Design Thinking for Data Professionals from Coursera

What's inside

Syllabus

Human Centered Design and Empathy

Ever wondered how decisions are made? Explore the psychology behind decision-making, unveiling the factors that influence choices. Delve into empathy's role in human connection, understanding its profound impact on relationships. Learn about Human-Centered Design, prioritizing user needs for effective solutions. Dive into its process, breaking down steps like ideation and prototyping to foster innovation. Through understanding these concepts and processes, unlock the keys to creating solutions that truly resonate with people's needs and aspirations.

Phase 1: Research

Welcome to User Research! Here, we explore understanding user needs and behaviors. Learn why grasping context is crucial and get equipped with tools and methods. Dive into various areas of inquiry, seeking insights to inform design decisions. Conduct your research diligently, gathering valuable data to drive user-centered solutions. With careful examination and empathy, we pave the way for creating impactful designs that resonate with users' needs and aspirations.

Phase 2: Synthesis

Welcome to the Synthesis phase, where insights converge to shape solutions. Begin by structuring information to distill key points effectively. Group related data into clusters to gain clarity and identify patterns. Define user needs to guide design decisions, ensuring solutions meet real-world requirements. Then, challenge assumptions and reframe problems to unlock innovative approaches. Join us in this transformative journey as we synthesize diverse perspectives and pave the way for impactful design solutions that resonate deeply with users and address their evolving needs with empathy and creativity.

Phase 3: Ideation

Welcome to Ideation! Here, we brainstorm lots of ideas. Then, we group them to find patterns. After that, we choose the best ones based on what's doable and helpful. Join us in this journey of creativity and problem-solving, where together, we aim to find practical solutions to real challenges. Let's collaborate to turn our ideas into actionable plans that truly make a difference in people's lives. Together, we can innovate and create positive change in the world around us.

Phase 4: Experimentation

In the experimentation phase of Human-Centered Design, we refine ideas by testing them with real users to create better solutions. This phase emphasizes rapid prototyping and feedback gathering to validate assumptions. Topics covered include Introduction to Experimentation, Idea Elaboration, Prototype Development, and Testing. It's a critical stage where ideas transform into tangible solutions, ensuring they meet user needs effectively and efficiently. Get ready to innovate and iterate towards impactful outcomes!

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Taught by Khushboo Vartak, who has worked in the industry for over 12 years as a UX lead and is currently head of UX at PhonePe

Taught by Shikha Kanakia, who has worked in the Human-Centered Design field for over 17 years and is currently leading the Human Experience Design team at Google in Mumbai

Teaches skills, knowledge, and tools that are highly relevant in an academic setting

Provides a comprehensive understanding of Human-Centered Design principles and practices

Develops skills in effective user research

Teaches how to apply Human-Centered Design principles in product development

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 Design Thinking for Data Professionals with these activities:

Review 'Human-Centered Design' by G. Cooper

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Gain insights into Human-Centered Design principles and practices as outlined in this comprehensive text.

View Basics Interactive Design: User Experience... on Amazon

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Read chapters on HCD principles, user research, ideation, and prototyping.
Summarize key concepts and make notes for future reference.

Refresh General Psychology Knowledge

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Review fundamental psychological principles and theories to strengthen understanding of course materials.

Browse courses on Psychology

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Review notes and textbooks from previous psychology courses.
Take practice quizzes or tests to assess knowledge retention.

Follow Tutorials on User Experience (UX) Research Methods

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Enhance understanding of user research techniques through hands-on experience with guided tutorials.

Browse courses on User Research

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Identify online tutorials or courses on user interviews, surveys, and usability testing.
Complete tutorials while taking notes and applying concepts to real-world examples.

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Develop a User Persona for a Target Audience

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Foster empathy and user understanding by creating a detailed persona that represents the target audience.

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Gather data from user research (interviews, surveys, observations).
Identify common characteristics, needs, and motivations of users.
Develop a persona profile, including demographics, goals, and pain points.

Conduct User Interviews and Usability Testing

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Develop practical skills in user research by conducting mock interviews and usability tests.

Browse courses on User Research

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Recruit participants for user interviews and usability tests.
Prepare interview questions and usability testing scenarios.
Conduct user interviews and usability tests, recording feedback.
Analyze findings and draw insights to improve designs.

Design a Prototype for a User-Centered App

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Translate theory into practice by designing a functional prototype that addresses user needs.

