We may earn an affiliate commission when you visit our partners.
Course image
Joseph A Konstan, Loren Terveen, Haiyi Zhu, Lana Yarosh, and Dr. Brent Hecht

In this course, you will gain an understanding of the critical importance of user interface design. You will also learn industry-standard methods for how to approach the design of a user interface and key theories and frameworks that underlie the design of most interfaces you use today.

Read more

In this course, you will gain an understanding of the critical importance of user interface design. You will also learn industry-standard methods for how to approach the design of a user interface and key theories and frameworks that underlie the design of most interfaces you use today.

Through a series of case studies on commercial systems - many of which you likely use on a regular basis - we will illustrate the benefits of good design. We will also demonstrate how the costs of bad design can often be severe (in user experience, money, and even human lives).

You will then gain a high-level understanding of the user-interface design process. You will be introduced to common design scenarios - e.g. improving on existing designs and starting a new design from scratch - and the general design processes that tend to be used for each scenario.

Finally, we will begin introducing the large body of existing knowledge on design by providing overviews of core user interface design theories and concepts. This key foundational information will help you avoid “reinventing the wheel” when you are designing your interfaces in this specialization.

Enroll now

What's inside

Syllabus

Introduction and Overview
UI Design Process
Psychology and Human Factors for User Interface Design
Read more
Psychology and Human Factors -- Continued

Good to know

Know what's good
, what to watch for
, and possible dealbreakers
Examines key user interface design theories and concepts, providing learners with a solid theoretical foundation
Introduces principles and frameworks underpinning the design of most contemporary user interfaces
Leverages case studies of widely used commercial systems to illustrate the advantages and pitfalls of both good and bad user interface designs
Provides a thorough overview of the user interface design process, catering to both novice and seasoned designers
Taught by renowned user interface design experts, ensuring a high level of instruction and industry insights
Explores the impact of poor user interface design, emphasizing the potential for severe consequences in terms of user experience, financial losses, or even safety risks

Save this course

Save Introduction to UI Design to your list so you can find it easily later:
Save

Reviews summary

Well-received ui design course

Learners say this course is a well-received introduction to UI design. Students especially like the variety of viewpoints from the presenters.

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 Introduction to UI Design with these activities:
Read UI Design Handbook by Joel Marsh
This book is an industry-leading resource that will provide you with a comprehensive overview of the principles of UI design. It will help you understand the basics of user psychology, information architecture, and visual design.
Show steps
  • Read the book thoroughly.
  • Take notes on the key concepts.
  • Apply the concepts to your own UI designs.
Read Don't Make Me Think by Steve Krug
This book is a classic in the field of UX design, and it will teach you how to create user interfaces that are easy to use and understand.
Show steps
  • Read the book thoroughly.
  • Take notes on the key concepts.
  • Apply the concepts to your web designs.
Complete the Coursera course on User Interface Design
This course will provide you with a comprehensive overview of the principles of UI design. It will teach you how to design user interfaces that are both effective and visually appealing.
Browse courses on UI Design
Show steps
  • Watch the video lectures.
  • Complete the assignments.
  • Participate in the discussion forums.
Five other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all eight activities
Join a UI design study group
Participating in a study group will give you the opportunity to share ideas, receive feedback, and learn from others.
Browse courses on UI Design
Show steps
  • Find a UI design study group.
  • Attend the study group meetings.
  • Participate in the discussions.
Write a blog post about UI design
Writing a blog post about UI design will help you to solidify your understanding of the concepts and share your knowledge with others.
Browse courses on UI Design
Show steps
  • Choose a topic for your blog post.
  • Research your topic.
  • Write your blog post.
  • Publish your blog post.
Attend a UI design workshop
Attending a UI design workshop will give you the opportunity to learn from experts in the field and get hands-on experience with UI design tools.
Browse courses on UI Design
Show steps
  • Find a UI design workshop.
  • Attend the workshop.
  • Participate in the exercises.
Create a portfolio of UI designs
Creating a portfolio of UI designs will give you the opportunity to practice your skills and build a body of work that you can show to potential employers.
Browse courses on UI Design
Show steps
  • Design a variety of UI elements, such as buttons, menus, and forms.
  • Create wireframes and prototypes of UI designs.
  • Get feedback on your designs from other UI designers.
Create a website using a UI design framework
Creating a website using a UI design framework will give you the opportunity to practice your skills and learn how to use a popular UI design tool.
Browse courses on UI Design
Show steps
  • Choose a UI design framework.
  • Create a website using the framework.
  • Get feedback on your website from other UI designers.

