UX: Research Process from Coursera

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Syllabus

Information Architecture

In this module, we will dive deep into information architecture (IA), exploring its principles and importance in UX design. You’ll learn how to organize, label, and structure content, design intuitive navigation and search systems, and use tools like card sorting and site maps. By the end of this section, you’ll be equipped with strategies to improve website organization and user experience through effective IA practices.

Intro to Design Thinking

In this module, we will explore the foundations of design thinking, starting with its origins and key concepts. You’ll gain insights into the tools and techniques that enable empathetic and user-centered problem-solving. From identifying users and their pain points to crafting roadmaps and presenting findings, this section sets the stage for innovative design solutions.

Practice Empathy Maps

In this module, we will focus on the practical application of empathy maps to enhance your understanding of users. You will learn to create an empathy map, apply it to a real-world problem, and develop a targeted solution. This hands-on practice reinforces the importance of empathy in crafting impactful design solutions.

Practice Journey Maps

In this module, we will delve into the practice of journey mapping, a critical tool for understanding and optimizing the user experience. You will learn to create a journey map for a specific scenario, identifying pain points and opportunities, and use it to design a user-focused solution. This hands-on exercise builds essential skills for creating impactful user journeys.

UX Content Strategy

In this module, we will explore the fundamentals of UX content strategy, including its significance and diverse applications. You will learn how to craft various forms of UX content, from helpful status messages to compelling product descriptions, while maintaining brand identity and user trust. The module concludes with actionable insights into creating a content guide and ensuring your UX content drives success.

Solving Problems with UX Design

In this module, we will tackle problem-solving in UX design by exploring how to identify and define problems accurately. You’ll learn to distinguish between user wants and needs, analyze attitudes versus behaviors, and develop hypotheses to guide your solutions. This section equips you with the skills needed to design thoughtful and impactful user experiences.

Conducting User Interviews

In this module, we will dive into the art and science of conducting user interviews, a cornerstone of user-centered design. You’ll learn to identify your target audience, ask insightful and unbiased questions, and avoid common pitfalls in interviewing. The section concludes with techniques for synthesizing data and evaluating the need for your product based on user research.

Creating User Personas

In this module, we will explore the concept and importance of user personas in UX design. You’ll learn how to create detailed personas through a step-by-step process and practice crafting them with hands-on exercises. By the end, you will understand how to leverage personas to develop effective and user-centered design solutions.

Evaluating Design

In this module, we will cover the key techniques for evaluating UX designs, focusing on usability testing, user surveys, and analytical methods. You’ll learn to prepare for and execute various testing approaches, analyze the data collected, and implement findings to enhance user experience. By the end of this section, you’ll have a robust framework for making data-driven design decisions.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Begins with design thinking, which is a popular approach used across many industries to develop innovative solutions that are centered around the user's needs and preferences

Covers empathy mapping and journey mapping, which are essential techniques for understanding user emotions and experiences, and are widely used in the field of user experience design

Explores UX content strategy, which is a critical aspect of creating engaging and effective user experiences, and is becoming increasingly important in today's digital landscape

Includes hands-on exercises like card sorting and competitor research, which are valuable for developing practical skills and gaining real-world experience in UX design and information architecture

Culminates with evaluating design through usability testing, A/B testing, and user surveys, which are essential methods for iterating and refining designs to ensure user satisfaction and success

Teaches how to conduct user interviews, which is a core skill for gathering insights and understanding user needs, and is widely used in user-centered design processes

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in UX: Research Process with these activities:

Review Design Thinking Principles

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Reinforce your understanding of design thinking principles to better grasp the user-centric approach emphasized throughout the course.

Browse courses on User-Centered Design

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Review the core principles of design thinking: empathy, ideation, prototyping, and testing.
Find examples of successful design thinking implementations in real-world products.
Summarize the key benefits of using design thinking in UX research.

Read 'The Design of Everyday Things'

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Gain a deeper understanding of usability principles and human-centered design to improve your UX research and design skills.

View The Design Of Everyday Things on Amazon

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Read the book, focusing on the chapters related to usability and affordances.
Identify examples of good and bad design in everyday objects.
Relate the concepts in the book to the UX research methods covered in the course.

Practice Empathy Mapping Exercises

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Sharpen your empathy mapping skills to better understand user needs and perspectives, a crucial aspect of UX research.

