What’s the Best UX Strategy Course in 2024? A Comparison of the Top 10
A round-up of the 10 best UX strategy courses online—from low-cost short courses to comprehensive programs for UX leaders and their teams.
Reading time: 38 minutes
UX strategy, product strategy, strategic design…whatever you call it, it’s an essential part of your work as a designer—especially if you’re moving into a leadership role or thinking about the next step in your career.
The great thing about UX strategy is that, while it sounds big and daunting, designers actually already possess many of the skills needed to carry out strategic work. What you may be lacking is a clear understanding of what UX strategy is and the process that goes into defining one.
This is where a UX strategy course can help you.
To simplify the task of developing your strategic skill set, we’ve put together this comprehensive guide to the best UX strategy courses.
We’ve scoured the web for the best courses around and provided an at-a-glance summary of each, followed by a more in-depth look at what each program has to offer.
For each course, we’ve outlined the cost, duration, format, and course outcomes. And, right at the end of this guide, you’ll find some sage advice on how to choose the right UX strategy course for you.
Ready?
Here are the 10 best UX strategy courses (online) worth considering right now.
UX Strategy Courses Overview: Our Top 10 UX Strategy Courses at a Glance
Defining UX Strategy—LIVE Online Course (by The Fountain Institute)
Price: €995 / $1,055 (early-bird price)
Duration: 6 weeks
Format: Live interactive workshops (online)
Ideal for: Hands-on UX strategy trainingBecoming a UX Strategist (by Nielsen Norman Group)
Price: $1,018 - $1,063
Duration: 7 hours (split over 1 or 2 days)
Format: Live online lecture
Ideal for: Short, intensive UX strategy trainingUX Strategy Fundamentals (by Joe Natoli via Udemy)
Price: €49.99
Duration: 2.5 hours
Format: On-demand video
Ideal for: A lightweight introduction to UX strategyThe Center Centre UX Strategy Program
Price: $17,995
Duration: 24 weeks
Format: Live online sessions
Ideal for: UX leaders who want whole-team training in UX strategyUX Strategy Masterclass (by Andy Woynarowski via Udemy)
Price: €16.99
Duration: 2.5 hours
Format: On-demand video
Ideal for: A short, hands-off introduction to UX strategyUX/Product Strategy Online Masterclass (by Jaime Levy)
Price: Unknown
Duration: 6 weeks
Format: Live online lectures
Ideal for: UX leaders looking for custom training for their teamUX Strategy Fundamentals (by Sandra Gonzalez via Pluralsight)
Price: €26
Duration: 3.5 hours
Format: On-demand video
Ideal for: Mid-level UXers who want a high-level intro to UX strategyUX Design Strategy and Application (by FutureLearn)
Price: €36/month
Duration: 12 weeks
Format: Online, self-paced
Ideal for: UX beginners who want to learn about UX strategy and other broader UX topicsUX Management: Strategy and Tactics (by Interaction Design Foundation)
Price: €11.25/month
Duration: 6 weeks
Format: Online, self-paced
Ideal for: UX leaders looking for a fully flexible, hands-off UX strategy courseUX Strategy Course (by UX Academy)
Price: Approx. €120/month
Duration: 4 weeks
Format: Live online classes
Ideal for: A mix of live instruction and independent project work
Full Guide: A Closer Look at the 10 Best UX Strategy Courses in 2023
We’ve seen our top 10 UX strategy courses at a glance. Now let’s take a deep-dive into each course and help you find the best option for you and/or your team.
Jump back to UX Strategy Courses Overview ⇡
1. Defining UX Strategy—Live Online Course by The Fountain Institute (6 weeks, €995 / $1,055)
The Fountain Institute is an independent online school that teaches advanced UX and product skills through live, interactive workshop-style classes.
Their Defining UX Strategy course takes a fully hands-on approach. You won’t just learn about UX strategy—you’ll actually work through the practical steps of defining one with guidance from lead-level coaches.
