User Experience (UX) Design For Engagement from Udemy

In this course you will learn how to design a user experience (UX) that is engaging. You'll learn about what motivates people to take action, and how to use this knowledge to design websites, apps, and products so that they are engaging and so people will take the action you want them to take.

This course is based on a semester-long course taught at the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point by the same instructor, Dr. Susan Weinschenk.

About This Course:

You will learn about:

The parts of the visual cortex that are sensitive to certain visual stimuli, and how that should inform your visual designs
A special part of the brain that is sensitive to faces and how to use faces to grab attention
How having a number in one place can affect how people respond later on
How to use human factor loads to make a product more engaging
Choice architecture
Social validation
How people process stories
The impact of self-stories on behavior
Which instincts grab attention
What makes a product habit forming
When to use rewards and when not to
Why gamification often doesn't work
How to stimulate the desire for mastery
How to apply engagement principles to a re-design or to a new product

and more.

You have unlimited access to all the lessons 24 hours a day, for as long as you want or need them, so you can take the course at your own pace and go back to review any materials any time you want.

There are quizzes throughout the course to test your knowledge and exercises to practice what you are learning.

Get started right away. You don't want to delay learning how to create engaging products that people WANT to buy and use and that motivate them to action.

Over 50,000 people have taken our online video courses.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Learn the psychology that applies to behavior when people use websites, apps or other technology products
Learn how to create a more engaging design using these psychology principles

Learn what really motivates people to take action

Learn the psychology that applies to behavior when people use websites, apps or other technology products
Learn how to create a more engaging design using these psychology principles
Learn what really motivates people to take action

Syllabus

How to use what we know about vision and the brain to grab attention.

In this lesson we introduce the course and cover the research on grabbing visual attention.

Try out what you have learned with this exercise.

Test your knowledge with this quiz.

In this lesson we continue talking about what motivates people, including reciprocity, making things difficult on purpose, the power of stories, self-stories, and instincts.

In this lesson we cover anchoring, decisions, and human factor loads and their impact on making an engaging website or digital product.

In this lesson we talk about some of the ways to motivate people to take specific actions, including choice architecture and several social factors: teams, social validation, commitment, and how nouns invoke group identity.

In this lesson we cover how to apply these principles while you are re-designing a product or designing a new product.

In this lesson we cover classical conditioning, habits, and gamification, and the desire for mastery.

Use this Study Guide if you are planning on taking the UX Certificate Exam.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Explores the psychology behind user engagement, which is essential for creating effective and user-friendly websites, apps, and digital products

Includes exercises and quizzes, which allows learners to immediately apply the concepts and test their understanding of user engagement principles

Examines choice architecture and social validation, which are key components in motivating users and driving engagement in digital products

Discusses gamification, which is a popular technique in UX design, and explains why it sometimes fails to engage users effectively

Based on a university course, which suggests a structured and comprehensive approach to learning UX design principles for engagement

Teaches about visual cortex sensitivity and facial recognition, which may offer unique perspectives on grabbing user attention in visual designs

Reviews summary

Ux psychology for engagement

According to learners, this course provides a strong foundation (positive) in the psychological principles (positive) that drive user behavior and engagement. Many found the content fascinating and directly applicable (positive) to designing websites, apps, and products. The instructor, Dr. Susan Weinschenk (positive), is widely praised for her expertise and clear, engaging teaching style (positive). While some more experienced professionals felt the course covered primarily foundational concepts (neutral), making it better suited for beginners or those new to the topic (neutral), it is generally seen as a highly valuable resource for understanding why users do what they do (positive) and how to influence their actions through design. A few older reviews noted inconsistent video or audio quality (warning) in parts, but the core content remains highly relevant.

Provides a solid foundation for newcomers to UX/psychology.

"This course is a perfect introduction to UX psychology for beginners."

"As someone experienced, I found it covered mostly foundational concepts."

"It's a good starting point, but you'll need more advanced study elsewhere."

Content is logically organized and easy to follow.

"The course is really well organized into manageable lessons."

"Breaking down the psychology into these specific topics made it easy to learn."

"I appreciated the logical progression through the material."

Instructor provides clear explanations and expertise.

"Dr. Weinschenk is an incredible instructor, so knowledgeable and clear."

"Her passion for the subject really comes through in the lectures."

"Loved her insights; she clearly knows what she's talking about."

Offers practical insights into user behavior psychology.

"I found the psychology principles fascinating and immediately applicable."

"Understanding user behavior at this level is crucial for design."

"Gave me practical takeaways for how people really make decisions online."

Some videos have noticeable audio or visual issues.

"Some of the older videos had audio issues which made it hard to hear."

"Occasional glitches in the video production were distracting."

"The content is great, but the production could be polished."

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 User Experience (UX) Design For Engagement with these activities:

Review Basic Psychology Principles

Show steps

Refresh your understanding of fundamental psychology concepts to better grasp the motivations behind user behavior discussed in the course.

