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Mark Newman

When designing systems that work for users, there is no substitute for watching them try to use the system to see what works and what doesn’t.

In this UX course, you will learn how to design and conduct tests with users that will tell you how effective your design is for helping users do what they need to do, and how they feel about using your system.

This course is part of the User Experience (UX) Research and Design specialization offered on Coursera.

What you'll learn:

Identify different approaches to user testing and their appropriate use

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When designing systems that work for users, there is no substitute for watching them try to use the system to see what works and what doesn’t.

In this UX course, you will learn how to design and conduct tests with users that will tell you how effective your design is for helping users do what they need to do, and how they feel about using your system.

This course is part of the User Experience (UX) Research and Design specialization offered on Coursera.

What you'll learn:

Identify different approaches to user testing and their appropriate use

Understand how to design an effective user test

Understand how to run an effective user test to get the most information possible out of each encounter

Analyze and report on user testing

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What's inside

Syllabus

What is User Testing?
User Test Basics
Getting More Out of User Testing
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Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Teaches real-world practices on designing and conducting a user test
Taught by a reputable instructor
Builds a strong foundation in user testing for beginners
Evaluates industry-best practices

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Reviews summary

Practical foundation in user testing

According to learners, this course offers a highly practical foundation in evaluating designs with users. Students appreciate the clear structure and the emphasis on hands-on assignments, particularly the opportunity to design and conduct actual user tests, which provides real-world skills applicable to UX roles. While the content is well-explained and valuable for understanding the process, some learners note that it is geared towards beginners and may lack sufficient depth for those with prior experience. Additionally, the peer review system received mixed feedback, with some finding the quality of feedback inconsistent.
Content is logical and easy to follow.
"The course structure flowed logically, making it easy to follow the process of user testing."
"I really liked the step-by-step approach to planning and conducting tests."
"The way the concepts were explained helped clarify the purpose and methods of user evaluation."
Provides skills applicable to UX roles.
"I can see myself applying the user evaluation framework taught here directly in my job."
"The course provides practical tools and strategies that I can use immediately in my work."
"Understanding these principles is fundamental for my role in product development."
Hands-on projects reinforce learning.
"Designing and running the actual user test was invaluable; I feel equipped to apply these skills immediately."
"The practical assignments are definitely the highlight; actually doing the work made the concepts click."
"I appreciated how the final project brought everything together – planning, execution, and reporting."
"Having to recruit users and run a session, even a small one, was the best practical learning experience."
Peer feedback quality varies widely.
"Getting useful feedback on assignments was hit or miss because the quality of peer reviews varied a lot."
"The peer grading system was quite frustrating for me."
"Some peer reviewers seemed to give low scores arbitrarily without helpful comments."
"My experience getting feedback through the peer review system was very mixed."
Geared towards beginners, lacks advanced depth.
"It covers the basics well, but as someone with some prior UX experience, I found myself wanting more advanced techniques."
"This course feels very much like an introduction; don't expect deep dives into complex statistical analysis."
"While useful, it's probably best suited for complete beginners in user research."

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 Evaluating Designs with Users with these activities:
Organize Course Materials
Organizing your course materials will help you stay on top of the content and improve your understanding.
Show steps
  • Review the course syllabus and identify key topics
  • Organize your notes, assignments, and other materials
  • Create a study schedule and stick to it
Review the Book 'Don't Make Me Think'
This book provides practical advice on how to improve the usability of websites and applications.
Show steps
  • Read the book
  • Take notes and highlight key concepts
  • Apply the principles to your own work
Follow UX Design Tutorials
Tutorials provide step-by-step guidance on specific UX design techniques and best practices.
Browse courses on User Interface Design
Show steps
  • Identify areas where you want to improve your UX skills
  • Find reputable UX design tutorials that cover those topics
  • Follow the tutorials carefully and practice the techniques
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Find a UX Mentor
A mentor can provide guidance and support throughout your UX journey.
Show steps
  • Research potential mentors
  • Reach out and introduce yourself
  • Set up regular meetings
Conduct UX Research Drills
Regularly conducting UX research drills will improve your understanding of user behavior and needs.
Show steps
  • Identify a specific user group and research question
  • Choose a UX research method and design the study
  • Conduct the research and analyze the results
Attend a UX Workshop
Workshops provide an immersive learning experience and allow you to network with other UX professionals.
Show steps
  • Research upcoming workshops
  • Register for a workshop that aligns with your interests
  • Attend the workshop and actively participate
Create a UX Case Study
Creating a UX case study will allow you to apply your knowledge and demonstrate your skills.
Browse courses on UX Design Process
Show steps
  • Choose a UX design project that you have worked on
  • Document the project's objectives, process, and results
  • Share your case study with others and get feedback