At a glance:
Price: €995 / $1,055 for Essentials, or €1,295 / $1,375 for Premium (includes 3 coaching calls during the course)
Format: Online, live interactive workshop-style classes and practical assignments
Course duration: 6 weeks
Effort: 3-5 hours per week
Course outcomes: A certificate in UX strategy; practical skills and frameworks you can use to define your own UX/product strategy
How does the course work?
The course is taught through a series of live, interactive workshops—making it one of the most practical UX strategy courses out there.
Over 6 weeks, you’ll take part in live, expert-led workshops held on Thursdays (2 hours each, in the evening if you’re in Europe and in the morning if you’re based in North America).
On weekends, you’ll complete your practical assignment for the week, submitting it on Sunday in time for the feedback you will receive from a lead-level strategist.
The course ends with a final live feedback session and graduation, after which you’ll receive your official UX strategy certificate. Beyond graduation, you’ll remain part of The Fountain Institute community with access to alumni events, meetups, and ongoing expert support via Slack.
What does the course cover?
The course covers all the practical steps to research and implement an effective UX/product strategy. In fact, you’ll actually design your own UX or product strategy as you work through the course.
In weeks 1 & 2, you’ll diagnose the challenge your strategy should address and learn how to conduct research for your UX strategy. In weeks 3 & 4, you’ll consider where your UX strategy fits into your organization and consider converting insights into actionable policy. In weeks 5 & 6, you’ll plan the implementation of your strategy and learn how to run alignment workshops.
In addition to expert instruction and feedback, you’ll also receive guidance in the form of maps, frameworks, and other assets to help you define your UX or product strategy.
Note: It’s worth getting a Premium Seat for this course (rather than an Essential Seat—you can see the different options on the course page). The Premium Seat includes 3 expert coaching calls with product leaders, which is extremely valuable (and often necessary) when working on product strategy.
Consider this UX strategy course if:
You enjoy learning by doing and want a highly practical UX strategy course.
You want a clear, effective process to build a UX or product strategy.
You want an official UX strategy certificate.
You’re a UX or product designer looking for expert guidance in designing your first UX strategy.
You’re a design lead and/or strategist who wants to learn how to scale your impact as a design leader.
You want to enhance alignment and action in your UX or product team.
Learn more:
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2. Becoming a UX Strategist by Nielsen Norman Group (1 or 2 days, $1,018 - $1,063)
You’re no doubt familiar with the Nielsen Norman Group (NNG), the UX research and consulting firm founded by Don Norman and Jakob Nielsen.
For those looking to understand what UX strategy is and who should be involved in creating one, they offer a lecture-style course on Becoming a UX Strategist.
At a glance:
Price: $1,018 or $1,063 (depending on whether you choose the 1 or 2-day format)
Format: Live, virtual lecture with some group exercises
Course duration: 7 hours split over 1 or 2 days
Effort: 7 hours (plus an exam)
Course outcomes: 1 credit towards the NNG UX Certification Program
How does the course work?
This is a virtual UX strategy course which mainly comprises a live, expert-led lecture accompanied by several group exercises. You can attend in one 7-hour sitting, or in two 3.5-hour sittings spread out over 2 days.
You’ll learn from real-world case studies based on top UX companies, have access to templates and worksheets which you can use in your current or future job, and have the opportunity to ask questions.
Once you’ve attended the lecture, you can take the exam—which, if you pass, will earn you 1 credit towards the Nielsen Norman Group UX Certification Program.
What does the course cover?
The course has been designed to help UX professionals and managers learn how to engage in—and lead the development of—UX strategies.
Key topics include defining a UX vision and mission, targeting and delivering a UX roadmap, aligning user insights with business objectives, and getting buy-in for your UX strategy across agile and/or lean development teams.
The course content also places strong emphasis on team effectiveness and alignment, covering topics such as breaking down silos, removing roadblocks, and raising the bar for UX team members through mentoring, coaching, and training.