Browse courses on User-Centered Design

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Brainstorm and generate ideas based on user research.
Sketch and wireframe the app's interface and flow.
Create a clickable prototype using design tools or coding.
Test the prototype with users and gather feedback.

Participate in a UX Design Hackathon

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Challenge oneself to apply HCD principles and work collaboratively in a competitive environment.

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Find and register for a UX design hackathon.
Form a team or work individually.
Follow the hackathon theme and develop a user-centered solution.
Pitch the solution and receive feedback.

Mentor a Junior UX Designer

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Deepen understanding by sharing knowledge and guiding a junior professional in the field.

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Connect with a junior UX designer and offer mentorship support.
Provide guidance on UX principles, methodologies, and best practices.
Review their work, provide feedback, and encourage growth.

Career center

Learners who complete Design Thinking for Data Professionals will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Interaction Designer

Interaction Designers are responsible for the design of interactive elements in a product. This course may be useful for building a foundation in HCD principles and practices. HCD can help Interaction Designers create interactive experiences that are user-friendly and meet the needs of users.

See salaries and explore the career path for Interaction Designer

UX Designer

UX Designers are responsible for the user experience of a product. This course may be useful for building a foundation in HCD principles and practices. HCD can help UX Designers create products that are user-friendly and meet the needs of users.

See salaries and explore the career path for UX Designer

Service Designer

Service Designers are responsible for the design of services. This course may be useful for building a foundation in HCD principles and practices. HCD can help Service Designers create services that are user-friendly and meet the needs of users.

See salaries and explore the career path for Service Designer

Human Factors Engineer

Human Factors Engineers are responsible for designing products and systems that are safe, efficient, and user-friendly. This course may be useful for building a foundation in HCD principles and practices. HCD can help Human Factors Engineers understand the needs of users and design products and systems that meet those needs.

See salaries and explore the career path for Human Factors Engineer

Product Manager

Product Managers are responsible for the overall vision and strategy of a product. This course may be helpful for building a foundation in HCD principles and practices. HCD can help Product Managers develop a deep understanding of user needs, which can lead to more successful product outcomes.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Manager

Information Architect

Information Architects are responsible for designing the structure and organization of information. This course may be useful for building a foundation in HCD principles and practices. HCD can help Information Architects understand the needs of users and design information structures that meet those needs.

See salaries and explore the career path for Information Architect

Industrial Designer

Industrial Designers are responsible for designing the physical form of products. This course may be useful for building a foundation in HCD principles and practices. HCD can help Industrial Designers understand the needs of users and design products that meet those needs.

See salaries and explore the career path for Industrial Designer

Market Researcher

Market Researchers study the market for a product or service. This course may be useful for building a foundation in HCD principles and practices. HCD can help Market Researchers understand the needs of users and conduct research that can help businesses develop successful products and services.

See salaries and explore the career path for Market Researcher

Data Scientist

Data Scientists are responsible for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data. This course may be useful for building a foundation in HCD principles and practices. HCD can help Data Scientists understand the needs of users and use data to create solutions that meet those needs.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Scientist

User Researcher

User Researchers gather data about users' experiences, goals, and aspirations. This course may be useful for building a foundation in Human-Centered Design (HCD) principles and practices. HCD is a user-centered approach to problem-solving that can help User Researchers gain a deeper understanding of user needs.

See salaries and explore the career path for User Researcher

Business Analyst

Business Analysts study the business needs of an organization. This course may be useful for building a foundation in HCD principles and practices. HCD can help Business Analysts understand the needs of users and develop solutions that meet those needs.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Cognitive Psychologist

Cognitive Psychologists study the mental processes that underlie human behavior. This course may be useful for building a foundation in HCD principles and practices. HCD is a user-centered approach to problem-solving that can help Cognitive Psychologists understand the mental processes that underlie user behavior.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cognitive Psychologist

Sociologist

Sociologists study the social behavior of humans. This course may be useful for building a foundation in HCD principles and practices. HCD is a user-centered approach to problem-solving that can help Sociologists understand the social behavior of users.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sociologist

Anthropologist

Anthropologists study the culture and behavior of humans. This course may be useful for building a foundation in HCD principles and practices. HCD is a user-centered approach to problem-solving that can help Anthropologists understand the culture and behavior of users.

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Management Consultant

Management Consultants help organizations improve their performance. This course may be useful for building a foundation in HCD principles and practices. HCD can help Management Consultants understand the needs of users and develop solutions that can help organizations achieve their goals.

See salaries and explore the career path for Management Consultant