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Human-Centered Design

an Introduction

Scott Klemmer

In this course, you will learn how to design technologies that bring people joy, rather than frustration. You'll learn several techniques for rapidly prototyping (such as Wizard of Oz Prototyping) and evaluating multiple interface alternatives -- and why rapid prototyping and comparative evaluation are essential to excellent interaction design. You'll learn how to conduct fieldwork with people to help you get design ideas. How to make paper prototypes and low-fidelity mock-ups that are interactive -- and how to use these designs to get feedback from other stakeholders like your teammates, clients, and users. Armed with these design-thinking strategies, you’ll be able to do more creative human-centered design in any domain.

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In this course, you will learn how to design technologies that bring people joy, rather than frustration. You'll learn several techniques for rapidly prototyping (such as Wizard of Oz Prototyping) and evaluating multiple interface alternatives -- and why rapid prototyping and comparative evaluation are essential to excellent interaction design. You'll learn how to conduct fieldwork with people to help you get design ideas. How to make paper prototypes and low-fidelity mock-ups that are interactive -- and how to use these designs to get feedback from other stakeholders like your teammates, clients, and users. Armed with these design-thinking strategies, you’ll be able to do more creative human-centered design in any domain.

This is the first course offered in the interaction design specialization series. Browse through previous capstone projects for some inspiration here: https://medium.com/capstone-projects/capstone-projects-2019-abc67d3f6f26

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What's inside

Syllabus

Introduction
A brief introduction to the topics and goals of this Interaction Design Specialization
Needfinding
This module’s videos and assignment cover a really important topic: where can you get good design ideas from? Ideas that help you create meaningful designs that have a real impact on real people’s lives. Of course, good ideas come from lots of places. And wherever they come from, great. There are a few strategies I’ve found that are especially valuable, and that’s what we cover in this module’s videos. Given our focus on *real* people, we focus on going out, watching what people do, and talking to them. Check out the first video, describing participant observation. Combining observation with interviewing (the second video) provides a powerful foundation for needfinding and brainstorming.So what happens after you’ve observed a lot of stuff -- how do you connect the high-level needs to concrete design ideas? To help you bridge this gap, this module closes with a video on Creating Design Goals.
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Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Teaches methods and ideas for creating technologies that incite joy in users
Emphasizes the significance of conducting actual user research and fieldwork
Introduces diverse rapid prototyping techniques, including Wizard of Oz Prototyping
Instructs on building interactive paper prototypes and low-fidelity mock-ups
Provides strategies for validating and evaluating designs through comparative analysis
Employs a human-centered design approach that focuses on creating meaningful and impactful technologies

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Reviews summary

Practical introduction to human-centered design

According to learners, this course provides a solid introduction to Human-Centered Design principles. Students particularly praise the practical techniques taught, such as needfinding and rapid prototyping, finding they can apply concepts immediately. The course content is clear and engaging, making complex ideas accessible. However, a notable point raised by multiple students is the inconsistency of the peer review process for assignments, which can impact feedback quality. While it's considered excellent for beginners, some more experienced learners found it too basic. Overall, it's seen as a great starting point for applying HCD methods.
Most suitable for those new to design thinking concepts.
"Great for beginners in the field or those wanting a structured approach."
"If you already have some background... this might be too basic."
"Highly recommend for anyone starting out in UX or product design."
Course content is presented clearly by the instructor.
"The explanations were clear and concise."
"The instructors were engaging..."
"The videos are short and easy to digest. I liked how they covered the 'why'"
"The instructor is clear and engaging."
Provides strong foundational knowledge for HCD.
"A solid introduction to HCD."
"Brilliant foundation course."
"This is a great starting point for anyone..."
"Good introductory material."
Focuses on key HCD techniques like needfinding, prototyping.
"I particularly enjoyed the 'needfinding' module, which provided practical techniques"
"The rapid prototyping section... was very useful"
"The heuristic evaluation framework is also a valuable takeaway."
"Covers the core concepts well. Needfinding module was a highlight."
Quality of feedback on assignments varies widely.
"peer grading was occasionally inconsistent, which was frustrating."
"Peer review quality varied wildly, making it hard to get meaningful feedback"
"The peer review system... Receiving unhelpful or clearly incorrect feedback... was a major downside."
"Assignments reinforce the material, but the peer grading aspect is definitely a weak point."