Browse courses on Cognitive Psychology

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Review introductory psychology textbooks or online resources.
Summarize key concepts like cognitive biases and social influence.
Relate these concepts to potential user interactions.

Review 'Don't Make Me Think' by Steve Krug

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Gain a foundational understanding of usability principles to inform your design decisions for engaging user experiences.

View Don't Make Me Think, Revisited: A Common Sense... on Amazon

Show steps

Read 'Don't Make Me Think' by Steve Krug.
Identify key usability principles discussed in the book.
Reflect on how these principles relate to engagement.

Redesign a Website Landing Page

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Apply the engagement principles learned in the course to redesign a landing page, focusing on visual attention, motivation, and action-oriented design.

Show steps

Choose a website landing page to redesign.
Analyze the existing design for engagement opportunities.
Apply course principles to create a more engaging design.
Gather feedback on the redesigned landing page.

Four other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all seven activities

Create a Presentation on Choice Architecture

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Deepen your understanding of choice architecture by creating a presentation that explains its principles and provides real-world examples.

Show steps

Research choice architecture principles.
Find examples of choice architecture in action.
Create a presentation explaining the concepts.
Present your findings to peers for feedback.

Review 'Hooked' by Nir Eyal

Show steps

Explore the principles of habit formation to design products that encourage repeated engagement and long-term user retention.

View Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products on Amazon

Show steps

Read 'Hooked' by Nir Eyal.
Identify the key components of the Hook Model.
Analyze how the Hook Model can be applied to UX design.

Design a Gamified Feature for an App

Show steps

Apply your knowledge of gamification principles to design a new feature for an existing app, focusing on motivation, rewards, and the desire for mastery.

Show steps

Choose an app and identify a feature to gamify.
Design a gamified feature based on course principles.
Create a prototype of the gamified feature.
Test the prototype with users and gather feedback.

Mentor Junior UX Designers

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Reinforce your understanding of UX engagement principles by mentoring junior designers and sharing your knowledge and experience.

Show steps

Find junior UX designers to mentor.
Share your knowledge of UX engagement principles.
Provide feedback on their design projects.
Answer their questions and offer guidance.

Career center

Learners who complete User Experience (UX) Design For Engagement will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

User Experience Researcher

As a User Experience Researcher, you'll investigate user behavior and needs through various methods. This course helps you understand how elements appeal to users. The course covers visual design, the impact of number placement, human factor loads, habit formation, and more. This knowledge will enable you to ask better research questions and interpret data more effectively. Understanding pre-attentive attributes allows you to predict how users will initially react to a design, allowing you to deliver insights that lead to more engaging user experiences. The course's focus on how to motivate users can help you to understand what they really want from a product.

See salaries and explore the career path for User Experience Researcher

User Interface Designer

As a User Interface Designer, you'll craft the visual elements of a digital product. This course will enable you to create more engaging interfaces using psychology principles. The course covers vision and the brain, visual stimuli, and how to use faces to grab attention. You'll also explore the impact of numbers, human factor loads, choice architecture, and more. With this knowledge, you can design interfaces that capture attention, guide users effectively, and encourage desired actions. Understanding the concepts of visual pre-attention will be particularly beneficial in the design of effective interfaces.

See salaries and explore the career path for User Interface Designer

UX Strategist

A UX Strategist aligns user experience with business goals, defining the overall UX vision for a product or organization. This course will help you understand the psychological principles that drive user engagement. The course covers vision and the brain, visual stimuli, the power of stories, and more. This enables you to develop strategies that create engaging user experiences that contribute to business success. In particular, the course's emphasis on applying engagement principles to design and redesign is essential for a UX Strategist. You may also find the sections on social validation and choice architecture valuable.

See salaries and explore the career path for UX Strategist

Product Manager

Product Managers guide the strategy, roadmap, and feature definition of a product or product line. This course provides valuable insights into how users interact with and are motivated by design. You'll learn about the psychology behind engagement, including visual cues, the impact of numbers, and the power of social validation. This knowledge helps you make informed decisions about product features and design elements that drive user adoption and engagement. As a Product Manager, understanding the principles of engagement can lead to more successful product launches and iterations. The course's module on habit formation may be particularly useful.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Manager

Product Designer

Product Designers focus on the overall design and functionality of a product, ensuring it meets user needs and business objectives. This course helps you create products that are not only functional but also highly engaging. The course may be useful in learning the psychology behind user motivation, including visual cues, the impact of numbers, and the power of social validation. This allows you to make informed design choices that drive user adoption and satisfaction. The coverage of classical conditioning and habit formation is helpful for Product Designers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Designer

Web Content Strategist

A Web Content Strategist plans, develops, and manages web content to meet user needs and business goals. Through this course, you'll learn how to harness psychology to create engaging content. The course covers using visual elements, understanding the power of stories, and applying principles of social validation. This can help you craft content that captures attention, resonates with users, and motivates them to take desired actions. The module on self-stories may be particularly relevant to creating content that aligns with user identity. As a Web Content Strategist, this knowledge may give you an edge in content creation.

