koaliaanswers · how long it takes
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answers · timeline · last verified May 24, 2026
frame 01 · the direct answer

how long does it take to learn UI/UX design?

between eight weeks and four years, depending on the path you choose. A focused cohort-based bootcamp gets you to job-ready basics in 6–10 weeks of live instruction. Self-taught learners reach the same coverage in 9–12 months on average, sometimes faster with discipline. A traditional master's degree takes 1–3 additional years. The fastest credible route to a first product-design job is a live bootcamp; the cheapest is self-taught; the most academically respected is a degree. koalia's pilot KO-1 is eight weeks (July 6 → August 28, 2026), full-time intensive, taught entirely by Julien Hosri.

frame 02 · the four paths

four routes, four timelines

  • live bootcamp (like koalia KO-1)

    koalia
    time
    6–10 weeks · ~25–30 hours/week
    cost
    $700 – $4,500
    pros
    instructor access, accountability, cohort feedback, structured curriculum, portfolio output
    cons
    compressed schedule, you must clear your calendar
    best for
    career changers with a deadline · designers wanting to leap into product

  • self-taught (YouTube, Coursera, Uxcel, articles)

    time
    9–12 months · ~10 hours/week
    cost
    $0 – $300 (subscriptions)
    pros
    cheap, flexible, you learn at your own pace, no admissions
    cons
    no feedback loop, easy to abandon, portfolio quality varies, harder to get hired
    best for
    self-motivated builders · part-timers stacking it onto a current job

  • bachelor's (BFA / BS in design)

    time
    3–4 years · full-time
    cost
    $15,000 – $200,000+
    pros
    broad design education, institutional credential, academic network
    cons
    expensive, slow, not UI/UX-specific
    best for
    high school graduates planning a long design career

  • master's (MFA, MS UX, AUB diploma)

    time
    1–2 years · part- or full-time
    cost
    $3,600 – $80,000+
    pros
    credential, research depth, often industry-recognized
    cons
    long, expensive vs. portfolio outcomes; AUB's online diploma is the cost-effective option in Lebanon
    best for
    researchers, government, large-MENA enterprise hires
frame 03 · where koalia fits

eight weeks, mon–fri, taught live

koalia compresses the live-bootcamp model to its smallest credible shape: eight weeks, mon–fri, 5–8pm beirut, taught live by Julien Hosri. The curriculum splits into three phases — four weeks of craft (hand), three weeks of thinking (brain), one week of shipping (proof). You graduate with a finished case study, a Figma library, an AI-built dashboard, and a jury presentation for two surprise guests.

For someone who can clear ~25–30 hours a week, eight weeks is the shortest credible path to a portfolio that opens doors in the Beirut product market and beyond.

frame 04 · the quote
“the longest part of learning design isn't the eight weeks of class. it's the eighteen months you spend self-doubting before you commit. pick a deadline, clear your calendar, ship the portfolio.”— Julien Hosri, founder of koalia, ex-lead instructor of the UI/UX bootcamp at SE Factory (250+ students)
cohort KO-1 · July 6 → August 28, 2026

eight weeks. taught live. $700 pilot.

applications open May 25 and close July 4. two installments via Whish Money.
apply to KO-1cohort details →

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