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 Human-Centered Design: an Introduction with these activities:
Review the basics of information architecture
Ensure a strong foundation in organizing and structuring content for effective user experiences.
Browse courses on Information Architecture
Show steps
  • Review your notes from previous courses or online resources on information architecture
  • Complete a few practice exercises in organizing and structuring content
Review: Don't Make Me Think, Revisited: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability, Third Edition
Build a solid foundation in user experience and interaction design principles.
View Don't Make Me Think, Revisited: A Common Sense... on Amazon
Show steps
  • Read Chapter 1: Introduction
  • Read Chapter 2: The Basics of Usability
  • Complete the exercises at the end of each chapter
Attend a UX meetup
Connect with other professionals in the field and learn about the latest trends.
Browse courses on User Experience
Show steps
  • Find a UX meetup in your area
  • Attend the meetup and introduce yourself to others
  • Participate in discussions and share your own insights
Five other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all eight activities
Attend a UX design workshop
Learn from experts in the field and network with other designers.
Browse courses on User Experience
Show steps
  • Research and find a UX design workshop that aligns with your interests
  • Register for the workshop and attend all sessions
  • Participate actively in discussions and exercises
Form a study group with other students
Share knowledge and collaborate with others to enhance your learning.
Browse courses on Interaction Design
Show steps
  • Find other students in the course who are interested in forming a study group
  • Meet regularly to discuss course material, complete assignments, and prepare for exams
  • Take turns leading discussions and sharing your insights
Design critique exercises
Develop your skills in identifying and addressing common usability issues.
Browse courses on Usability Testing
Show steps
  • Find an existing website or app
  • Conduct a heuristic evaluation using the 10 usability heuristics
  • Write a report summarizing your findings and recommendations
Design prototype for a new feature
Gain hands-on experience in designing and prototyping user interfaces.
Browse courses on Prototyping
Show steps
  • Identify a problem or opportunity for a new feature
  • Sketch out a few different design concepts
  • Create a digital prototype using a tool like Figma or Adobe XD
  • Get feedback from users on your prototype
Create a design portfolio
Showcase your skills and experience in interaction design to potential employers or clients.
Browse courses on Portfolio
Show steps
  • Gather your best design work, including prototypes, case studies, and sketches
  • Create a website or online portfolio to showcase your work
  • Get feedback on your portfolio from peers or mentors

