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Getting Started in UX Design

Kurt Krumme

User Experience Design has exploded in popularity and needs talented practitioners in the field. This course will help you understand what UX designers do, how they do it, and how you can get started in the field.

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User Experience Design has exploded in popularity and needs talented practitioners in the field. This course will help you understand what UX designers do, how they do it, and how you can get started in the field.

Ever wonder why somethings are fun to use and some are almost painful? Ever wonder if you could have done a better job designing that thing? If so, Getting Started in UX Design was made for you. First, you'll learn about what User Experience designers actually do. Next, you'll follow that up with a simple process you can apply to any UX problem and then look at some of the tools you can use in that process. Finally, you'll discover some practical tips for how you can get started in the field. When you're finished with this course, you'll know how to identify and approach UX problems, and most importantly, how to solve them.

This course is no longer available. Find something similar by browsing:
User Experience Design UX Design Process UI Design Usability Testing Career Development Figma Adobe XD

What's inside

Syllabus

Course Overview
Are You Already a UX Designer?
How UX Designers Do Their Work
Okay, But What Do You Actually DO Here?
Read more

Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Provides foundational knowledge about UX design, making it great for those completely new to the field
Assists in transitioning into a UX career, from beginner level
Utilizes a practical approach, suitable for individuals seeking hands-on learning

Save this course

Create your own learning path. Save this course to your list so you can find it easily later.
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Reviews summary

Comprehensive introduction to ux design

According to learners, "Getting Started in UX Design" is a highly recommended and excellent foundational course for anyone new to the field. Students particularly praise its ability to demystify UX design by providing a clear roadmap and explaining complex concepts simply. The instructor's engaging delivery and passion for the subject are frequently highlighted. While the course provides a strong conceptual framework and valuable career advice for aspiring professionals, some learners note it is more theoretical than practical, with less focus on deep dives into tools or extensive hands-on projects. It's ideally suited for absolute beginners seeking an accessible overview.
Offers practical tips and advice for starting a UX career.
"The career advice at the end was invaluable."
"I feel much more confident about pursuing UX as a career after taking this."
"The practical tips for starting a career are very helpful."
Instructor explains complex topics simply and engagingly.
"The instructor explains complex concepts in a very simple and engaging way."
"The instructor's passion for the subject shines through."
"The lecturer is clear and concise. This course successfully explains the 'why' and 'what' of UX design..."
Provides a clear and accessible entry into UX design.
"This course is absolutely fantastic for anyone trying to get into UX."
"As someone with no prior design experience, this course was perfect. It demystified UX design and provided a clear roadmap."
"A really solid introduction to UX... Good for absolute beginners."
"Excellent foundational course! It covers the essentials of UX design very well."
May be too basic for those with prior design knowledge.
"Good for absolute beginners, maybe."
"If you already have some understanding of design, you might find it too basic."
"Not for intermediate learners."
Lacks in-depth tools or hands-on project experience.
"If you're looking for deep dives into tools like Figma or hands-on projects, this isn't it. It's more theoretical than practical..."
"I was hoping for more practical application and case studies. It felt like a long orientation rather than a course that teaches tangible skills."
"It lacked the hands-on element that would make concepts stick. I needed more practical exercises."

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 Getting Started in UX Design with these activities:
Follow a UX design tutorial series
Follow a comprehensive UX design tutorial series to learn the fundamentals of the field and build a solid foundation.
Show steps
  • Choose a reputable UX design tutorial series.
  • Complete the tutorials in the series.
  • Apply the concepts you've learned to your own UX design projects.
Join a UX design study group
Join a UX design study group to collaborate with other students and learn from each other's experiences.
Show steps
  • Find a UX design study group that meets your schedule and learning needs.
  • Attend study group meetings regularly.
  • Participate in discussions and share your knowledge and experience.
  • Work together on UX design projects.
Solve wireframing exercises
Practice wireframing techniques by completing a series of exercises that focus on different aspects of UX design.
Show steps
  • Use a wireframing tool to create a variety of wireframes.
  • Evaluate the usability of your wireframes and make improvements.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Conduct a website usability review
Create a wireframe for a website that focuses on improving the user experience. Consider factors like navigation, readability, and visual hierarchy.
Browse courses on Heuristics
Show steps
  • Identify the key principles of web usability.
  • Conduct a user survey or interview to gather feedback and identify usability issues.
  • Create a report outlining your findings and recommendations for improvement.
Attend a UX design workshop
Attend a UX design workshop to learn from experienced professionals and network with other UX designers.
Show steps
  • Research and find a UX design workshop that aligns with your interests and goals.
  • Register for the workshop and attend all sessions.
  • Participate actively in discussions and exercises.
  • Connect with other UX designers and learn from their experiences.
  • Apply the knowledge and skills gained from the workshop to your own UX design work.
Contribute to an open-source UX design project
Contribute to an open-source UX design project to gain practical experience and build your portfolio.
Show steps
  • Find an open-source UX design project that interests you.
  • Join the project community and introduce yourself.
  • Identify an area where you can contribute to the project.
  • Make a pull request with your contributions.
  • Collaborate with other contributors to improve the project.
Enter a UX design competition
Enter a UX design competition to challenge yourself and demonstrate your skills to potential employers.
Show steps
  • Find a UX design competition that aligns with your interests and goals.
  • Brainstorm and develop a UX design solution for the competition.
  • Create a portfolio that showcases your work.
  • Submit your entry to the competition.
  • Attend the awards ceremony and learn from the winners.

