Product Design, Prototyping, and Testing from edX

Designing the customer and user experience is essential to creating great products today. Gone is the old paradigm of “form follows function” model of design. The process must be iterative and follow the best product design and development processes. While designing a great user experience can be a lengthy and expensive process, there are approaches to doing it faster and smarter, without compromising results.

This essential product management course explains key design thinking principles around personas, story mapping, and prototyping. Product managers need to know and appreciate product designer tools and processes. By combining these principles with good scrum processes, you’ll learn to create great products that don’t sacrifice design for functionality or feasibility.

This course enables students to transition from ideas to prototyping and concept testing of their products and services. Students learn how best to effectively translate ideas into marketable offerings so that the best product and service ideas are harnessed and create real value for customers and the organization. Emphasis is placed on an integrated and interdisciplinary approach to engineering design, concurrent engineering, design for manufacturing, industrial design, and the business of new product development. Topics include design methods, modeling and simulation, material and manufacturing process selection, platform and modular design, mass customization, planning and scheduling.

What you'll learn

Development processes and organizations. The customer needs process, Lean UX, diagrams, sketches, wireframes, prototypes, and emerging technologies.
Concept generation and selection. Defining product specifications, establishing target specifications, and setting the final specifications.
Product design and architecture. Industrial design, design for the environment, and design for manufacturing.
Principles of prototyping and user experience. Planning for prototyping, service design, mapping the user experience, and anatomy of an experience map.
Wireframing and prototyping models. Product architecture, choosing a wireframing/UX prototyping tool, Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC) and Web Design Lifecycle, and open source.
Robust design considerations. Robust design process and version control.
Testing and troubleshooting. Red team and blue team, recovering from disaster, and strategies for recovery.
Project management. Guidelines for project planning and project execution.

What's inside

Learning objectives

the customer needs process, lean ux, diagrams, sketches, wireframes, prototypes, and emerging technologies.
defining product specifications, establishing target specifications, and setting the final specifications.
industrial design, design for the environment, and design for manufacturing.
planning for prototyping, service design, mapping the user experience, and anatomy of an experience map.

product architecture, choosing a wireframing/ux prototyping tool, software development lifecycle (sdlc) and web design lifecycle, and open source.
robust design process and version control.
red team and blue team, recovering from disaster, and strategies for recovery.
guidelines for project planning and project execution.

the customer needs process, lean ux, diagrams, sketches, wireframes, prototypes, and emerging technologies.
defining product specifications, establishing target specifications, and setting the final specifications.
industrial design, design for the environment, and design for manufacturing.
planning for prototyping, service design, mapping the user experience, and anatomy of an experience map.
product architecture, choosing a wireframing/ux prototyping tool, software development lifecycle (sdlc) and web design lifecycle, and open source.
robust design process and version control.
red team and blue team, recovering from disaster, and strategies for recovery.
guidelines for project planning and project execution.

Syllabus

Module 1: Development Processes and Organizations

Module 2: Concept Generation and Selection

Module 3: Product Design and Architecture

Module 4: Principles of Prototyping and User Experience

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Likely a good fit for PMs and UX designers who need some refreshing or who are looking for a solid foundation in product design and development

Emphasizes the importance of wireframing and prototyping for effective product design and development

Covers topics such as Lean UX, user experience mapping, and the software development lifecycle, which are relevant to modern product design processes

Taught by Cait von Schnetlage, an experienced product manager and UX designer, providing insights from industry

Covers concepts such as industrial design, design for manufacturing, and robust design, which are essential for product engineers and industrial designers

Includes hands-on exercises and assignments to reinforce learning and provide practical experience

Reviews summary

Foundational product design & prototyping overview

According to learners, this course provides a strong conceptual framework and a good foundation in product design principles, prototyping, and testing. Many find the content on Lean UX, user experience mapping, and concept generation to be invaluable and immediately applicable. It's generally considered a useful introduction for those new to product roles or seeking a refresher. However, some students with prior experience note that the course tends to skim the surface, suggesting a lack of depth in advanced topics like robust design, detailed user testing methodologies, or emerging technologies. While lectures are clear, a recurring sentiment is a desire for more hands-on application and practical examples beyond the theoretical overview.

Well-suited for new product roles or career transitions.

"A must-take for anyone entering product management or wanting to formalize their product design knowledge."

"I feel it's well-suited for beginners or those transitioning into product roles."

"As someone who needed a refresher on product design best practices, this course hit the mark."

Valuable insights in Lean UX and concept generation.

"The emphasis on user experience mapping and concept generation was invaluable. I particularly liked the structured approach to defining specifications."

