Visual Elements of User Interface Design

Applications close Anytime, while tuition is 49.

This program is a non-degree course in Visual Elements of User Interface Design, taught in English at the California Institute of the Arts. It's perfect for those with graphic or visual design experience who want to build their UI or UX skills. The course lasts several weeks and helps you create clear and intuitive UI designs.

The curriculum covers key formal elements like color, type, and imagery. You'll learn through lectures and visual exercises, focusing on individual elements that make up the skillset of an interface designer. By the end, you'll be able to describe and apply your skills to design a static screen-based interface.

After completing this course, you can pursue careers like UI Designer, UX Designer, Visual Designer, or Interaction Designer. You could work in industries like app design, web development, or human-computer interaction, and potentially work for companies that specialize in creating user-friendly interfaces.

California Institute of the Arts, located near Valencia in Southern California, is a leading institution for creative education founded with a legacy of innovation in the arts. CalArts encourages experimental practice across disciplines including art, film, music, theater, dance, and animation, and offers a compact, studio-focused learning environment where students develop original work under the mentorship of practicing artists and industry professionals.

The institute promotes interdisciplinary collaboration and hands-on learning, supporting individual artistic development with cutting-edge studios, performance spaces, and digital labs. Small class sizes and intensive critique-based courses help students refine their voices and build professional portfolios, while visiting artists, festivals, and partnerships provide exposure to the wider creative industry. Academic advising, portfolio coaching, and career development services support transitions to festivals, galleries, studios, and commercial roles.

International students find a welcoming community and opportunities to participate in collaborative projects, residencies, and public exhibitions that elevate their practice. CalArts fosters a culture of experimentation, critical inquiry, and professional networking, making it a strong choice for creative learners who seek rigorous mentorship, cross-disciplinary exploration, and direct engagement with the contemporary arts scene in the United States.