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Choose a product or service you use regularly.
Create an empathy map for a typical user of that product or service.
Identify potential pain points and opportunities for improvement.

Four other activities

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Create a User Persona Presentation

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Solidify your understanding of user personas by creating a presentation that showcases your ability to synthesize user research into actionable insights.

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Conduct user interviews or surveys to gather data.
Analyze the data and identify common patterns and behaviors.
Create a detailed user persona based on your findings.
Design a presentation that effectively communicates the persona's needs, goals, and pain points.

Review 'Just Enough Research'

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Learn how to conduct efficient and effective UX research to inform design decisions and improve user experiences.

View Just Enough Research: Second Edition on Amazon

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Read the book, focusing on the chapters related to research planning and execution.
Identify key takeaways and actionable strategies for your own UX research projects.
Apply the principles in the book to a real-world UX challenge.

Usability Testing Report

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Hone your skills in evaluating design by creating a comprehensive usability testing report that analyzes user behavior and provides actionable recommendations.

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Plan and conduct a usability testing session with target users.
Collect data on user behavior, including task completion rates and error rates.
Analyze the data and identify usability issues.
Write a report summarizing your findings and providing recommendations for improvement.

Design a Mobile App Based on User Research

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Apply your UX research skills to design a mobile app that solves a real-world problem, reinforcing your understanding of the entire UX process.

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Identify a problem that can be solved with a mobile app.
Conduct user research to understand the needs and pain points of your target audience.
Create user personas and journey maps based on your research findings.
Design the app's information architecture and user interface.
Create a prototype of the app and conduct usability testing.

Career center

Learners who complete UX: Research Process will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

User Researcher

A User Researcher focuses on understanding user behaviors, needs, and motivations through various research methods. This course directly helps a User Researcher by teaching them how to conduct user interviews, create empathy maps and user journey maps, and evaluate design. Understanding design thinking principles and how to solve problems with UX design, as taught in this course, will enable User Researchers to gather data, synthesize findings, and develop data-driven solutions that inform design decisions. The modules on persona creation and evaluating design will be especially useful. Taking this course may allow one to refine their research skills and create more impactful user experiences as a User Researcher.

See salaries and explore the career path for User Researcher

UX Designer

A UX Designer is responsible for creating user-friendly and engaging interfaces. This course helps aspiring UX Designers understand the entire UX research process, from design thinking to evaluating design. The course's modules on empathy mapping, journey mapping, and user interviews provide a solid foundation for understanding user needs and translating them into design solutions. Moreover, the focus on information architecture, UX content strategy, and solving problems with UX design equips a UX Designer with the skills to create intuitive and effective user experiences. One should take this course to enhance skills in creating exceptional designs as a UX Designer.

See salaries and explore the career path for UX Designer

Usability Analyst

A Usability Analyst evaluates the ease of use and effectiveness of websites, applications, and other digital products. This course specifically helps a Usability Analyst through its deep dive into usability testing, user surveys, and analytical methods. Learning how to prepare for and execute various testing approaches, analyze the data collected, and implement findings to enhance the user experience, as taught in the course, perfectly aligns with the responsibilities of a Usability Analyst. The modules on conducting user interviews and creating user personas may be particularly beneficial. This course may help one improve their ability to make data-driven design decisions as a Usability Analyst.

See salaries and explore the career path for Usability Analyst

Information Architect

An Information Architect specializes in organizing and structuring content to make it easily accessible and understandable for users. This course directly addresses the skills needed for this role, particularly through its module on information architecture. Learning to design intuitive navigation and search systems and using tools like card sorting and site maps will set up an Information Architect for success. The focus on UX content strategy and understanding user needs through empathy mapping and journey mapping helps an Information Architect create user-centered content structures. This course may enable someone to improve website organization and user experience as an Information Architect.

See salaries and explore the career path for Information Architect

Content Strategist

A Content Strategist plans, develops, and manages content to support business goals and user needs. This course helps aspiring Content Strategists by exploring the fundamentals of UX content strategy. One who aspires to be a Content Strategist will discover how to craft various forms of UX content, from helpful status messages to compelling product descriptions, while maintaining brand identity and user trust. The modules on information architecture and understanding user needs through user interviews and persona creation may be highly valuable. This course may allow one to create content that drives success as a Content Strategist.

