Master Digital Product Design: UX Research & UI Design from Udemy

Digital products are more abstract and complex than any product we've designed before. People are using their digital devices faster, with less conscious thought and more distracted than ever in history.

These issues present new challenges that require a new kind of design team to address. These design teams need to understand a complex range of behavioral psychology, perception, creativity, business. They need to understand what has come before, the history of design didn't start with the iPhone. The history of product design started with the history of products.

I created this course out of frustration. Frustration that design education has been reduced to a handful of feal good quotes, an ineffective standardised design process, unquestioned research activities and no mention of philosophy or critical thought. We are designing the most complex product in history for the most distracted users. We're expecting designers to work with an embarrassingly narrow understanding of design. I had to create this course for them, I had to create The Master Digital Product Design Course because no one else was doing it ;)

The Master Digital Product Design Course will give you everything you need to start designing products people love. It will take time and I advise you to work through all the exercises over a period over several months, leaving time for reflection and experimentation. This is not a fast track to any design job, this is a slow track to a great career. What do I get with this course?

This course comprises of 12 modules, each around an hour long. Each module contains high-quality explainer videos with multiple activities and downloadable worksheets. Every video has resource links for further reading to ensure you get a range of opinions and allow you to dig deeper into topics that interest or apply to you.

The modules will cover a unique range of topics that I believe are missing from the majority of modern design curriculums. The 12 sections are:

Introduction: background into the industry and some of the problems
What is Design?: looking at, where design came from and some misconceptions about how to design
Design Process: the elements of a design process. You'll then create your design process
Critical Thinking: the core skill to design effectively, how to challenge ideas, especially your own
Experience Economy: experience is vital to create products people love, yet most people are ignoring it.
Creativity: you can learn to be creative, I'll show you what it is and how to get it.
Perception: looking at how people see the world and how we can design for them (people)
Usability: let's make sure your product is easy to use and doesn't frustrate
Figma: is a rapid design and prototyping tool, you'll learn to mock up your designs
Form & Function: why your product has to look good and what to do about it
Minimalism: minimalism is hard and we often get it wrong
Balance: you can have too much of anything. lets balance standards with trends

Is this course for me?

I created The Master Digital Product Design Course to fill many of the holes in other product design courses, for this reason, I believe it'll be useful for a seasoned designer. I've also created it with the beginner in mind so if you have never designed anything you will be just at home (and everyone has designed something before, you just don't know it. ).

As well as designers I also had in mind all the people who project manage, own or develop digital products. I believe there is a lot of interesting materials that will help the whole business think differently about creating digital products.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Critical thinking
User interface design
User experience research
Some relevant design history
History of digital product design

Design processes
How human perception works
Increased creativity
Usability testing
Applied psychology in design

Critical thinking
User interface design
User experience research
Some relevant design history
History of digital product design
Design processes
How human perception works
Increased creativity
Usability testing
Applied psychology in design

Syllabus

Introduction

How To Use This Course

Designer Shortage

Life Coaches in Design

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Introduces critical thinking skills essential for effective design

Examines the history of digital product design, providing valuable context

Offers exercises and assessments throughout the course to reinforce learning

Provides comprehensive coverage of a wide range of design-related topics

Instructor is recognized for their expertise in design

Reviews summary

Master digital product design: a holistic deep dive

According to learners, this course offers a comprehensive and philosophical approach to digital product design, distinguishing itself from many other programs. Students appreciate its deep dive into critical thinking, design history, and applied psychology in design, areas often overlooked in traditional design education. It's considered a "slow track to a great career", emphasizing thorough understanding over quick wins. The high-quality explainer videos, practical activities, and downloadable worksheets are highly valued, making it beneficial for both beginners and seasoned professionals seeking a nuanced perspective on UX research and UI design.

Suitable for both beginners and experienced design professionals.

"As a beginner, I found the concepts well-explained and the activities helped solidify my understanding of core principles."

"Even as a seasoned designer, I discovered many gaps in my knowledge filled by this comprehensive and thought-provoking material."

"This course helped me, a project manager, think differently about digital products and their creation, providing a broader view."

Features high-quality videos and external resources for deeper study.

"The video lessons were clear, well-produced, and kept me engaged throughout each module, making learning enjoyable."

"I valued the resource links for further reading, allowing me to explore topics that interested me more extensively."

"The explanations were thorough, making complex topics like human perception easily digestible and understandable."

Includes actionable activities and downloadable worksheets for application.

"The exercises were instrumental in applying the theoretical concepts learned, making the course very hands-on and engaging."

"I appreciated the downloadable worksheets; they made it easy to follow along and practice new skills at my own pace."

"The focus on creating my own design process felt very practical and personalized for my specific professional needs."

Offers a unique, in-depth exploration beyond surface-level design.

"This course provided me with a crucial understanding of design's history and philosophy, something rarely covered elsewhere."

"I found the focus on critical thinking and perception incredibly valuable, moving beyond just 'making it pretty' and focusing on impact."

"It's not a 'fast track' course; it truly delves into the foundational concepts needed for a great design career, which is what I sought."

Requires significant time for reflection and experimentation.

"This is definitely not a fast track course, as stated, and requires dedication over several months to fully benefit."

"If you're looking for a quick certification or immediate job skills, this course might feel slow and too theoretical for you."

"I had to commit significant time for reflection and practice, which truly deepened my learning, but it is a substantial time investment."

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 Master Digital Product Design: UX Research & UI Design with these activities:

Review Design of Everyday Things

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This book is a classic in the field of design and provides valuable insights into the principles of good design. Reviewing it will help you understand the core concepts of design and how they can be applied to digital products.

