Training guide

Google UX Design Certificate: Course Overview and Portfolio Guide

A guide to the Google UX Design Certificate: its seven courses, the Figma work you do, the portfolio you build and how to use it when you apply for design jobs in Europe.

EU Job Hub Editorial Team · Updated 1 October 2026 · Based on the official Coursera course page

Introduction

The Google UX Design Certificate is a beginner programme in user experience design. Google created it, and Coursera hosts it. You do not need a degree or experience to join, according to the Coursera page.

UX designers study how people use a product and then shape it so it is easy to use. This guide explains how the certificate teaches that work. It also shows how to use the portfolio in a job search across Europe. The facts come from Coursera and from partner listings.

Quick Information

Provider	Google, delivered on Coursera
Format	Professional Certificate with 7 courses
Level	Beginner
Suggested pace	About 10 hours a week for 6 months
Instruction time	Over 200 hours, says a partner listing
Main tool	Figma
Cost	Included with Coursera Plus. Check current prices.

From Sketch to Prototype

The course mixes videos, readings, assessments and hands-on activities. You begin with the basics of design and user research. Coursera says you then create wireframes on paper and digitally in Figma.

Next you design low-fidelity prototypes in Figma. Later courses move to mockups and high-fidelity prototypes. Coursera lists several of these courses at 12, 15 and 19 hours.

The steps mirror real design work. You sketch an idea. You test it cheaply. You improve it and make it look polished.

The Portfolio

The certificate is built around a portfolio. Coursera says you create a professional UX portfolio with end-to-end projects, so you are ready to apply for jobs. A partner listing says it includes three projects. The German-language page names them as a mobile app, a responsive website and a cross-platform project.

Recent material says you can use AI to help write your portfolio copy. Whatever tool you use, read the text yourself. Hiring managers notice generic writing.

The last course asks you to complete a design project and add it to your portfolio.

Tools You Will Use

Figma is the main tool. It runs in a web browser, so you need no special computer. Older listings also mention Adobe XD. Check the official page for the tools the current version teaches.

You will also use simple paper and pen. Early sketches matter more than tidy graphics.

Time and Effort

Coursera suggests six months at 10 hours a week. One partner lists over 200 hours of instruction. The course is self-paced. Design tasks take longer than reading, so allow extra time for the project courses.

Plan your weeks around the projects. A portfolio piece needs time to sketch, test and improve. Rushing it produces work that looks like everyone else’s. Finishing one project well is better than finishing three quickly.

Research and Testing

Good design starts before anyone opens Figma. The certificate teaches you to understand users first. That means finding out who will use a product, what they need and where they get stuck. You then test your designs with real people and change them based on what you learn.

This loop of research, design and testing runs through the whole programme. It is the core habit of the job. Employers often ask candidates to describe a time they changed a design because of feedback, so keep notes from your tests.

Accessibility is part of the conversation too. Design that works for more people reaches more customers, and many European public bodies have accessibility rules for their websites.

Credit

The certificate carries an ACE recommendation. Coursera says some online degree programmes may recognise your learning for credit if you are admitted. Each university decides. Ask before you rely on it.

Making the Portfolio Work in Europe

European design teams often work in English. They also look for clear case studies. Write each project as a short story. State the problem, what you tried and what you learned.

Keep the portfolio online, in one place, and easy to open on a phone. Put the best project first. Add a short line about your role in each project, such as research, wireframes or testing. Employers want to see what you personally did, not only the final screens.

A certificate does not give you the right to work in any country. If you need a visa, read the rules for the country you choose.

Titles to search for include junior UX designer, UX researcher and product designer.

Key Points at a Glance

• Seven courses that end with a portfolio.
• Wireframes, low-fidelity and high-fidelity prototypes in Figma.
• About 10 hours a week for six months.
• Carries an ACE recommendation for possible credit.
• Included with a Coursera Plus subscription.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need drawing skills?

No. You learn to create wireframes and prototypes step by step.

How many courses are there?

Seven.

Do I need to buy design software?

Figma offers a browser version. Check its current terms on its own site.

Is the course free?

No. It is included with a Coursera Plus subscription.

Will it get me a job?

It gives you skills and a portfolio. The portfolio is what employers judge.

Find Design Jobs

Search current vacancies on the EURES portal with the job titles named above.

Official Course Page

Read the full syllabus and current enrolment terms on Coursera’s Google UX Design page.

Disclaimer

EU Job Hub is an independent information site. It is not produced or endorsed by the course provider or Coursera. Course details, prices and policies change, so confirm everything on the official page before you enrol. This guide is general information and not career or legal advice.