A Review of Mento Design Academy by Creative Tim’s Chief Designer

Elisa Paduraru
Mento Design Academy
4 min readJun 15, 2023

As the Chief Designer of Creative Tim, in the last few years I have checked out many design courses and trainings to stay on top of the latest trends in the industry. Mento Design Academy is one of the best programs I have come across. In the article below I will showcase the strengths that set Mento Design Academy apart from other programs on the market.

First of all, let me tell you a bit about myself.

I am Elisa Paduraru, and I am working as the Chief Design Officer at Creative Tim, specializing in UI/UX Design for almost 7 years. Over the years, I have gained experience in the field of user interface design and my professional aim is to create web and mobile applications that are not only visually stunning but also highly functional and intuitive.

My passion for design led me to publish a book in collaboration with Creative Tim titled “Fundamentals of Creating a Great UI/UX,” which has been well-received by the design community. In the book, I share my knowledge and experience in the field, providing valuable insights into the design process and principles.

What is Creative Tim

Creative Tim is a leading provider of UI development tools and resources that help web designers and developers speed up their development work. The company is popular for its free and premium UI Kits, mobile Templates, and Dashboards built on top of popular frameworks such as Bootstrap, Vue.js, React, Angular, Node.js, Laravel, React Native and more.

Apart from this, Creative Tim offers useful tools and resources for web developers and UI/UX designers, such as component libraries, low code builders, courses, illustration collections, and more.

Visit their website to find out more about Creative Tim.

What is Mento Design Academy

Mento Design Academy is a mentorship-based bootcamp designed to help people from all backgrounds transition to a career in UI/UX Design. It is a comprehensive program that provides not only technical training but also personalized mentorship and career coaching. Mento’s curriculum is industry-aligned and constantly updated. The program is designed to be flexible, with both full-time and part-time options available, making it accessible to working professionals and students alike.

Visit their website to find out more about Mento DesignAcademy.

Or download their free eBook on “What to know before getting into a UX/UI Design Career”.

What I like about Mento Design Academy

Below I will showcase four features that make this program so special for people who want to join the UI/UX design path.

Personalized Mentorship

One of the strongest points of Mento Design Academy is its personalized mentorship program. The students benefit from weekly mentorship sessions with an experienced professional who will guide them throughout their journey and job search. This one-on-one learning experience helps students to get individualized attention, feedback, and support.

For example, in this program, every week each student benefits from a 30-minute online training / mentorship with a real UI/UX Designer where they can ask questions and get real-time feedback from experienced designers.

Unique Portfolio Development

At Mento Design Academy students can tailor their portfolios to their interests while solving real-world problems using their new skills. This approach not only helps students to showcase their skills but also prepares them for real professional design challenges.

​​For example, a student with an interest in fashion can use their new design skills to create a e-commerce website for a small boutique. This helps students increase their chances of success in getting jobs once they graduate.

Flexible Learning

Mento Design Academy understands that students have different learning styles and schedules. They have the freedom to study at their own pace, making transitions as smooth as possible. All that’s required is consistency. This flexibility allows students to balance their studies with their personal and professional commitments.

In-Depth Understanding

Mento Design Academy teaches its students to comprehend the “why?” behind design decisions, giving them a competitive edge in interviews and stakeholder interactions. This in-depth understanding is crucial for designers to make informed decisions and communicate their ideas effectively.

For example, at Mento, after each training session the students receive questions that will make them understand the logic behind what they learned.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, Mento Design Academy is one of the best design schools that I have come across. Their personalized mentorship, unique portfolio development, flexible learning, and in-depth understanding are the key features that set them apart from their competitors. I highly recommend Mento Design Academy for anyone who wants to pursue a career in UX design.

If you’re looking to learn more, here’s a few links for you:

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Mento Design Academy
Mento Design Academy

Published in Mento Design Academy

Mento Design Academy is a UX & UI Bootcamp that was built by a team of top designers with one mission in mind: to help people transition smoothly into UX Design. We do that by a perfectly balance combination of individual mentorship, optimal curriculum and practical assignments.

Elisa Paduraru
Elisa Paduraru

Written by Elisa Paduraru

Chief Designer Officer at Creative Tim specialized in intuitive UI/UX Design. Author of "Fundamentals of Creating a Great UI/UX Design".