Last but not least, you’ll learn about identifying strategic opportunities and connecting your UX strategy to business results.
Consider this UX strategy course if:
You want a short, intensive UX strategy course.
You’re considering the full NNG UX Certification Program (this will give you 1 credit towards it).
You enjoy lecture-style learning without a great focus on practical exercises or project work.
Learn more:
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3. UX Strategy Fundamentals by Joe Natoli via Udemy (2.5 hours, €49.99)
Perhaps you’re looking for a short introduction to UX strategy before you invest in a more comprehensive program. If that’s the case, consider UX Strategy Fundamentals.
The course comprises just 2.5 hours of on-demand video, giving you a theory-based introduction to the topic.
At a glance:
Price: €49.99
Format: On-demand video
Course duration: 2.5 hours
Effort: 2.5 hours
Course outcomes: A certificate of completion
How does the course work?
This lightweight UX strategy course is accessible via Udemy. It comprises 2.5 hours of on-demand video which you can watch whenever you like. You’ll also get access to a downloadable resource.
What does the course cover?
The course content is divided into six key sections. After the introduction, you’ll look at determining strategic value (including figuring out who your users are), determining user needs and business goals, determining and controlling project scope, and planning for user testing. The final section wraps up all the key takeaways.
Consider this UX strategy course if:
You want a lightweight introduction to UX strategy without investing lots of time or money.
The course is geared towards both new and experienced UXers, as well as developers, product managers, and product owners.
Learn more:
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Check out our archive of resources
Get Free Resources like design tools and masterclasses from the Fountain Institute.
4. The Center Centre UX Strategy Program (24 weeks, $17,995 for individuals)
The Center Centre UX Strategy Program is a coaching and mentorship program for UX leaders and their teams. Spanning 24 weeks, it promises to show you ‘24 different UX strategy lenses’—giving you a variety of perspectives on your own strategic challenges.
The course is predominantly geared towards teams, but individuals can attend, too (although it’s an expensive option).
At a glance:
Price: $24,995 for teams (unlimited number of people, as long as all attendees are working on the same UX strategy), $17,995 for individuals
Format: Live online sessions (also available to watch later on-demand)
Course duration: 24 weeks
Effort: Between 1 and 5 sessions per week for 24 weeks (exact duration unknown)
Course outcomes: A tailor-made action plan for your team to define and deliver a UX strategy
How does the course work?
The course is designed to help UX leaders level up their teams’ strategic capabilities and overcome some of their most common hurdles—such as not getting buy-in from key stakeholders, not getting results despite putting in the work, or not being able to tie UX work to business metrics.
Every day Monday-Friday, throughout the course duration (24 weeks), you’ll have the opportunity to join a small group coaching session. You can attend just one per week, or all five—or watch the recordings later. Each session offers a different way of looking at your UX strategy (that’s the 24 different UX strategy lenses). And, most importantly, each week of the program is designed to be actionable, leaving you with key learnings you can immediately apply to your work.
UX leaders can attend by themselves or invite different team members to different sessions. Besides daily coaching sessions, attendees have access to an exclusive online community and an extensive library of UX strategy resources.
What does the course cover?
The Center Centre UX Strategy Program is like ‘an MBA for UX leaders’. With each coaching session, you’ll learn the key strategic fundamentals, concepts, and mindsets that senior UX leaders need to be successful.
Beyond that, the course content is tailored to meet your team and organization's unique needs and address specific challenges. With the expert guidance of Jared Spool and other UX leaders, you’ll create a UX strategy based on what your organization wants to accomplish.
You’ll learn how to set company-wide UX goals, how to measure UX, how to build up your team’s capabilities through training and/or hiring, and how to get buy-in from executive stakeholders.
Consider this UX strategy course if:
You’re a UX leader or manager who wants UX strategy training for your whole team.
You want to level up your organization’s UX capabilities.
You need help getting buy-in for your team’s UX work.
