Published: October 2023 Reference: The definitive 2021 course update
| Feature | Erik Kennedy (2021 Update) | Shift Nudge | YouTube Tutorials | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | Practical UI polish & spacing | Layout & grid theory | Specific effects | | Time to complete | 8 Weeks (self paced) | 12+ Weeks | Infinite | | 2021+ Standards | Figma Auto-layout, Dark mode, Design tokens | Mostly layout theory | Hit or miss | | Feedback | Private Slack community (Active as of 2023) | Peer review | None | | Price | Mid-range (~$500-700) | High-end (~$1200) | Free (low quality) | learn ui design by erik kennedy updated 2021
The 2021 update addressed the "Great Resignation" shift in tech. As companies moved fully remote and design tools (Figma) reached peak maturity, the required skill floor rose drastically. We are not affiliated with Erik Kennedy, but
This article is an independent review. We are not affiliated with Erik Kennedy, but we highly respect the craftsmanship of the 2021 curriculum. If you have typed "learn ui design by
The 2021 update was the last "pure" version before the AI hype cycle. It focuses on hand-crafted craft, which is ironically rarer and more valuable today than ever. If you have typed "learn ui design by erik kennedy updated 2021" into Google, you are likely frustrated with your current progress. You know the tools, but your interfaces look "off."
While new AI tools (like Magic Copy or Figma AI) have emerged, the taught in the 2021 update (spacing, contrast, typographic scale, button states) are timeless. In fact, because AI can generate layouts in 2 seconds, employers now pay more for designers who understand why a layout is good or bad. That "why" is exactly what Erik Kennedy teaches.