"The Lean UX module was a game-changer for me. I also found the sections on Red team and Blue team testing incredibly insightful."

"The segment on defining product specifications was particularly helpful for my role."

Provides a comprehensive introduction to product design.

"This course provided a good foundation in product design principles, especially the sections on Lean UX and prototyping models."

"Overall, a useful course. It gives a broad understanding of the product development lifecycle from ideation to testing."

"I found this course to be a strong conceptual framework, which is exactly what I needed."

Reviewers wish for more practical exercises.

"I found some parts, particularly around robust design and testing, a bit theoretical and lacking in hands-on application for real-world scenarios."

"I expected more hands-on exercises or challenges to solidify the prototyping aspects."

"It's good for a conceptual understanding but not for hands-on skill building."

May be too high-level for experienced professionals.

"Disappointing. The course promises a lot but delivers an overly high-level overview."

"For someone with some prior experience, it might feel a bit basic. I was hoping for more advanced techniques."

"Some topics could benefit from more practical examples or a dedicated lab...don't expect to become an expert without further study."

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 Product Design, Prototyping, and Testing with these activities:

Read: Design of Everyday Things

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Build a solid foundation for user experience by reviewing key principles from a thought leader in the field.

View Design for a Better World: Meaningful,... on Amazon

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Acquire a copy of the book.
Read the book, taking notes on key concepts and insights.
Summarize the book's main arguments and how they relate to the course material.

Review Prototyping Tools

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Ensure your proficiency by reviewing the latest tools and techniques used for prototyping.

Browse courses on Prototyping

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Explore popular prototyping tools such as Figma, Adobe XD, and InVision.
Review online tutorials or documentation on these tools.
Experiment with different prototyping features and techniques.

Reach Out to UX Professionals for Mentorship

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Accelerate your learning by connecting with UX professionals who can provide guidance, support, and industry insights.

Browse courses on UX Design

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Identify UX professionals in your network or through online platforms.
Craft a personalized message introducing yourself and expressing your interest in mentorship.
Schedule a meeting to discuss your goals and expectations.

Six other activities

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Show all nine activities

Learn UX Wireframing with Figma

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Gain practical experience with a popular wireframing tool to enhance your understanding of UX design principles.

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Sign up for a Figma account.
Follow a Figma tutorial on basic wireframing.
Create a simple wireframe prototype of a website or app.

Conduct a User Interview with a Peer

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Gain first-hand experience in understanding user needs and perspectives by conducting an interview with a peer.

Browse courses on User Research

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Identify a peer to interview.
Develop a set of interview questions.
Conduct the interview and take notes.
Analyze the interview data and identify key insights.

Contribute to Open-Source UX Projects

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Gain practical experience and enhance your portfolio by making contributions to open-source UX projects that align with your interests.

Browse courses on UX Design

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Identify open-source UX projects that you are interested in contributing to.
Review the project's documentation and contribution guidelines.
Identify an area where you can make a contribution.
Make your contributions and submit a pull request.

Design a Prototype for a Product or Service

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Apply your learning by creating a tangible representation of a product or service, enabling you to iterate on your designs based on feedback.

Browse courses on Prototyping

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Identify a product or service concept to design for.
Create a storyboard or user flow to map out the user experience.
Design a prototype using a tool like Figma or Adobe XD.
Test your prototype with users and gather feedback.
Refine your prototype based on feedback.

Participate in a UX Design Competition

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Challenge yourself by participating in a competition to showcase your skills, expand your network, and gain valuable feedback from industry experts.

Browse courses on UX Design

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Research and identify relevant UX design competitions.
Develop a strong design concept and prototype.
Submit your entry and present your design to a panel of judges.

Create a UX Case Study

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Demonstrate your mastery of UX design principles by writing a case study that documents your process, challenges, and outcomes of a real-world project.

Browse courses on UX Design

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Identify a successful UX design project you have worked on.
Gather and organize relevant data and artifacts.
Write a compelling narrative that describes the problem, solution, and impact of the project.
Edit and refine your case study for clarity and impact.