View Things That Make Us Smart: Defending Human... on Amazon

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Read the book
Take notes on the key concepts
Identify examples of good and bad design in the world around you

Practice using Figma

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Figma is a valuable tool for creating mockups and prototypes, and this activity will help you become proficient in using its features and tools.

Browse courses on Figma

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Follow a Figma tutorial
Create a simple mock up of a digital product
Use Figma to collaborate with other designers

Follow a tutorial on user experience design

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User experience design is a critical aspect of digital product design and following a tutorial will help you understand the basics of UX.

Browse courses on User Experience Design

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Find a tutorial on user experience design
Follow the tutorial and complete the exercises
Apply what you've learned to a real-world project

Three other activities

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Start a personal design project

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Working on a personal design project will allow you to apply your skills to a real-world project and will also help you develop your creativity.

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Come up with an idea for a design project
Develop a plan for your project
Execute your plan and create your design

Join a design critique group

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Giving and receiving feedback is an essential part of the design process, and doing so regularly in a group setting will help you improve your design skills.

Browse courses on Design Critique

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Find a design critique group to join
Attend regular critique sessions
Give feedback on other designers' work
Receive feedback on your own work

Create a blog post about a design trend

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Writing about design trends will help you understand the latest developments in the field and also refine your knowledge of specific design concepts.

Browse courses on Design Trends

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Research a design trend
Write a blog post about your research
Publish your blog post

Career center

Learners who complete Master Digital Product Design: UX Research & UI Design will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Product Designer

Product Designers are responsible for the overall user experience of a product, from its look and feel to its functionality. They work closely with engineers and other designers to ensure that the product meets the needs of users. This course will help you develop the skills you need to become a successful Product Designer, including user research, UI design, and prototyping.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Designer

UX Researcher

UX Researchers are responsible for understanding the needs of users and designing products that meet those needs. They conduct user research, analyze data, and create prototypes to help designers create better products. This course will help you develop the skills you need to become a successful UX Researcher, including user research methods, data analysis, and prototyping.

See salaries and explore the career path for UX Researcher

UI Designer

UI Designers are responsible for the visual design of a product. They work closely with UX Researchers and Product Designers to create products that are both visually appealing and easy to use. This course will help you develop the skills you need to become a successful UI Designer, including visual design principles, typography, and color theory.

See salaries and explore the career path for UI Designer

Front-End Developer

Front-End Developers are responsible for the implementation of the visual design of a product. They work closely with UI Designers and UX Researchers to bring products to life. This course will help you develop the skills you need to become a successful Front-End Developer, including HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

See salaries and explore the career path for Front-End Developer

Marketing Manager

Marketing Managers are responsible for developing and executing marketing campaigns for products. They work closely with Product Designers, UX Researchers, and UI Designers to ensure that products are marketed effectively. This course may be helpful for Marketing Managers who want to learn more about the design process and how to create products that meet the needs of users.

See salaries and explore the career path for Marketing Manager

Product Manager

Product Managers are responsible for the overall success of a product. They work closely with Product Designers, UX Researchers, UI Designers, and Front-End Developers to ensure that products meet the needs of users and are successful in the market. This course may be helpful for Product Managers who want to learn more about the design process and how to create products that meet the needs of users.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Manager

Interaction Designer

Interaction Designers are responsible for designing the way that users interact with a product. They work closely with UX Researchers and UI Designers to create products that are both easy to use and enjoyable to use. This course may be helpful for Interaction Designers who want to learn more about the design process and how to create products that meet the needs of users.

See salaries and explore the career path for Interaction Designer

Information Architect

Information Architects are responsible for organizing and structuring the content of a product. They work closely with UX Researchers and UI Designers to create products that are easy to navigate and use. This course may be helpful for Information Architects who want to learn more about the design process and how to create products that meet the needs of users.

See salaries and explore the career path for Information Architect

Technical Writer

Technical Writers are responsible for creating documentation for products. They work closely with Product Designers, UX Researchers, UI Designers, and Front-End Developers to create documentation that is clear and easy to understand. This course may be helpful for Technical Writers who want to learn more about the design process and how to create products that meet the needs of users.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Writer

User Experience Strategist

User Experience Strategists are responsible for developing and implementing strategies for improving the user experience of products. They work closely with Product Designers, UX Researchers, UI Designers, and Front-End Developers to create products that are both user-centered and successful in the market. This course may be helpful for User Experience Strategists who want to learn more about the design process and how to create products that meet the needs of users.

See salaries and explore the career path for User Experience Strategist

Visual Designer

Visual Designers are responsible for the visual appearance of a product. They work closely with UI Designers and UX Researchers to create products that are both visually appealing and easy to use. This course may be helpful for Visual Designers who want to learn more about the design process and how to create products that meet the needs of users.

See salaries and explore the career path for Visual Designer

Design Researcher

Design Researchers are responsible for conducting research to understand the needs of users. They work closely with Product Designers, UX Researchers, UI Designers, and Front-End Developers to create products that are both user-centered and successful in the market. This course may be helpful for Design Researchers who want to learn more about the design process and how to create products that meet the needs of users.

See salaries and explore the career path for Design Researcher

Graphic Designer

Graphic Designers are responsible for creating visual content for products. They work closely with UI Designers and UX Researchers to create products that are both visually appealing and easy to use. This course may be helpful for Graphic Designers who want to learn more about the design process and how to create products that meet the needs of users.

See salaries and explore the career path for Graphic Designer

Industrial Designer

Industrial Designers are responsible for designing the physical appearance of products. They work closely with Product Designers, UX Researchers, and UI Designers to create products that are both visually appealing and easy to use. This course may be helpful for Industrial Designers who want to learn more about the design process and how to create products that meet the needs of users.

See salaries and explore the career path for Industrial Designer