Career center

Learners who complete Getting Started in UX Design will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
UX Designer
UX Designers are responsible for designing the user experience of products and services. They work with other designers, engineers, and stakeholders to create products that are easy to use and enjoyable to use.
See salaries and explore the career path for UX Designer
User Researcher
User Researchers are responsible for understanding user behavior, motivations, and needs. They conduct UX research, such as surveys and interviews, to gather data about users and their experiences. This course is highly synergistic with User Researcher work. The skills and knowledge covered in this course help to equip future User Researchers with the knowledge they need to be successful. Though this course is not quite as advanced as the research that User Researchers will eventually conduct, the instructional content is related and can help inform the thinking of future User Researchers.
See salaries and explore the career path for User Researcher
Information Architect
Information Architects are responsible for organizing and structuring the content of products and services. They work with UX Designers to ensure that the user experience is easy to navigate and find the information they need.
See salaries and explore the career path for Information Architect
Web Developer
Web Developers are responsible for developing and maintaining websites based on web design specifications. They may also perform web design tasks as well. This course is an appropriate fit for Web Developers because UX Design is central to web development. With superior UX skills, Web Developers can elevate the user-facing aspects of any website that they work on. This course helps build a foundation for future Web Developers who wish to bridge the gap between back-end web development and user-facing front-end web development.
See salaries and explore the career path for Web Developer
Product Manager
Product Managers are responsible for conceptualizing, planning, and managing the development of products. They work closely with UX Designers to ensure that products meet user needs. This course is beneficial for future Product Managers to take because of its focus on how to conceptualize and plan products. Though this course is not specifically about Product Management, the overlap in skills and knowledge will be extremely helpful to future Product Managers.
See salaries and explore the career path for Product Manager
Content Designer
Content Designers are responsible for creating and managing the content of products and services. They work with UX Designers to ensure that the user experience is consistent and enjoyable. This course would be helpful for Content Designers because it provides a foundation in UX principles. This course also teaches skills that are relevant to Content Design work. While this course is not specifically about Content Design, the instructional content is related and can help inform the thinking of future Content Designers.
See salaries and explore the career path for Content Designer
UX Writer
UX Writers are responsible for writing clear and concise copy for products and services. They work with UX Designers to ensure that the user experience is consistent and enjoyable. This course would be helpful for UX Writers because it provides a foundation in UX principles. This course also teaches skills that are relevant to UX Writing work. While this course is not specifically about UX Writing, the instructional content is related and can help inform the thinking of future UX Writers.
See salaries and explore the career path for UX Writer
Interaction Designer
Interaction Designers are responsible for designing the interactions between users and products. They work with UX Designers to create products that are easy to interact with and enjoyable to use. This course is relevant to Interaction Designers because it provides a foundation in UX principles. This course may also help build a foundation for future Interaction Designers who wish to work on the technical aspects of developing products. However, this course is not as technical as many Interaction Designers will need to be.
See salaries and explore the career path for Interaction Designer
Graphic Designer
Graphic Designers are responsible for creating visual concepts, using computer software or by hand, to communicate ideas that inspire, inform, and captivate consumers. This course is useful for Graphic Designers because a subset of them become UX Designers. This course provides a nice introduction into the principles behind UX Design. Additionally, Graphic Designers often must be able to communicate visually to non-designers. This course provides a good foundation for effective communication with non-designers.
See salaries and explore the career path for Graphic Designer
Service Designer
Service Designers are responsible for designing the user experience of services. They work with UX Designers to create services that are easy to use and enjoyable to use. This course may be useful for Service Designers to understand more about the principles behind UX Design. However, this course is not specifically about Service Design. Additionally, Service Designers often have backgrounds in design, engineering, business, or a related field.
See salaries and explore the career path for Service Designer
UI Designer
UI Designers are responsible for designing the user interface of products. They work with UX Designers to create products that are visually appealing and easy to use. Incidentally, UX Designers and UI Designers work very closely together. This course may be useful for UI Designers who want to know more about the theoretical basis for UX Design. However, this course is not specifically about UI Design.
See salaries and explore the career path for UI Designer
Data Analyst
Data Analysts are responsible for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data. They work with UX Designers to understand how users interact with products and services. This course may help build a foundation for future Data Analysts who wish to specialize in UX-related data analysis. However, this course is not specifically about Data Analytics. Additionally, Data Analysts often have backgrounds in computer science, mathematics, or a related field.
See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst
Human Factors Engineer
Human Factors Engineers are responsible for designing products and services that are safe and easy to use. They work with UX Designers to understand how users interact with products and services. This course may be useful for Human Factors Engineers, however this course is not specifically about Human Factors Engineering and may not provide all of the knowledge required to be successful as a Human Factors Engineer. Additionally, Human Factors Engineers usually require at least a master's degree.
See salaries and explore the career path for Human Factors Engineer
Ethnographer
Ethnographers are responsible for studying user behavior and culture. They work with UX Designers to understand how users interact with products and services. This course may be useful for Ethnographers who want to understand more about how to conduct UX research. However, this course is not specifically about Ethnography.
See salaries and explore the career path for Ethnographer
Visual Designer
Visual Designers are responsible for the visual appearance of products and services. They work with UX Designers to create products that are visually appealing and easy to use. This course is not specifically geared towards Visual Design, however the overlap between UX Design and Visual Design is undeniable. There may be some helpful content in this course for Visual Designers. Additionally, Visual Designers often have backgrounds in graphic design, web design, or a related field.
See salaries and explore the career path for Visual Designer