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Product Manager

A Product Manager guides the vision, strategy, and roadmap for a product. This course may help a Product Manager by providing a strong understanding of the UX design process. The modules on design thinking, user interviews, and persona creation teach them how to understand user needs and translate them into product requirements. The skills learned in evaluating design through usability testing and A/B testing may assist a Product Manager to iterate and refine product designs for success. Taking this course may allow the Product Manager to make data-driven decisions and champion user-centric products.

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Interaction Designer

An Interaction Designer focuses on designing the interactive elements of a digital product to create engaging and intuitive user experiences. This course may help an Interaction Designer through its modules on design thinking, journey mapping, and evaluating design. Gaining skills in understanding user needs and pain points, as well as learning how to test and refine designs through usability testing, may enable an Interaction Designer to create seamless and enjoyable interactions. The focus on information architecture and UX content strategy may support the creation of intuitive navigation and clear, helpful content. The Interaction Designer who takes this course will be more effective.

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User Interface Designer

A User Interface Designer focuses on the visual elements of a digital product to create an appealing and easy-to-use interface. While this course focuses on the research process, it may help a User Interface Designer by providing a strong foundation in understanding user needs and behaviors. The modules on empathy mapping, persona creation, and usability testing may teach User Interface Designers how to create visually appealing interfaces that meet user expectations. Knowledge of information architecture and content strategy may also help a User Interface Designer create intuitive and effective user experiences.

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Customer Experience Manager

A Customer Experience Manager is responsible for overseeing and improving the overall experience customers have with a company or product. This course may help a Customer Experience Manager by providing insights into customer needs and pain points through empathy mapping, journey mapping, and user interviews. The skills learned in evaluating design through usability testing and user surveys may also help a manager improve customer satisfaction and loyalty. The course's focus on design thinking and problem-solving may equip the Customer Experience Manager with the tools needed to create positive customer experiences.

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Market Research Analyst

A Market Research Analyst studies market conditions to examine potential sales of a product or service. This course may help a Market Research Analyst understand user preferences and behaviors through the course's focus on user interviews and persona creation. Learning how to conduct insightful user research and synthesize findings may assist in identifying target audiences and understanding their needs. The course's emphasis on design thinking and problem-solving could provide a more holistic view of the market and how to develop successful products or services.

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Web Content Manager

A Web Content Manager oversees the creation, maintenance, and optimization of content on a website. This course may benefit a Web Content Manager with its modules on information architecture and UX content strategy. Learning how to organize, label, and structure content, design intuitive navigation systems, and create helpful UX content can help create a user-friendly website. The course's emphasis on understanding user needs through empathy mapping and journey mapping may contribute to the creation of engaging and relevant content.

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Business Analyst

A Business Analyst identifies business needs and determines solutions to business problems. This course may help a Business Analyst by providing insight into the user-centered design process and how to gather user requirements. The modules on design thinking, user interviews, and persona creation may help a Business Analyst understand user needs and translate them into business requirements. The skills learned in evaluating design through usability testing and A/B testing may enable the Business Analyst to recommend data-driven design decisions.

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Technical Writer

A Technical Writer prepares instruction manuals, how-to guides, and other documents that communicate complex and technical information more easily. While this course is focused on UX design and research, it may help a Technical Writer by providing a deeper understanding of user needs and behaviors. The module on UX content strategy, which focuses on creating helpful and transparent content, may be particularly relevant. Learning the principles of design thinking and how to solve problems with UX design will make one more effective as a Technical Writer.

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Marketing Specialist

A Marketing Specialist implements marketing strategies and campaigns to promote products or services. This course may help a Marketing Specialist by providing insights into user behavior and preferences, which are essential for creating effective marketing campaigns. The modules on empathy mapping, user interviews, and persona creation may enable understanding of the target audience and tailoring marketing messages accordingly. The knowledge gained from this course could improve the effectiveness of marketing efforts.

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Project Manager

A Project Manager plans, executes, and closes projects, ensuring they are completed on time and within budget. This course, while focused on UX design and research, may still be useful to a Project Manager working on digital products by providing a basic understanding of user-centered design principles and the UX research process. Familiarity with design thinking and user interview techniques may help a Project Manager better understand the project requirements and communicate effectively with UX designers and researchers. While not directly related, this knowledge may contribute to smoother project execution.

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Research Process

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