Career center

Learners who complete Introduction to UI Design will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
UX Architect
UX Architects design the overall user experience of products and services. To do this, they need to have a strong understanding of design principles, user experience, and human factors. This course will provide you with the skills and knowledge you need to succeed as a UX Architect.
UI Designer
UI Designers design the user interface of products and services. To do this, they need to have a strong understanding of design principles and user experience. This course will provide you with the skills and knowledge you need to succeed as a UI Designer.
User Experience Researcher
A User Experience Researcher (UX Researcher) conducts research to understand user needs and improve the user experience of products and services. To do this, they need to have a strong understanding of human factors and psychology, as well as design methods. This course will introduce you to these concepts and provide you with the skills you need to succeed as a UX Researcher.
Interaction Designer
Interaction Designers design the interactions between users and products. To do this, they need to have a strong understanding of design principles, user experience, and human factors. This course will provide you with the skills and knowledge you need to succeed as an Interaction Designer.
Product Designer
Product Designers design physical and digital products. To do this, they need to have a strong understanding of design principles, user experience, and human factors. This course will provide you with the skills and knowledge you need to succeed as a Product Designer.
Front-End Developer
Front-End Developers implement the user interface of products and services. To do this, they need to have a strong understanding of design principles and user experience. This course will provide you with the skills and knowledge you need to succeed as a Front-End Developer.
Web Designer
Web Designers create and maintain websites. To do this, they need to have a strong understanding of design principles and user experience. This course will provide you with the skills and knowledge you need to succeed as a Web Designer.
Visual Designer
Visual Designers create the visual elements of products and services. To do this, they need to have a strong understanding of design principles and user experience. This course will provide you with the skills and knowledge you need to succeed as a Visual Designer.
Quality Assurance Analyst
A Quality Assurance Analyst ensures that software products meet design specifications and are free of defects. To find and report on issues, they need to have a firm grasp of design principles. This course will equip you with the knowledge of industry-standard design methods and key design theories, which will help you succeed as a Quality Assurance Analyst.
Software Engineer
Software Engineers design, develop, and maintain software systems. To do this, they need to have a strong understanding of design principles and user experience. This course may be useful for Software Engineers who want to improve their understanding of these concepts.
Customer Success Manager
Customer Success Managers ensure that customers are satisfied with products and services. To do this, they need to have a strong understanding of design principles and user experience. This course may be useful for Customer Success Managers who want to improve their understanding of these concepts.
Sales Manager
Sales Managers oversee the sales of products and services. To do this, they need to have a strong understanding of design principles and user experience. This course may be useful for Sales Managers who want to improve their understanding of these concepts.
Project Manager
Project Managers oversee the development of products and services. To do this, they need to have a strong understanding of design principles and user experience. This course may be useful for Project Managers who want to improve their understanding of these concepts.
Marketing Manager
Marketing Managers develop and execute marketing campaigns. To do this, they need to have a strong understanding of design principles and user experience. This course may be useful for Marketing Managers who want to improve their understanding of these concepts.
Business Analyst
Business Analysts analyze business processes and identify opportunities for improvement. To do this, they need to have a strong understanding of design principles and user experience. This course may be useful for Business Analysts who want to improve their understanding of these concepts.

Reading list

We've selected 13 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Introduction to UI Design.
Provides practical advice on how to design user interfaces that are easy to use and understand. It classic in the field of user experience design and great resource for anyone who wants to learn more about UI design.
Explores the principles of good design and how they can be applied to everyday objects. It must-read for anyone who wants to understand the psychology of user experience.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the user interface design process. It covers everything from user research to prototyping to testing. It great resource for anyone who wants to learn more about the nuts and bolts of UI design.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the field of interaction design. It covers topics such as user research, design methods, and evaluation. It great resource for anyone who wants to learn more about the theory and practice of UI design.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the field of information architecture. It covers topics such as content strategy, navigation, and search. It great resource for anyone who wants to learn more about the organization and structure of information.
Explores the human factors of UI design and how they can be used to create more user-friendly interfaces. It great resource for anyone who wants to learn more about the psychology of UI design.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the principles of design and how they can be applied to UI design. It great resource for anyone who wants to learn more about the fundamentals of UI design.
Provides a catalog of design patterns that can be used to solve common problems in software design. It great resource for anyone who wants to learn more about the principles of object-oriented design.
Provides a fun and engaging introduction to design patterns. It great resource for anyone who wants to learn more about design patterns without getting bogged down in the details.
Provides a practical guide to writing clean and maintainable code. It great resource for anyone who wants to learn more about the principles of software development.

Share

Help others find this course page by sharing it with your friends and followers:

Similar courses

Here are nine courses similar to Introduction to UI Design.
Human-Computer Interaction II: Cognition, Context &...
Most relevant
UX Design: Research, Prototyping, Accessible Interactions
Most relevant
User Interface Design: Principles, Prototyping, Practices
Most relevant
Human-Computer Interaction I: Fundamentals & Design...
Most relevant
UX Evaluation: User Testing
Most relevant
Best Practices for iOS User Interface Design
Most relevant
Rapid Prototyping of Embedded Interface Designs
Most relevant
Principles of UX/UI Design
Visual Elements of User Interface Design
Our mission

OpenCourser helps millions of learners each year. People visit us to learn workspace skills, ace their exams, and nurture their curiosity.

Our extensive catalog contains over 50,000 courses and twice as many books. Browse by search, by topic, or even by career interests. We'll match you to the right resources quickly.

Find this site helpful? Tell a friend about us.

Affiliate disclosure

We're supported by our community of learners. When you purchase or subscribe to courses and programs or purchase books, we may earn a commission from our partners.

Your purchases help us maintain our catalog and keep our servers humming without ads.

Thank you for supporting OpenCourser.

© 2016 - 2024 OpenCourser