Career center

Learners who complete Human-Centered Design: an Introduction will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Interaction Designer
Interaction designers are those that focus on the interaction between users and products at the interface level. Human-Centered Design takes a user-focused approach to design, ensuring that the user experience is positive. By taking this course, you will learn how to navigate this user experience, and make it joyful. This will make you a more competitive candidate for this role.
See salaries and explore the career path for Interaction Designer
User Experience Designer
User Experience Designers optimize the experience users have with a product. Human-Centered Design courses focus on developing designs that center around the user, and what their experience should and will be like. This course will give you the foundation you need to enter this role, and excel within it.
See salaries and explore the career path for User Experience Designer
User Researcher
User Researchers analyze the actions and behaviors of users to better understand their needs, and develop personas. The Human-Centered Design course will teach you how to conduct fieldwork and create design goals based on the behaviors and needs of users. This will give you the necessary skills to excel at User Research.
See salaries and explore the career path for User Researcher
Information Architect
Information architects are responsible for structuring and organizing information to make it accessible and useful. Human-Centered Design courses focus on organizing content and structure to best fit the needs of the user, making this a useful course for those looking to become information architects.
See salaries and explore the career path for Information Architect
Product Manager
Product managers oversee the development and launch of new products. Human-Centered Design can help provide a deep understanding of the user and their needs, which can help with the development of products that solve those needs.
See salaries and explore the career path for Product Manager
Industrial Designer
Industrial designers develop the concepts for manufactured products, with a focus on aesthetics as well as functionality. Human-Centered Design courses can teach the importance of user-focused design, which can be useful in the role of Industrial Designer.
See salaries and explore the career path for Industrial Designer
Graphic designer
Graphic designers create visual concepts, using computer software or by hand, to communicate ideas that inspire, inform, and captivate consumers. Human-Centered Design courses can teach the importance of user interaction and experience, which can be useful in the role of Graphic Designer.
See salaries and explore the career path for Graphic designer
Web Designer
Web designers are responsible for the visual appearance and functionality of websites. Human-Centered Design courses teach the importance of considering the user's needs and experiences, which is essential for creating effective and user-friendly websites.
See salaries and explore the career path for Web Designer
Game Designer
Game designers are responsible for the design and development of video games. Human-Centered Design courses teach the importance of understanding the user experience and creating games that are fun and engaging.
See salaries and explore the career path for Game Designer
Architect
Architects design buildings and other structures. Human-Centered Design courses teach the importance of considering the needs of the people who will use the building, which is essential for creating functional and sustainable buildings.
See salaries and explore the career path for Architect
Interior designer
Interior designers create the interior spaces of buildings. Human-Centered Design courses teach the importance of considering the needs of the people who will use the space, which is essential for creating functional and comfortable interiors.
See salaries and explore the career path for Interior designer
Landscape Architect
Landscape architects design outdoor spaces, such as parks and gardens. Human-Centered Design courses teach the importance of considering the needs of the people who will use the space, which is essential for creating functional and enjoyable landscapes.
See salaries and explore the career path for Landscape Architect
Ergonomist
Ergonomists design products and work environments to make them more comfortable and efficient for people to use. Human-Centered Design courses teach the importance of considering the physical and cognitive needs of people, which is essential for creating ergonomic products and environments.
See salaries and explore the career path for Ergonomist
Human Factors Engineer
Human factors engineers design products and systems to make them safer and more efficient for people to use. Human-Centered Design courses teach the importance of considering the human factors of design, which is essential for creating safe and effective products and systems.
See salaries and explore the career path for Human Factors Engineer
Researcher
Researchers conduct studies to collect data and information. Human-Centered Design courses teach the importance of conducting user research to understand the needs of the people you are designing for, which is essential for creating products and services that meet their needs.
See salaries and explore the career path for Researcher

