Quick Verdict
CoCreate is best for active practitioners wanting live 1:1 coaching and fast results (6 weeks to job-ready), while DesignLab is best for budget-conscious learners ($799) who prefer a shorter 4-week program with flexible learning.
CoCreate vs DesignLab Review: Which AI UX Course is Right for You? (2026)
Two respected design education platforms, two different approaches to AI training. This honest comparison will help you choose based on your budget, learning style, and timeline—not just brand recognition.
🎯 Quick Decision Guide
Choose CoCreate if you:
- ✓Want 100% live, cohort-based instruction
- ✓Need fast results (6 weeks to job-ready)
- ✓Value weekly 1:1 coaching and personalized feedback
- ✓Want curriculum updated every cohort
- ✓Prefer small class sizes (max 10 students)
- ✓Need accountability and structured learning
Choose DesignLab if you:
- ✓Prefer lower upfront cost ($799 vs $1,490)
- ✓Want a shorter duration program (4 weeks)
- ✓Value DesignLab's established design education brand
- ✓Are comfortable with mixed format learning
- ✓Have flexibility in timeline (8-12 weeks to job-ready)
- ✓Prefer some self-paced learning flexibility
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | CoCreate | DesignLab |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Live cohort (100% live sessions) | Mixed format (live + pre-recorded) |
| Duration | 6 weeks | 4 weeks |
| Time to Job-Ready in Weeks | 6 weeks (at completion) | 8-12 weeks |
| Price in USD | $1,490 | $799 |
| Class Size | Max 10 students | 20 students |
| Instructor Access | Weekly 1:1 coaching (30 min) | Weekly group sessions |
| Project Work | Portfolio-ready project during course | Project-based learning |
| Curriculum Updates | 25% updated every cohort | Semi-annually |
| Learning Style | Structured with deadlines, peer learning | Mixed: structured with some flexibility |
Detailed Comparison
Format & Delivery
CoCreate: 100% Live Cohort Learning
Every session is live. You meet weekly with your cohort (maximum 10 students) for 120-minute interactive sessions. Real-time demos, live Q&A, hands-on exercises, and immediate feedback. You also get 30-minute weekly 1:1 coaching sessions. This format ensures you can ask questions specific to your workflow and get answers immediately.
DesignLab: Mixed Format Learning
Combines pre-recorded video content with weekly live group sessions. You can watch pre-recorded lectures on your own schedule, then join group sessions with instructors and peers. This format offers some flexibility but lacks the real-time feedback and personalized attention of 100% live sessions. Larger class sizes (20 students) mean less individual attention during group sessions.
Curriculum & Content
CoCreate: Practical AI Integration Focus
Curriculum focuses on integrating 20+ AI tools into real UX workflows: research, ideation, prototyping, and designing AI-native products. You learn Cursor, Figma AI, Claude, ChatGPT, and more through hands-on projects. Curriculum updated 25% every cohort to include the latest 2025/2026 tools. Assumes you already know UX fundamentals.
Key Differentiator: You graduate with a portfolio-ready AI-native project, not just certificates.
DesignLab: AI Tools for UX Design Workflows
4-week program focused on AI tools for UX design workflows. Project-based learning approach with hands-on exercises. Covers AI fundamentals for designers. Curriculum updated semi-annually, which can be a concern given how fast AI technology evolves.
Key Differentiator: Established design education brand with track record in UX training.
Instructor & Support
CoCreate: Danny Setiawan + Weekly 1:1 Coaching
Taught by Danny Setiawan, 20-year UX veteran with experience at The Economist, Yahoo! Finance, and Fortune 500 companies. You get weekly 30-minute 1:1 coaching sessions for personalized feedback. Small cohort size (max 10) means more individual attention. Real-time Q&A during live sessions.
DesignLab: Industry Professionals + Group Sessions
Taught by industry professionals with UX design experience. Weekly group sessions provide some live interaction, but with 20 students, you have limited individual attention. No regular 1:1 coaching. Support through group Q&A during live sessions and community forums.
Pricing & Value
CoCreate: $1,490 (6 weeks)
Fixed price includes all live sessions, 1:1 coaching, materials, and portfolio project support. You're job-ready in 6 weeks, so the effective cost per week of job-ready time is $248/week.
Value Proposition: Fastest path to job-ready AI UX skills with maximum support.
DesignLab: $799 (4 weeks)
Fixed price includes mixed format learning, group sessions, and project work. However, it takes 8-12 weeks to become job-ready (2-3x course duration), so the effective cost per week of job-ready time could be $83-$125/week, but over a longer timeline.
Value Proposition: Lower upfront cost with established design education brand.