See salaries and explore the career path for Web Content Strategist

Interaction Designer

An Interaction Designer focuses on how users interact with a product, ensuring a smooth and intuitive experience. This course may be useful in understanding the psychology of user engagement. You'll learn about visual attention, the use of faces, the impact of numbers, and human factor loads. The course will also cover choice architecture, social validation, and storytelling. This can help you design interactions that are not only functional, but also engaging and motivating. The coverage of how to apply engagement principles to design and redesign will appeal to an aspiring Interaction Designer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Interaction Designer

Web Designer

Web Designers create the visual layout and user experience of websites. This course may be useful in helping them learn how to design websites that are both visually appealing and highly engaging. The course covers vision and the brain, visual stimuli, and how to use faces to grab attention. You'll also learn about the impact of numbers and human factor loads. By understanding these principles, you can create websites that capture attention, guide users effectively, and motivate them to take desired actions. The course module on applying engagement principles will be useful.

See salaries and explore the career path for Web Designer

User Advocate

A User Advocate champions the needs and perspectives of users throughout the product development process. This course helps you understand the psychological principles that drive user engagement. The course covers vision and the brain, visual stimuli, and the power of social validation. This knowledge enables you to effectively communicate user needs and advocate for designs that are both user-friendly and engaging. In particular, the course's emphasis on understanding user motivation and applying engagement principles to design may be especially insightful for a User Advocate.

See salaries and explore the career path for User Advocate

Information Architect

An Information Architect organizes and structures content to make it easily accessible and understandable to users. This course will help you understand how to use psychological principles to create information architectures that are engaging and effective. The course covers vision and the brain, visual stimuli, the use of faces to grab attention, and more. By understanding how users process information, you can design architectures that guide them effectively and encourage exploration. The course modules covering choice architecture and the power of stories can be used by an Information Architect.

See salaries and explore the career path for Information Architect

Customer Experience Manager

Customer Experience Managers focus on improving how a business interacts with its customers. In this course, you'll learn how to make these interactions more engaging. The course covers how websites, apps, and other technologies can use psychology to improve engagement. The course may be helpful to learn about topics from visual stimuli to storytelling. The course focuses on creating engaging products that people WANT to buy and that motivate them to action. As a Customer Experience Manager, this knowledge will improve your organization's customer retention, satisfaction, and overall profitability.

See salaries and explore the career path for Customer Experience Manager

Conversion Rate Optimizer

A Conversion Rate Optimizer improves the percentage of users who complete a desired action on a website or app. This course may be useful to learn how to influence user behavior and design for engagement. You'll explore visual stimuli, the use of faces to grab attention, the impact of numbers, and human factor loads. The course also covers choice architecture, social validation, and the power of stories. By understanding these principles, as a Conversion Rate Optimizer, you can implement changes that lead to higher conversion rates. The course's coverage of how to apply engagement principles to design and redesign is particularly relevant.

See salaries and explore the career path for Conversion Rate Optimizer

UX Writer

A UX Writer crafts the microcopy and content within a user interface to guide users and enhance their experience. This course provides valuable insights into how language and messaging can be used to create more engaging experiences. The course may be useful in learning about user behavior, including visual cues and the power of stories. This knowledge helps you create clear, concise, and compelling copy which motivates users to take desired actions. The course modules on self-stories and social validation can also be used by a UX writer.

See salaries and explore the career path for UX Writer

Digital Marketing Specialist

A Digital Marketing Specialist may be interested in this course, since they are responsible for planning, implementing, and managing digital marketing campaigns. This course may be useful in learning about user engagement and motivational design. The course covers vision and the brain, visual stimuli, and how to use faces to grab attention. You'll also learn about choice architecture and social validation. As a Digital Marketing Specialist, this knowledge can help you create campaigns that capture attention, resonate with target audiences, and drive conversions. In particular, the coverage of classical conditioning may be useful for crafting effective campaigns.

See salaries and explore the career path for Digital Marketing Specialist

Usability Analyst

As a Usability Analyst, you'll evaluate the ease of use and efficiency of websites, applications, and other digital products. This course provides you with a foundation in the principles of engaging design. You'll learn about visual attention, the use of faces, and the impact of numbers. The course also explores choice architecture, social validation, and storytelling. This will help you identify usability issues that may be hindering user engagement. In particular, the course's module on applying engagement principles to design and redesign may be especially insightful for a Usability Analyst.

See salaries and explore the career path for Usability Analyst

User Experience (UX) Design For Engagement

What's inside

Learning objectives

Syllabus

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Reviews summary

Ux psychology for engagement

Activities

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