User Experience Design Fundamentals from Pluralsight

Users no longer just want software that works. They also want to enjoy using it. This course will teach you the fundamentals of user experience design that you’ll need to build software in a user-centric way.

In recent years, there’s been a shift in how and why we develop software, moving away from “it works” and moving towards “it works and it’s enjoyable to use.” The user is now at the center of the software we build, and user experience, or UX, is everything. But what exactly does that mean? How do you design, build, test, and quantify an experience for your users? In this course, User Experience Design Fundamentals, I’ll teach you the core concepts of UX and how it fits within the context of software development. First, you’ll learn basic terminology, concepts, and roles for UX work. Next, you’ll discover the different steps in the UX process–from research to information architecture, visual design to usability testing. Finally, you’ll review some case studies of how UX has been applied at real-world companies. When you’re finished with the course, you’ll have a foundational understanding of what UX is and how to incorporate user-first practices into your projects.

What's inside

Syllabus

Course Overview

Getting Started

UX Design Terminology and Principles

Roles in UX

The UX Process: Company and Industry Research

The UX Process: User Research

The UX Process: Information Architecture

The UX Process: Wireframing and Visual Design

The UX Process: Usability Testing

Course Summary and Next Steps

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Covers fundamentals of UX, a field that is highly relevant to software development

Helps develop UX practices that put users first

Examines core concepts of UX, such as terminology, principles, and roles

Delves into various steps of the UX process, including research, architecture, and testing

Features case studies that showcase real-world applications of UX

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 User Experience Design Fundamentals with these activities:

Read Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman

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Gain insights into the principles of user-centered design.

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

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Purchase the book or borrow it from a library
Read the book thoroughly
Take notes and highlight important passages
Summarize the key concepts

Follow the Figma UX Design Course

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Solidify foundational understanding of Figma and UX design principles.

Browse courses on Figma

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Enroll in the Figma UX Design Course
Watch the video lessons
Complete the practice exercises
Create a portfolio of UX wireframes

Create a UX case study

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Apply UX principles to a real-world design problem.

Browse courses on User Research

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Identify a design problem
Conduct user research
Develop a UX solution
Document the case study

Two other activities

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Show all five activities

Contribute to open source UX projects

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Gain practical experience and collaborate with the UX community.

Browse courses on Open Source

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Find a suitable open source UX project to contribute to
Contact the project maintainers and express your interest
Review the project documentation and codebase
Make a code contribution

Design and build a UX portfolio project

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Create a tangible demonstration of your UX skills.

Browse courses on UX Portfolio

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Identify a project idea that aligns with your interests
Develop a project plan
Conduct user research
Design and build the project

Career center

Learners who complete User Experience Design Fundamentals will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

User Experience Designer

User Experience Designers, or UX Designers, are responsible for the user interface and user experience of websites and applications. They work to create products that are both useful and enjoyable to use. This course can help you build a foundation in UX design principles, which will be essential for your success in this role. You'll learn about the different steps in the UX process, from research to testing, and you'll gain hands-on experience with UX design tools and techniques.

See salaries and explore the career path for User Experience Designer

Product Designer

Product Designers are responsible for the overall design and development of products. They work with UX designers, engineers, and other stakeholders to create products that meet the needs of users. This course can help you build a strong foundation in UX design principles, which will be essential for your success as a Product Designer. You'll learn about the different steps in the product development process, and you'll gain hands-on experience with UX design tools and techniques.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Designer

Usability Engineer

Usability Engineers are responsible for testing the usability of websites and applications. They work with UX designers and engineers to identify and fix usability problems. This course can help you build a foundation in UX design principles, which will be essential for your success as a Usability Engineer. You'll learn about the different methods for testing usability, and you'll gain hands-on experience with UX design tools and techniques.

See salaries and explore the career path for Usability Engineer

Front-End Developer

Front-End Developers are responsible for the design and development of the user interface of websites and applications. They work with UX designers to create products that are both visually appealing and easy to use. This course can help you build a foundation in UX design principles, which will be essential for your success as a Front-End Developer. You'll learn about the different elements of UX design, and you'll gain hands-on experience with UX design tools and techniques.

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

Interaction Designer

Interaction Designers are responsible for the design of the interactions between users and products. They work with UX designers and engineers to create products that are both intuitive and enjoyable to use. This course can help you build a foundation in UX design principles, which will be essential for your success as an Interaction Designer. You'll learn about the different elements of UX design, and you'll gain hands-on experience with UX design tools and techniques.

See salaries and explore the career path for Interaction Designer

Information Architect

Information Architects are responsible for the organization and structure of information on websites and applications. They work with UX designers to create products that are easy to navigate and find information. This course can help you build a foundation in UX design principles, which will be essential for your success as an Information Architect. You'll learn about the different elements of UX design, and you'll gain hands-on experience with UX design tools and techniques.

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Visual Designer

Visual Designers are responsible for the visual design of websites and applications. They work with UX designers to create products that are both visually appealing and easy to use. This course can help you build a foundation in UX design principles, which will be essential for your success as a Visual Designer. You'll learn about the different elements of UX design, and you'll gain hands-on experience with UX design tools and techniques.

See salaries and explore the career path for Visual Designer

Content Strategist

Content Strategists are responsible for the planning, creation, and management of content on websites and applications. They work with UX designers to create products that are easy to understand and use. This course can help you build a foundation in UX design principles, which will be essential for your success as a Content Strategist. You'll learn about the different elements of UX design, and you'll gain hands-on experience with UX design tools and techniques.

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Business Analyst

Business Analysts are responsible for gathering and analyzing business requirements. They work with UX designers to create products that meet the needs of businesses. This course may be useful for you if you're interested in a career in business analysis. You'll learn about the different elements of UX design, and you'll gain hands-on experience with UX design tools and techniques.

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Project Manager

Project Managers are responsible for the planning and execution of projects. They work with UX designers to ensure that projects are completed on time and within budget. This course may be useful for you if you're interested in a career in project management. You'll learn about the different elements of UX design, and you'll gain hands-on experience with UX design tools and techniques.

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Marketing Manager

Marketing Managers are responsible for the planning and execution of marketing campaigns. They work with UX designers to create products that are appealing to target audiences. This course may be useful for you if you're interested in a career in marketing. You'll learn about the different elements of UX design, and you'll gain hands-on experience with UX design tools and techniques.

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Graphic designer

Graphic Designers are responsible for the creation of visual content. They work with UX designers to create products that are visually appealing. This course may be useful for you if you're interested in a career in graphic design. You'll learn about the different elements of UX design, and you'll gain hands-on experience with UX design tools and techniques.

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Software Engineer

Software Engineers are responsible for the design, development, and testing of software. They work with UX designers to create products that are both functional and easy to use. This course may be useful for you if you're interested in a career in software engineering. You'll learn about the different elements of UX design, and you'll gain hands-on experience with UX design tools and techniques.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineer

Data Analyst

Data Analysts are responsible for the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data. They work with UX designers to create products that are based on user data. This course may be useful for you if you're interested in a career in data analysis. You'll learn about the different elements of UX design, and you'll gain hands-on experience with UX design tools and techniques.

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Technical Writer

Technical Writers are responsible for the creation of technical documentation. They work with UX designers to create products that are easy to understand and use. This course may be useful for you if you're interested in a career in technical writing. You'll learn about the different elements of UX design, and you'll gain hands-on experience with UX design tools and techniques.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Writer