Learn more:
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5. UX Strategy Masterclass by Andy Woynarowski via Udemy (2.5 hours, €16.99)
Another short introductory UX strategy course is the UX Strategy Masterclass by Andy Woynarowski, available on Udemy. Watch 2.5 hours of on-demand video to learn what UX strategy is and a process you can follow to create one.
At a glance:
Price: €16.99
Format: Online, on-demand video
Course duration: 2.5 hours
Effort: 2.5 hours
Course outcomes: A certificate of completion
How does the course work?
The UX Strategy Masterclass is delivered via on-demand video, so you can watch and learn at any time. Once you’ve signed up, you’ll also have access to immersive canvases which you can download and use in your day-to-day work.
What does the course cover?
The course is divided into a total of 38 short lectures. It outlines a 6-step process you can follow to design and deliver a UX strategy—starting with knowing your design limits and outlining business goals, through to mapping out the ecosystem of project stakeholders, creating a compelling value proposition, creating a business model and, finally, being able to consistently rework your UX strategy so it remains effective and relevant.
Consider this UX strategy course if:
You want a short, hands-off introduction to UX strategy.
You’re looking for a low-cost UX strategy course.
You want to learn flexibly and independently.
Learn more:
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6. UX/Product Strategy Online Masterclass by Jaime Levy (6 weeks, price unknown)
Jaime Levy is a renowned UX strategist, and you can tap into her expertise with this UX/Product Strategy Online Masterclass.
Over the course of 6 weeks, you’ll learn how to apply a variety of product strategy techniques—culminating in a UX strategy completion badge and a product strategy brief.
At a glance:
Price: Unknown
Format: Online via live (or on-demand) lectures and practical assignments
Course duration: 6 weeks
Effort: 1.5 hours per week
Course outcomes: A course completion badge and a portfolio piece
How does the course work?
This UX strategy course is available both privately and publicly. Private classes can be customized for specific organizations and teams, while public classes are available twice yearly for individual attendees.
Either way, you’ll attend 6 weekly live lectures via Zoom (also available to watch asynchronously if you can’t attend). These lectures are your opportunity to learn directly from Jaime Levy, ask questions, and receive your homework assignment for the week.
After each lecture, you’ll complete a practical assignment. This will then be critiqued in the following week, allowing you to get personalized and actionable feedback.
What does the course cover?
The course follows a 6-week lecture schedule. In the first week, you’ll learn about the principles and benefits of UX strategy and understanding the problem space, followed by conducting customer interviews in week two.
Week three covers competitive research, week four looks at competitor analysis, and week five will have you designing structured experiments, creating rapid prototypes, and storyboarding value propositions.
In the sixth and final week, you’ll learn how to conduct online user research for concept and business model validation.
Consider this UX strategy course if:
You want a mix of live, group learning and practical assignments.
You’re a UX leader looking for custom training for you and your team.
Learn more:
Jump back to UX Strategy Courses Overview ⇡
7. UX Strategy Fundamentals by Sandra Gonzalez via Pluralsight (3.5 hours, €26)
Another affordable and not-too-time-intensive UX strategy course is UX Strategy Fundamentals by Sandra Gonzalez. For the price of a Pluralsight subscription (€26 per month), you can learn what UX strategy is and the building blocks that go into creating one.
At a glance:
Price: €26 per month (Pluralsight subscription cost)
Format: On-demand video course
Course duration: 3.5 hours, can be completed flexibly at your own pace
Effort: 3.5 hours in total
Course outcomes: A high-level understanding of how to create a UX strategy
How does the course work?
This short UX strategy course is taught via pre-recorded videos which you can access at any time with your Pluralsight subscription. Simply watch the entire course in one go or spread the content out over several days or weeks—it’s entirely up to you. This is a theory-only course so you won’t have any homework or projects to complete.
What does the course cover?
In this course, you’ll learn what UX strategy is, what skill sets are necessary for building a UX strategy, and practical methods you can use to develop a Minimum Awesome Product (MAP).