Career center

Learners who complete Evaluating Designs with Users will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
User Researcher
Evaluate user experience for the products you are designing and optimize them to be user-friendly with your knowledge gained in this course. As a User Researcher, you will conduct user testing to obtain insights into how users interact with the products.
UX Designer
This course in Evaluating Designs with Users will be a great asset to you as a UX Designer. You will learn how to design and conduct user tests, analyze the results, and report on your findings. This knowledge is essential for UX Designers who want to create user-friendly and effective products.
Product Manager
As a Product Manager, you will be responsible for ensuring that your product meets the needs of users. Evaluating users is a key part of this process. This course in Evaluating Designs with Users will provide you with the skills and knowledge you need to conduct effective user testing and make data-driven decisions about your product.
Interaction Designer
Interaction Designers focus on the interactions between users and products. This course in Evaluating Designs with Users will help you understand how users interact with products and how to design interactions that are both user-friendly and effective.
Information Architect
As an Information Architect, you will be responsible for designing and organizing the content on a website or other digital product. This course in Evaluating Designs with Users will help you understand how users find and use information, and how to design content that is easy to find and understand.
Service Designer
Service Designers focus on designing services that are user-friendly and effective. This course in Evaluating Designs with Users will help you understand how users experience services, and how to design services that meet their needs.
Customer Experience Researcher
As a Customer Experience Researcher, you will be responsible for evaluating the customer experience and identifying ways to improve it. This course in Evaluating Designs with Users will provide you with the skills and knowledge you need to conduct effective user testing and make data-driven decisions about the customer experience.
Human Factors Engineer
Human Factors Engineers focus on designing products and systems that are safe, usable, and efficient. This course in Evaluating Designs with Users will help you understand how users interact with products and systems and how to design them to be user-friendly and effective.
User Experience Researcher
As a User Experience Researcher, your knowledge gained from this course in Evaluating Designs with Users will excel your career. You will be able to design and conduct user tests to obtain qualitative and quantitative data to inform design decisions.
Product Owner
As a Product Owner, you will be responsible for ensuring that your product meets the needs of users. Evaluating users is a key part of this process. This course in Evaluating Designs with Users will provide you with the skills and knowledge you need to conduct effective user testing and make data-driven decisions about your product.
Software Engineer
Your career as a Software Engineer will benefit tremendously from this course in Evaluating Designs with Users. You will be able to design and implement features that are user-friendly and effective, based on feedback and data you collect from user testing.
Web Developer
This course in Evaluating Designs with Users will provide valuable knowledge for your career as a Web Developer. You will learn how to design and develop user-friendly and effective websites.
Graphic Designer
As a Graphic Designer, you may be involved in designing user interfaces for websites and other digital products. This course in Evaluating Designs with Users will help you understand how users interact with interfaces and how to design interfaces that are both user-friendly and effective.
Content Strategist
As a Content Strategist, you will be responsible for creating and managing content for websites and other digital products. This course in Evaluating Designs with Users will help you understand how users find and use content, and how to create content that is easy to find and understand.
Marketer
As a Marketer, you will be responsible for promoting products and services to potential customers. This course in Evaluating Designs with Users will help you understand how users make decisions and how to create marketing campaigns that are effective at reaching and persuading them.

Reading list

We've selected 11 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 Evaluating Designs with Users.
Classic in the field of user experience design. It provides a clear and concise overview of the user-centered design process, including user testing.
Must-read for anyone who wants to learn about web usability. It is full of practical advice on how to design websites that are easy to use and navigate.
Classic in the field of design. It provides a comprehensive overview of the principles of good design, including how to design products that are easy to use and understand.
Provides a comprehensive overview of cognitive engineering. It covers a wide range of topics, including human factors, and provides many helpful tips and examples.
Classic in the field of information architecture. It provides a comprehensive overview of the principles of information architecture, including how to design websites that are easy to navigate and find information.
Classic in the field of usability engineering. It provides a comprehensive overview of the principles of usability engineering, including how to design products that are easy to use and understand.
Practical guide to usability testing. It covers a wide range of topics, including planning, conducting, and analyzing usability tests.
Provides a comprehensive overview of user experience design. It covers a wide range of topics, including user testing, and provides many helpful tips and examples.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the psychology of human-computer interaction. It covers a wide range of topics, including user testing, and provides many helpful tips and examples.

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