK live-cohort school run by Nomadic User Ltd, based in London. Designlab’s “UX Academy” (designlab.com) is a US company’s self-paced flagship product. We are not affiliated with Designlab in any way. Below is an honest, factual comparison so you can decide which fits your situation.
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UX Academy vs Designlab.
| UX Academy | Designlab | |
|---|---|---|
| Company / Based | UX Academy (myuxacademy.com) - Nomadic User Ltd, UK | Designlab "UX Academy" - Designlab Inc., US-based |
| Format | Live cohort - Mon/Wed/Fri sessions with named tutors in real time | Fully online, asynchronous - self-paced videos + 1-on-1 mentor calls |
| Location / Time zone | UK-based, London time zone, UK job market focus | US-based; sessions and community are US-oriented |
| Cohort size | Max 12 students - small group, you are not a number | Large self-paced community; mentor is 1-on-1, not a shared cohort |
| Lead instructor | Natalia Veretenyk - 12+ years in UX, named and consistent across cohorts | Varied mentors matched to your plan; no single named lead |
| Graduate outcomes | Named graduates at Spotify, Google, Adobe, Apple, Canva, Microsoft, WeWork, IMD | Not independently verified for the UK market |
| Price | GBP 1,500 total; GBP 99 deposit to secure your place | Varies by plan - typically USD 7,999 to 8,499 upfront; US financing only |
| Accreditation | UX Academy certificate of completion (not CPD-accredited) | Certificate of completion (not independently accredited) |
Designlab details from designlab.com/ux-academy, captured June 2026; pricing in USD. Verify current pricing and programme details on Designlab's site before relying on them. UX Academy (myuxacademy.com) is an independent UK school and is not affiliated with Designlab.
Who should choose which?
Choose UX Academy (myuxacademy.com) if...
- You learn better in a live class with a real tutor, not from recorded videos.
- You want a small cohort (max 12 students) with genuine peer accountability.
- UK/EU time zones matter - live sessions run Mon/Wed/Fri evenings, London time.
- GBP pricing is important - GBP 1,500 total, reservable with a GBP 99 deposit.
- You want to study with a named lead instructor (Natalia Veretenyk, 12+ years in UX).
- You want named graduate outcomes in the UK market: Spotify, Google, Adobe, Apple.
- You want a stackable path: start with the 8-week foundation, continue to Career Track.
Choose Designlab if...
- You prefer self-paced async study and need total schedule flexibility.
- You want dedicated 1-to-1 mentorship as the primary learning model.
- You are US-based or need a US-oriented programme and community.
- You are comfortable with USD pricing and US-only financing options.
- Flexible timelines - up to 18 months self-paced - suit your life better.
What you get with us.
Live cohort accountability you cannot get from video
Designlab UX Academy is asynchronous: you work through material on your own schedule supported by a personal mentor. UX Academy (myuxacademy.com) runs live sessions on Mon/Wed/Fri - a real tutor in the room, classmates asking questions alongside you, and a fixed weekly rhythm that keeps career-changers on track. If you know you drift without a deadline, the formats are fundamentally different.
UK-based, GBP pricing, London time zone
We are a UK school run under UK law. Our course is priced in GBP with no currency risk, no US-only financing hoops, and a real-client project rooted in the UK design industry. Designlab is a US company; its instalment financing is only available to US students.
Natalia Veretenyk as lead instructor - named, consistent, 12+ years in UX
Every cohort is led by Natalia Veretenyk, who brings 12+ years of hands-on UX experience. You know who you are learning from before you book. Designlab matches you to a mentor pool; quality varies by availability. Named practitioners who are also active in the UK design industry is a structural difference, not a marketing claim.
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Before you decide.
Is UX Academy the same as Designlab?
No. They are completely separate products from unrelated companies. Designlab runs a product called "UX Academy" at designlab.com - they are a US company. UX Academy (myuxacademy.com) is an independent UK school run by Nomadic User Ltd. We are not affiliated with Designlab in any way. If you searched for "UX Academy" and found two different things, that is exactly what happened: two separate products share the same name.
What is the difference between myuxacademy.com and Designlab?
The biggest differences are format and location. myuxacademy.com is a UK live-cohort school: Mon/Wed/Fri sessions with a named lead instructor (Natalia Veretenyk), max 12 students, GBP pricing. Designlab is a US self-paced platform: asynchronous video content with 1-on-1 mentor calls, US-based, USD pricing (typically USD 7,999 to 8,499). One is a structured live class; the other is a flexible self-directed programme with mentor support.
Is UX Academy UK-based?
Yes. UX Academy (myuxacademy.com) is a UK school, run by Nomadic User Ltd and based in London. Live sessions run in the London time zone. The programme, pricing (GBP 1,500), and client projects are all UK-focused. Designlab is a US company headquartered in San Francisco. If you want a UK-based, GBP-priced UX course with live teaching, myuxacademy.com is the UK option.
Which is cheaper - UX Academy or Designlab?
UX Academy (myuxacademy.com) is GBP 1,500 in total, with a GBP 99 deposit to reserve your place. Designlab's UX Academy is typically USD 7,999 to 8,499 upfront (monthly plans up to USD 1,417/mo). At current exchange rates the difference is roughly five to six times the cost. Prices as listed on each company's site as of June 2026 - verify before relying on them.
Is UX Academy or Designlab better for career changers in the UK?
For UK career changers who need structure, live accountability, and UK employer connections, UX Academy (myuxacademy.com) is the more targeted option. Named graduates have moved into roles at Spotify, Google, Adobe, Apple, Canva, Microsoft, WeWork, and IMD. Sessions run in London time, pricing is in GBP, and the client project is rooted in the UK design market. Designlab has strong global outcomes but its model is self-directed, US-oriented, and significantly more expensive.
Is neither UX Academy nor Designlab CPD-accredited?
Correct. UX Academy (myuxacademy.com) awards a certificate of completion; the course is not CPD-accredited. Designlab awards a certificate of completion and is not independently accredited either. If formal CPD accreditation is a requirement for your role or employer, neither product satisfies that requirement.