Reading list

We've selected ten 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 Getting Started in UX Design.
Cover image
Decision Making in Aviation
Save
Must-read for anyone interested in design, not just UX designers. It provides insights into how people interact with products and how to design products that are easy to use and understand.
Decision Making in Aviation (Critical Essays on...
Kindle Edition
$$$$
Cover image
Information Architecture
Save
Classic in the field of information architecture and provides a comprehensive overview of the principles and practices of IA. It great resource for UX designers who want to learn more about IA and how it can be used to improve the user experience.
Information Architecture: For the Web and Beyond
Paperback
$$
Information Architecture: For the Web and Beyond
Kindle Edition
$$
Cover image
Creating and Using Virtual Prototyping Software
Save
Provides a practical guide to prototyping and testing, helping readers to understand how to use these techniques to improve the user experience. It great resource for UX designers who want to learn more about prototyping and testing.
Creating and Using Virtual Prototyping Software:...
Kindle Edition
$$
Cover image
Blank Slate
Save
Provides an introduction to design thinking, a human-centered approach to problem-solving that can be used to create innovative products and services. It great resource for UX designers who want to learn more about design thinking and how it can be used in the UX design process.
Blank Slate: Write Your Own Rules for a 22nd...
Paperback
$$
Cover image
UX for Beginners
Save
Great resource for beginners who want to learn the basics of UX design. It provides a quick and easy overview of the UX design process and the tools and techniques that UX designers use.
UX for Beginners: A Crash Course in 100 Short...
Kindle Edition
$$
Cover image
The Elements of User Experience
Save
Classic in the field of UX design and provides a comprehensive overview of the UX design process. It great resource for UX designers who want to learn more about the UX design process and how to apply it in their work.
The Elements of User Experience: User-Centered...
Paperback
$$
The Elements of User Experience: User-Centered...
Paperback
$$
The Elements of User Experience: User-Centered...
Kindle Edition
$$
Cover image
How To Write Better Copy
Save
Provides a common sense approach to web usability, helping readers to understand how to create websites that are easy to use and understand. It great resource for UX designers who want to learn more about web usability and how to apply it in their work.
How to Write Better Copy (How To: Academy)
Paperback
$$
How To Write Better Copy (How To: Academy Book 2)
Kindle Edition
$
Cover image
100 Things Every Designer Needs to Know About People
Save
Provides 100 things that every designer needs to know about people, helping readers to understand how to design products and services that are user-centered. It great resource for UX designers who want to learn more about user psychology and how to apply it in their work.
100 Things Every Designer Needs to Know About...
Paperback
$$
100 MORE THINGS EVERY DESIGNER NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT...
Paperback
$$
100 Things Every Designer Needs to Know About People
Paperback
$$
100 More Things Every Designer Needs to Know About...
Paperback
$$
(中文) 设计师要懂心理学 (图灵交互设计丛书 7) (Chinese Edition)
Kindle Edition
$
100 More Things Every Designer Needs To Know About...
Paperback
$$
(中文) 100 Things Every Designer Needs to Know About...
Paperback
$$
Cover image
Design for a Better World
Save
Provides an overview of emotional design, helping readers to understand how people's emotions can be influenced by the products and services they use. It great resource for UX designers who want to learn more about emotional design and how to apply it in their work.
Design for a Better World: Meaningful, Sustainable,...
Hardcover
$$
Design for a Better World: Meaningful, Sustainable,...
Kindle Edition
$$
Cover image
Universal Principles of Design, Updated and...
Save
Provides an overview of the universal principles of design, helping readers to understand how these principles can be used to create effective designs. It great resource for UX designers who want to learn more about the principles of design and how to apply them in their work.
Universal Principles of Design, Updated and...
Flexibound
$$
Universal Principles of Design, Updated and...
Kindle Edition
$$

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Course image
Time
41 hours
Level
Introductory
Via
Pluralsight
Instructor
Kurt Krumme
Language
English
Traffic lights
Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Provides foundational knowledge about UX design, making it great for those completely new to the field
Assists in transitioning into a UX career, from beginner level
Utilizes a practical approach, suitable for individuals seeking hands-on learning
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