Reading list

We've selected 12 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 Human-Centered Design: an Introduction.
Cover image
Interaction Design
Save
This widely-used textbook provides an overview of the field of interaction design. It would be an excellent text to use alongside the course, or even to replace it entirely.
Interaction Design: Beyond Human-Computer...
Paperback
$$$
Interaction Design: Beyond Human-Computer...
Paperback
$$$
(Italiano) Interaction Design: Oltre l'interazione uomo...
Kindle Edition
$$
Cover image
About Face
Save
This well-regarded book great introduction to the principles and practice of interaction design. It would be a great starting point for students of the course.
About Face: The Essentials of Interaction Design
Paperback
$$
About Face: The Essentials of Interaction Design
Kindle Edition
$$
Cover image
Designing for Interaction
Save
Provides a practical guide to designing interactive systems that are both usable and enjoyable to use. It would be a great resource for students of the course who are interested in learning more about the practical aspects of interaction design.
Designing for Interaction
Paperback
Check
Designing for Interaction
Kindle Edition
Check
Cover image
Decision Making in Aviation
Save
This classic work on design provides a wealth of insights into how people interact with objects and systems. It would be a great resource for students of the course who are interested in learning more about the psychology of design.
Decision Making in Aviation (Critical Essays on...
Kindle Edition
$$$$
Cover image
Universal Principles of Design, Updated and...
Save
Provides a comprehensive overview of the principles of design. It would be a great resource for students of the course who want to learn more about the theoretical foundations of design.
Universal Principles of Design, Updated and...
Flexibound
$$
Universal Principles of Design, Updated and...
Kindle Edition
$$
Cover image
The Design of Everyday Things
Save
Explores the role of emotion in design. It would be a great resource for students of the course who are interested in learning more about how to create designs that are emotionally appealing.
The Design of Everyday Things: Revised and Expanded...
Kindle Edition
$$
Emotional Design: Why We Love (or Hate) Everyday...
Kindle Edition
$$
The Design of Everyday Things
Paperback
$$
Cover image
Hands-On UX Design for Developers
Save
Provides a practical guide to designing and developing mobile applications. It would be a great resource for students of the course who are interested in learning more about the specific challenges and opportunities of designing for mobile devices.
Hands-On UX Design for Developers
Paperback
$$
Hands-On UX Design for Developers: Design,...
Kindle Edition
$$
Cover image
Observing the User Experience
Save
Provides a detailed look at the user experience design process for mobile applications. It would be a great resource for students of the course who are interested in learning more about the specific challenges and opportunities of designing for mobile devices.
Observing the User Experience: A Practitioner's...
Kindle Edition
$$
Cover image
Sketching User Experiences: The Workbook
Save
Provides a practical guide to sketching user experiences. It would be a great resource for students of the course who want to learn more about the importance of sketching in the design process.
Sketching User Experiences: The Workbook
Paperback
$$
Sketching User Experiences: The Workbook
Kindle Edition
$
Cover image
The User Experience Team of One
Save
Provides a practical guide for UX professionals who work alone. It would be a great resource for students of the course who are interested in learning more about the challenges and opportunities of working as a solo UX practitioner.
The User Experience Team of One: A Research and...
Paperback
$$
The User Experience Team of One: A Research and...
Kindle Edition
$$
Cover image
Design Thinking
Save
Provides a practical guide to design thinking. It would be a great resource for students of the course who want to learn more about the importance of design thinking in the design process.
Design Thinking: Integrating Innovation, Customer...
Paperback
$$
Innovation by Design: How Any Organization Can...
Paperback
$$
Innovation by Design: How Any Organization Can...
Kindle Edition
$
Design Thinking: Integrating Innovation, Customer...
Kindle Edition
$$
Cover image
The Disruptive Innovation Set (2 Books)
Save
Provides a look at the challenges faced by large organizations when they try to innovate. It would be a great resource for students of the course who are interested in learning more about the challenges and opportunities of innovation in large organizations.
The Disruptive Innovation Set (2 Books)
Paperback
$$
The Disruptive Innovation Set (2 Books)
Kindle Edition
$$

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Effort
4 weeks, 3-4 hours/week
Via
Coursera
Institution
University of California San Diego
Instructor
Scott Klemmer
Language
English
Transcripts
Español Français Português Deutsch Italiano 中文 العربية 한국어 日本語 हिंदी Nederlands Svenska Pусский Türkçe Polski Ελληνικά українська мова magyar nyelv Bahasa Indonesia ไทย қазақша اُردُو, فارسی বাংলা tiếng Việt پښتو آذربایجان دیلی
This course belongs to a collection called Interaction Design. It's comprised of eight courses:
  1. User Experience: Research & Prototyping
  2. Information Design
  3. Interaction Design Capstone Project
  4. Human-Centered Design: an Introduction (viewing)
  5. Design Principles: an Introduction
  6. Designing, Running, and Analyzing Experiments
  7. Input and Interaction
  8. Social Computing
Traffic lights
Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Teaches methods and ideas for creating technologies that incite joy in users
Emphasizes the significance of conducting actual user research and fieldwork
Introduces diverse rapid prototyping techniques, including Wizard of Oz Prototyping
Instructs on building interactive paper prototypes and low-fidelity mock-ups
Provides strategies for validating and evaluating designs through comparative analysis
Employs a human-centered design approach that focuses on creating meaningful and impactful technologies
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