Foundations of User Experience (UX) Design from Coursera

Foundations of User Experience (UX) Design is the first of a series of seven courses that will equip you with the skills needed to apply to entry-level jobs in user experience design. UX designers focus on the interactions that people have with products like websites, mobile apps, and physical objects. UX designers make those everyday interactions usable, enjoyable, and accessible. The role of an entry-level UX designer might include empathizing with users, defining their pain points, coming up with ideas for design solutions, creating wireframes, prototypes, and mockups, and testing designs to get feedback.

Current UX designers and researchers at Google will serve as your instructors, and you will complete hands-on activities that simulate real-world UX design scenarios.

Learners who complete the seven courses in this certificate program should be equipped to apply for entry-level jobs as UX designers. No previous experience is necessary.

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

- Define the field of UX and explain why it’s important for consumers and businesses.

- Understand foundational concepts in UX design, such as user-centered design, the design thinking framework, accessibility, and equity-focused design.

- Identify the factors that contribute to great user experience design.

- Review common job responsibilities of entry-level UX designers and teams that they work with.

- Explore job opportunities and career paths within the field of user experience.

- Explain why design sprints are an important and useful part of a UX designer’s work.

- Describe common UX research methods.

- Identify and account for biases in UX research.

What's inside

Syllabus

Introducing user experience design

User experience (UX) designers focus on the experience that users have while using products like websites, apps, and physical objects. UX designers make those everyday interactions useful, enjoyable, and accessible. In the first part of this course, you'll be introduced to the world of UX and the factors that contribute to great user experience design. You'll understand the job of a UX designer and teams that UX designers often work with. You’ll also get to know more about the expectations of the Google UX Design Certificate.

Thinking like a UX designer

UX designers always put the user first. In this part of the course, you'll be introduced to user-centered design and one of the design frameworks that UX designers use on the job. You'll also learn about design best practices, including the importance of inclusive design and accessibility when designing. In addition, you'll learn how to think across platforms to design seamless user experiences.

Joining design sprints

UX designers often participate in design sprints to define the direction of a product. In this part of the course, you'll explore the world of design sprints, including the phases of a design sprint and how to plan and participate in one. You'll also learn about retrospectives, which is a way to constructively reflect on a design sprint and identify areas of improvement to implement next time.

Integrating research into the design process

As a UX designer, it's your job to put the user front-and-center in everything you do. In this part of the course, you'll explore the role of research in the design process to help you better understand and empathize with users. You'll also learn about the benefits and drawbacks of common UX research methods. And, you'll identify and account for biases that can arise when conducting research.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Focuses on the experience people have with interactive products

Taught by current designers and researchers at Google

Completers should be equipped to apply for entry-level jobs as UX designers

Covers foundational concepts in UX design, such as user-centered design, the design thinking framework, accessibility, and equity-focused design

Provides hands-on activities that simulate real-world UX design scenarios

Explores job opportunities and career paths within the field of user experience

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 Foundations of User Experience (UX) Design with these activities:

Review the Basics of UX

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Review basic UX design concepts and principles to strengthen your foundation before starting the course.

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Read articles or blog posts on UX design basics.
Watch introductory videos or tutorials on UX design.
Attend a free online webinar or workshop on UX design.

Follow UX Design Tutorials on Coursera or YouTube

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Enhance your UX design knowledge and skills by following guided tutorials and learning from experts in the field.

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Search for UX design tutorials on Coursera, YouTube, or other online platforms.
Choose tutorials that cover specific topics you want to learn more about.
Follow the tutorials step-by-step and complete any exercises or assignments.

Read 'Don't Make Me Think' by Steve Krug

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Gain insights into user-centered design and usability from this classic book on UX design.

View Don't Make Me Think, Revisited: A Common Sense... on Amazon

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Read the book and take notes on key concepts.
Discuss the book's ideas with classmates or colleagues.

Three other activities

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Form a Study Group with Classmates

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Collaborate with classmates to discuss course material, work on projects together, and support each other's learning.

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Find a few classmates who are interested in forming a study group.
Set regular meeting times and stick to them.
Take turns leading discussions and presenting on different topics.

Design Your Own User Interface for a Simple App

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Apply UX design principles to a hands-on project and create a user interface for a simple app, such as a calculator or to-do list.

Browse courses on User Interface Design

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Identify the target users and their needs.
Sketch out a few wireframes.
Create a prototype using a design tool.
Test your prototype with real users and gather feedback.

Create a UX Design Portfolio

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Build a portfolio to showcase your UX design skills and highlight your best work.

Browse courses on UX Portfolio

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Select your strongest UX design projects to include in your portfolio.
Create case studies for each project, outlining the problem, your approach, and the results.
Design a visually appealing and easy-to-navigate portfolio website.
Share your portfolio with potential employers and clients.