The course content is divided into: Harnessing UX Strategy (including what is UX strategy and what is it not?), Setting up the Foundations for a UX Strategy (including an introduction to the diamond-shaped design process and how to write a UX strategy proposal), Turning UX Strategy into a Team Sport, Workshopping Your Way into a Solid UX Strategy, Going Beyond a Minimum Viable Product and, finally, Delivering the UX Strategy.
Consider this UX strategy course if:
You’re new to UX strategy (but not to UX) and want a high-level introduction.
You want a flexible and low-cost way to learn about UX strategy.
Learn more:
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8. UX Design Strategy and Application by FutureLearn (12 weeks, €36/month)
FutureLearn is a digital education platform offering a wide variety of short courses, expert tracks, microcredentials and online degrees.
Their UX Design Strategy and Application course is an ExpertTrack—a series of specialist courses designed for upskilling. It covers everything from customer journey mapping and service design through to the future of work.
At a glance:
Price: €36/month (FutureLearn subscription)
Format: Online, self-paced
Course duration: Approximately 12 weeks
Effort: 4 hours per week
Course outcomes: Digital certificate of completion
How does the course work?
The UX Design Strategy and Application ExpertTrack is broken down into a series of courses which you can work through at your own pace.
There are three courses in total, each spanning four weeks and requiring about four hours of study per week. The course content is delivered through videos, articles, audio, and exercises. At the end of each course, you’ll complete a test and, finally, earn your digital certificate.
What does the course cover?
While many of the UX strategy courses on our list are geared towards helping UX leaders level up (and enable their teams to do the same), this one is a much broader, more beginner-friendly course which touches upon UX strategy but also covers more general UX topics.
Course 1 is dedicated to customer journey mapping, including an introduction to service design and blueprinting. Course 2 looks at customer profiling and design sprints, focusing on organizational culture and project management methodologies.
Course 3 explores the role of creativity, strategy, and innovation in UX design. You’ll look at the correlation between innovation and creativity, learn about strategy design and implementation, and explore the future of work and remote working.
Consider this UX strategy course if:
You’re a beginner UX designer.
You don’t just want to learn about UX strategy—you want to cover some fundamental UX topics, too.
You want to learn flexibly at your own pace.
Learn more:
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9. UX Management: Strategy and Tactics by Interaction Design Foundation (6 weeks, from €11.25/month)
Are you a UX leader, manager, or director looking to improve your leadership skills? Or a UX designer wanting to advance your career? Then consider the UX Management: Strategy and Tactics course offered by Interaction Design Foundation.
The course takes about 6 weeks to complete, allowing you full flexibility over when and where you learn.
At a glance:
Price: From €11.25/month (Interaction Design Foundation membership)
Format: Online, on-demand; completely self-paced
Course duration: 6 weeks
Effort: Approx. 4-5 hours per week
Course outcomes: Certificate of completion
How does the course work?
You can access the course with an Interaction Design Foundation membership. Each week, a new lesson becomes available (delivered through a mix of video and written content)—but there’s no time limit or deadlines, so you can work through the content at your own pace.
In addition to independent learning, you’ll have the opportunity to connect with your peers who are taking the course at the same time. The course also includes exercises which you can submit and have graded by expert instructors.
In the end, you’ll receive an Interaction Design Foundation certificate.
What does the course cover?
You’ll begin the course with Lesson 0 — an introduction to how the course works and a chance to meet your peers both online in discussion forums and offline through local IxDF groups. From there, you’ll move on to Lesson 1 which covers key topics such as assessing your organization’s UX maturity and managing UX as a process.
Lessons 2, 3, and 4 cover making the business case for UX, UX as a core to product delivery, and climbing the ladder (including crafting your UX strategy plan) respectively.
The final three lessons cover your UX roadmap and process, continuous growth and momentum, and wrapping up and getting your course certificate.
Consider this UX strategy course if:
You’re a UX lead, manager, or director looking to refine how you manage teams.
You’re a UX designer, interaction designer, or UX researcher looking to improve the ROI of your work and progress within your field.
You want a fully flexible, hands-off course with an industry-recognized certificate.
Learn more:
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10. UX Strategy Course by UX Academy (4 weeks, from £104.17/month for 12 months)
Last on our list is the UX Strategy Course by UX Academy.
UX Academy is a London-based school offering live, online training in UX and UI design. Their UX Strategy Course covers two key aspects of UX strategy: how to evolve your UX over time, and how to mature your organization to support it.
At a glance:
Price: From £104.17/month for 12 months (approx. €120/month)
Format: Live online sessions
Course duration: 4 weeks
Effort: 4-7 hours per week (including live session attendance and project work)
Course outcomes: Actionable models and methods for structuring and evolving UX at your organization
How does the course work?
The UX Strategy Course comprises live online sessions (one per week at 2.5 hours apiece) and independent project work.
You’ll attend the online video sessions as part of a small group, interacting with an expert tutor and completing hands-on exercises. You’ll also spend between 2 and 4 hours each week on independent project work.
Note that live lessons take place from 6pm-8.30pm (London time zone).
What does the course cover?
Throughout the course, you’ll learn about the strategic importance of UX, UX maturity models and applications, the Kano model, UX as an organizational culture, experience mapping, and the design of design orgs.
The course aims to teach you why UX is strategically important and how you can advocate for it within your organization. You’ll learn how to assess your organization’s current UX maturity and identify opportunities for improvement. You’ll also master effective methods for encouraging a culture of UX—all essential tools and skills for UX leaders and managers.
Consider this UX strategy course if:
You want a mixture of live instruction and independent project work.
You want a short-term, part-time UX strategy course.
Learn more:
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How To Choose the Right UX Strategy Course for You
As you can see, there are many UX strategy courses to choose from—and they vary significantly in terms of cost, duration, and depth.
So how do you go about choosing a UX strategy course that will meet your needs and help you achieve your goals?
First and foremost: Who is the course for? Some courses are designed for individual participants, while others are set up so you can bring your whole team along. Determining whether the course is just for you or for you and your team should help to narrow down your options.
Next, identify your learning goals and desired outcomes. Are you a mid-level UX, product, or service designer looking to master UX strategy and take the next step in your career? Are you a UX lead looking to get buy-in for UX in your organization and upskill your team? Knowing what you want to achieve will help you pin-point the best courses.
Bearing in mind who the course is for—and what you want to get out of it—the next question to ask yourself is: What kind of learning style and format is best and/or most feasible? Will you thrive in a live classroom setting, or is self-paced, independent study more realistic? Do you want to learn-by-doing with practical assignments, or will a short theoretical introduction suffice?
Last but certainly not least, who’s paying for the course and what’s the budget? If you’re paying for the course yourself, you’ll need to filter your options down according to your budget. If you’re hoping to get the course covered by your company, you can likely aim for a higher price point.
All of these factors combined should help you determine your UX strategy course shortlist—a handful of options you can investigate further, eventually (hopefully) leading you to your final choice.
Good luck!
Want to learn more about UX strategy? We’ve compiled a list of helpful resources and guides—take a look before you go.
Learning Resources for UX Strategy
Read Why Doing Everything is a Bad UX Strategy—a UX strategy case study by Jeff Humble
Read What is Strategic Design? By Jeff Humble, Co-founder of The Fountain Institute
Watch What is Design Strategy? A free 60-minute masterclass
Use the strategy canvas created by Jeff Humble to help you design strategy based on insights
Learn how to design an effective UX/product strategy with this live, interactive course: Defining UX Strategy with The Fountain Institute
![What is UX Strategy, Really? [Definition, Examples & Template]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5dc5935a7224ad2839d7e750/1690900371024-D6TO1WZD9ED628OO0B1T/What_is_UX_strategy%28thumbnail%29-Fountain_Institute.png)
What other resources can you recommend for learning about UX strategy?
Share them in the comments!