Outcomes & Results
CoCreate Outcomes
- • Job-ready in 6 weeks (at course completion)
- • Portfolio-ready AI-native project
- • 3x productivity increase reported by students
- • 75% reduction in research time
- • Graduates hired at Amazon, Microsoft, NYC.gov
- • Certificate of Completion
DesignLab Outcomes
- • Project-based learning with hands-on exercises
- • Understanding of AI tools for UX design
- • Certificate of Completion
- • Job-ready timeline: 8-12 weeks (mixed format)
- • Access to DesignLab community
Honest Pros & Cons
CoCreate
Pros:
- ✓ 100% live sessions with real-time feedback
- ✓ Job-ready in 6 weeks
- ✓ Weekly 1:1 coaching
- ✓ Small class size (max 10)
- ✓ Curriculum updated every cohort
- ✓ Portfolio-ready project included
- ✓ Money-back guarantee
Cons:
- ✗ Higher upfront cost ($1,490 vs $799)
- ✗ Fixed schedule (less flexibility)
- ✗ Longer duration (6 weeks vs 4 weeks)
- ✗ Requires 5-7 hours/week commitment
DesignLab
Pros:
- ✓ Lower price ($799 vs $1,490)
- ✓ Shorter duration (4 weeks vs 6 weeks)
- ✓ Established design education brand
- ✓ Some flexibility with mixed format
- ✓ Project-based learning
- ✓ Good for budget-conscious learners
Cons:
- ✗ Mixed format (not fully live)
- ✗ Longer time to job-ready (8-12 weeks)
- ✗ Larger class size (20 vs 10)
- ✗ No 1:1 coaching
- ✗ Less frequent curriculum updates (semi-annually)
- ✗ Less personalized attention
When to Choose Each
Choose CoCreate when:
- • You need AI UX skills urgently (job search, promotion cycle)
- • You thrive in structured, cohort-based learning
- • You want live feedback and real-time Q&A
- • You need a portfolio project to show employers
- • You want the latest 2025/2026 AI tools and techniques
- • You're willing to invest in weekly 1:1 coaching
- • You prefer small class sizes and personalized attention
Choose DesignLab when:
- • You prefer lower upfront cost ($799)
- • You want a shorter duration program (4 weeks)
- • You value DesignLab's established design education brand
- • You're comfortable with mixed format learning
- • You have flexibility in your timeline (not urgent)
- • You prefer some self-paced learning flexibility
- • You're okay with group sessions instead of 1:1 coaching
Total Investment Comparison
Remember: Total Investment = Price + (Time-to-job-ready in months × Monthly opportunity cost)
CoCreate:
$1,490 + (1.5 months × opportunity cost) = Job-ready in 6 weeks
DesignLab:
$799 + (2-3 months × opportunity cost) = Job-ready in 8-12 weeks
If your monthly opportunity cost is high (e.g., delayed promotion, missed freelance projects), CoCreate's faster timeline may be the better investment despite the higher upfront cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CoCreate worth it compared to DesignLab?
CoCreate is worth it if you need faster job-ready skills (6 weeks vs 8-12 weeks), weekly 1:1 coaching, and 100% live sessions. DesignLab is worth it if you prefer a lower price ($799 vs $1,490) and shorter duration (4 weeks vs 6 weeks) but can accept longer time-to-job-ready.
How does CoCreate compare to DesignLab?
CoCreate offers 100% live sessions with weekly 1:1 coaching, smaller class sizes (max 10 vs 20), faster job-ready (6 weeks vs 8-12 weeks), and curriculum updated every cohort. DesignLab offers mixed format learning, lower price ($799), shorter duration (4 weeks), but larger class sizes and semi-annual updates.
Which course has the best instructor access?
CoCreate offers weekly 1:1 coaching sessions (30 minutes) plus real-time Q&A during live sessions. DesignLab offers weekly group sessions, which means less personalized attention despite having live components.
What is the price difference between CoCreate and DesignLab?
CoCreate is $1,490 for a 6-week live cohort program. DesignLab is $799 for a 4-week mixed format program. However, CoCreate gets you job-ready in 6 weeks while DesignLab takes 8-12 weeks, so consider total investment including time-to-job-ready.
Which course gets you job-ready faster?
CoCreate gets you job-ready in 6 weeks (at course completion) with 100% live sessions and hands-on projects. DesignLab takes 8-12 weeks to become job-ready due to the mixed format requiring more self-directed work.
Does DesignLab offer live sessions?
DesignLab offers a mixed format with some live components (weekly group sessions), but not 100% live like CoCreate. DesignLab combines pre-recorded content with live group sessions, whereas CoCreate is entirely live cohort-based learning.
What makes CoCreate courses different from DesignLab?
CoCreate offers 100% live cohort-based learning with maximum 10 students, weekly 1:1 coaching, and curriculum updated every cohort. The focus is on practical AI integration into real UX workflows with immediate feedback. DesignLab offers mixed format learning with larger class sizes and less frequent updates.
Which course is better for beginners?
CoCreate is better for AI beginners because of 100% live sessions, weekly 1:1 coaching, and real-time Q&A. DesignLab's mixed format with larger class sizes offers less personalized guidance, which can be challenging for beginners.
How often are the courses updated?
CoCreate updates 25% of curriculum every cohort (every 6 weeks) to include the latest AI tools. DesignLab updates their courses semi-annually, which can be a concern given how fast AI technology evolves.
Which course is better for experienced UX designers?
Both work for experienced designers, but CoCreate focuses on practical AI integration into workflows with live feedback and 1:1 coaching, while DesignLab offers project-based learning with less personalized attention.
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