Career center

Learners who complete Foundations of User Experience (UX) Design will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Interaction Designer

Interaction designers are responsible for designing the way that people interact with products and services. They focus on creating user interfaces that are easy to use, efficient, and enjoyable. This course can help you develop the skills you need to become a successful interaction designer. You will learn about the principles of user-centered design, how to conduct user research, and how to create wireframes and prototypes.

See salaries and explore the career path for Interaction Designer

Usability Analyst

Usability analysts are responsible for evaluating the usability of products and services. They identify areas for improvement and make recommendations to improve the user experience. This course can help you develop the skills you need to become a successful usability analyst. You will learn about the principles of usability, how to conduct usability testing, and how to analyze data.

See salaries and explore the career path for Usability Analyst

User Researcher

User researchers are responsible for understanding the needs and wants of users. They conduct research to identify pain points and come up with solutions to improve the user experience. This course can help you develop the skills you need to become a successful user researcher. You will learn about the different methods of user research, how to analyze data, and how to present your findings.

See salaries and explore the career path for User Researcher

Content Strategist

Content strategists are responsible for planning, creating, and managing content for websites, apps, and other digital products. They work with stakeholders to identify content needs, develop content strategy, and create content that meets the needs of users. This course can help you develop the skills you need to become a successful content strategist. You will learn about the principles of content strategy, how to conduct content audits, and how to create content that is effective and engaging.

See salaries and explore the career path for Content Strategist

Information Architect

Information architects are responsible for organizing and structuring information in a way that is easy to find and use. They work on websites, apps, and other digital products. This course can help you develop the skills you need to become a successful information architect. You will learn about the principles of information architecture, how to create sitemaps, and how to organize content.

See salaries and explore the career path for Information Architect

Visual Designer

Visual designers are responsible for the visual appearance of products and services. They create visuals that are aesthetically pleasing and communicate the product's message effectively. This course can help you develop the skills you need to become a successful visual designer. You will learn about the principles of visual design, how to use design software, and how to create visuals that are effective and engaging.

See salaries and explore the career path for Visual Designer

Product Designer

Product designers are responsible for the overall design of products and services. They work with stakeholders to identify product needs, develop product strategy, and create products that meet the needs of users. This course can help you develop the skills you need to become a successful product designer. You will learn about the principles of product design, how to conduct user research, and how to create products that are innovative and user-friendly.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Designer

Project Manager

Project managers are responsible for planning, executing, and closing projects. They work with stakeholders to identify project goals, develop project plans, and manage project resources. This course can help you develop the skills you need to become a successful project manager. You will learn about the principles of project management, how to develop project plans, and how to manage project resources.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager

Business Analyst

Business analysts are responsible for understanding the business needs of an organization and translating those needs into technical requirements. They work with stakeholders to identify business objectives, develop business requirements, and create business process models. This course can help you develop the skills you need to become a successful business analyst. You will learn about the principles of business analysis, how to conduct business analysis, and how to create business process models.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Marketing Manager

Marketing managers are responsible for planning and executing marketing campaigns. They work with stakeholders to identify marketing goals, develop marketing strategy, and create marketing materials. This course can help you develop the skills you need to become a successful marketing manager. You will learn about the principles of marketing, how to conduct market research, and how to create marketing campaigns that are effective and engaging.

See salaries and explore the career path for Marketing Manager

Technical Writer

Technical writers are responsible for creating user manuals, help files, and other documentation. They work with subject matter experts to understand the product or service, and then write documentation that is clear, concise, and easy to understand. This course may be useful for you if you are interested in becoming a technical writer. You will learn about the principles of technical writing, how to write user manuals, and how to write help files.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Writer

Quality Assurance Analyst

Quality assurance analysts are responsible for testing products and services to ensure that they meet quality standards. They work with stakeholders to identify quality requirements, develop test plans, and execute tests. This course may be useful for you if you are interested in becoming a quality assurance analyst. You will learn about the principles of quality assurance, how to develop test plans, and how to execute tests.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quality Assurance Analyst

Software Engineer

Software engineers are responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining software applications. They work with stakeholders to identify software requirements, design software architectures, and write code. This course may be useful for you if you are interested in becoming a software engineer. You will learn about the principles of software engineering, how to design software architectures, and how to write code.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineer

Data Analyst

Data analysts are responsible for collecting, cleaning, and analyzing data to identify trends and patterns. They work with stakeholders to identify data needs, develop data analysis plans, and create data visualizations. This course may be useful for you if you are interested in becoming a data analyst. You will learn about the principles of data analysis, how to collect data, and how to analyze data.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst

UX Writer

UX writers are responsible for writing the text that users see on websites, apps, and other digital products. They work with stakeholders to identify user needs, develop content strategy, and create content that is clear, concise, and easy to understand. This course will be useful for you if you are interested in becoming a UX writer. You will learn about the principles of UX writing, how to write for different audiences, and how to create content that is effective and engaging.

See salaries and explore the career path for UX Writer