Career center

Learners who complete Product Design, Prototyping, and Testing will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Product Manager

In this role, you will be responsible for the development and execution of product strategy, as well as the coordination of cross-functional teams. This course will help you build a foundation in product design, prototyping, and testing, which are essential skills for success in product management. You will learn how to identify customer needs, develop product requirements, and create prototypes and test them with users.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Manager

Product Designer

Product designers are responsible for the user experience of a product, from its initial conception to its final release. This course will teach you the principles of product design, prototyping, and testing, which are essential for success in this role. You will learn how to create user-centered designs, develop prototypes, and test them with users. This course will also help you build a portfolio of your work, which is essential for getting a job as a product designer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Designer

UX Designer

UX designers are responsible for the user experience, and they work closely with product managers and product designers to ensure that products are easy to use and enjoyable. This course will teach you the principles of UX design, prototyping, and testing, which are essential for success in this role. You will learn how to create user-centered designs, develop prototypes, and test them with users. This course will also help you build a portfolio of your work, which is essential for getting a job as a UX designer.

See salaries and explore the career path for UX Designer

Front-End Developer

Front-end developers are responsible for the design and implementation of the user interface of a product. This course will teach you the principles of front-end development, prototyping, and testing, which are essential for success in this role. You will learn how to create user-centered designs, develop prototypes, and test them with users. This course will also help you build a portfolio of your work, which is essential for getting a job as a front-end developer.

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

Software Engineer

Software engineers are responsible for the design, development, and testing of software applications. This course will teach you the principles of software engineering, prototyping, and testing, which are essential for success in this role. You will learn how to create user-centered designs, develop prototypes, and test them with users. This course will also help you build a portfolio of your work, which is essential for getting a job as a software engineer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineer

Quality Assurance Analyst

Quality assurance analysts are responsible for testing software applications to ensure that they meet the requirements of the customer. This course will teach you the principles of quality assurance, prototyping, and testing, which are essential for success in this role. You will learn how to create test plans, execute tests, and report defects. This course will also help you build a portfolio of your work, which is essential for getting a job as a quality assurance analyst.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quality Assurance Analyst

Technical Writer

Technical writers are responsible for creating documentation for software applications. This course will teach you the principles of technical writing, prototyping, and testing, which are essential for success in this role. You will learn how to create user manuals, white papers, and other technical documentation. This course will also help you build a portfolio of your work, which is essential for getting a job as a technical writer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Writer

User Researcher

User researchers are responsible for conducting research to understand the needs of users. This course will teach you the principles of user research, prototyping, and testing, which are essential for success in this role. You will learn how to conduct interviews, surveys, and other user research methods. This course will also help you build a portfolio of your work, which is essential for getting a job as a user researcher.

See salaries and explore the career path for User Researcher

Interaction Designer

Interaction designers are responsible for designing the user interface of a product. This course will teach you the principles of interaction design, prototyping, and testing, which are essential for success in this role. You will learn how to create user-centered designs, develop prototypes, and test them with users. This course will also help you build a portfolio of your work, which is essential for getting a job as an interaction designer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Interaction Designer

Industrial Designer

Industrial designers are responsible for the design of physical products. This course will teach you the principles of industrial design, prototyping, and testing, which are essential for success in this role. You will learn how to create user-centered designs, develop prototypes, and test them with users. This course will also help you build a portfolio of your work, which is essential for getting a job as an industrial designer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Industrial Designer

Ergonomist

Ergonomists are responsible for designing products and workplaces to be comfortable and efficient for users. This course will teach you the principles of ergonomics, prototyping, and testing, which are essential for success in this role. You will learn how to create user-centered designs, develop prototypes, and test them with users. This course will also help you build a portfolio of your work, which is essential for getting a job as an ergonomist.

See salaries and explore the career path for Ergonomist

Design Engineer

Design engineers are responsible for the design and development of products. This course will teach you the principles of design engineering, prototyping, and testing, which are essential for success in this role. You will learn how to create user-centered designs, develop prototypes, and test them with users. This course will also help you build a portfolio of your work, which is essential for getting a job as a design engineer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Design Engineer

Manufacturing Engineer

Manufacturing engineers are responsible for the design and implementation of manufacturing processes. This course will teach you the principles of manufacturing engineering, prototyping, and testing, which are essential for success in this role. You will learn how to create user-centered designs, develop prototypes, and test them with users. This course will also help you build a portfolio of your work, which is essential for getting a job as a manufacturing engineer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Manufacturing Engineer

Materials Scientist

Materials scientists are responsible for the development and testing of new materials. This course will teach you the principles of materials science, prototyping, and testing, which are essential for success in this role. You will learn how to create user-centered designs, develop prototypes, and test them with users. This course will also help you build a portfolio of your work, which is essential for getting a job as a materials scientist.

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Project Manager

Project managers are responsible for the planning, execution, and control of projects. This course will teach you the principles of project management, prototyping, and testing, which are essential for success in this role. You will learn how to create project plans, manage budgets, and track progress. This course will also help you build a portfolio of your work, which is essential for getting a job as a project manager.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager