We may earn an affiliate commission when you visit our partners.
Course image
Joseph A Konstan, Loren Terveen, Haiyi Zhu, Lana Yarosh, and Dr. Brent Hecht

In this course you will learn how to design and prototype user interfaces to address the users and tasks identified in user research. Through a series of lectures and exercises, you will learn and practice paper- and other low-fidelity prototyping techniques; you will learn and apply principles from graphic design, including design patterns; you will learn to write a design rationale; and you will learn how to design for specific populations and situations, including principles and practices of accessible design.

Enroll now

What's inside

Syllabus

Preface
A brief introduction to the topic and course structure.
Interface Prototyping Techniques
An introduction to prototyping, including paper and tool-based prototyping.
Read more
Design Principles and Patterns
An introduction to design principles from graphic design, interaction design patterns, and two examples of commercial design guidelines and standards.
Universal Design, Accessibility, Special Populations
An introduction to universal design, with specific lectures focused on particular impairments, limitations, and populations.
Design for Different Platforms and Contexts
A look at several important and challenging design contexts and how interfaces can address those contexts.

Good to know

Know what's good
, what to watch for
, and possible dealbreakers
Taught by recognized experts in user design: Joseph Konstan, Loren Terveen, Haiyi Zhu, Lana Yarosh, and Dr. Brent Hecht
Covers essential user interface prototyping techniques and principles, including paper-based, digital, and design patterns
Focuses on user-centric design, emphasizing the importance of user research and feedback in shaping interface design
Provides a practical approach through exercises and hands-on prototyping activities
Covers design principles for different platforms and contexts, addressing the challenges of designing for various devices and usage scenarios
Emphasizes accessibility and inclusivity in design, exploring principles and practices for designing interfaces that meet the needs of diverse users

Save this course

Save Prototyping and Design to your list so you can find it easily later:
Save

Reviews summary

Mostly well-received prototyping course

Students report that Prototyping and Design is a great course that provides excellent content taught by good professors. According to students, lectures and activities are engaging and help them develop their prototyping skills. The course is mostly concerned with the theory of prototyping, but students still found it to be an effective learning experience. A few learners complain that this course doesn't offer many practical exercises. Overall, learners say this course is worthwhile and offers a solid foundation in prototyping.
Learners found the course to be helpful for their current job or future career.
"Very much helpful with my current job!"
"Excellent course, very didactic! It motivated me to learn more and more!"
"Excellent class! Solid use of paper prototyping to demonstrate the use of low fidelity prototypes."
Course content is engaging and interesting.
"it was very interesting and intruiging"
"Amazing course."
"Great Course"
Students report that the professors are knowledgeable and effective.
"Videos of the classes with very good professors."
"Excellent course, I am learning a lot and love the way we have different lectures"
"Although I am not a complete novice in the field of HCI, I still learnt a lot.Thank you so much to all the presenters and guest speakers for sharing your experience and knowledge."
Course focuses on theoretical knowledge rather than practical exercises.
"Too much theory, was boring and outdated"
"Very interesting, although not at all practical."
"Although not much exercises or assignments on prototyping."

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 Prototyping and Design with these activities:
Practice sketching and wireframing
Enhance your skills in sketching and wireframing, which are essential for rapidly generating and communicating design ideas during the prototyping process.
Browse courses on Sketching
Show steps
  • Find resources (e.g., online courses, books) on sketching and wireframing techniques.
  • Practice sketching and wireframing user interfaces for different tasks and user groups.
  • Share your sketches and wireframes with others for feedback and improvement.
Follow online tutorials on prototyping
Acquire practical skills and learn new techniques for prototyping user interfaces by following online tutorials and experimenting with different prototyping tools.
Browse courses on Prototyping
Show steps
  • Identify online tutorials or courses that teach prototyping techniques.
  • Follow the tutorials step-by-step and practice creating prototypes.
  • Experiment with different prototyping tools and techniques to find what works best for you.
Read a book on design principles
Gain a deeper understanding of design principles and best practices by reading a book recommended by the instructors or researching other relevant publications.
Show steps
  • Identify a book on design principles that aligns with the course content.
  • Read the book thoroughly and take notes on key concepts.
  • Summarize the main ideas of the book and apply them to your own interface design projects.
Five other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all eight activities
Analyze real-world interface designs
Develop a critical eye for interface design by analyzing real-world examples and identifying their strengths and weaknesses.
Browse courses on Interface Design
Show steps
  • Collect examples of well-designed and poorly designed user interfaces.
  • Analyze each interface and identify its strengths and weaknesses.
  • Document your findings and share them with your classmates or peers.
Practice interface design principles
Complete repetitive exercises to solidify an understanding of interface design principles taught in the course, such as visual hierarchy, typography, and layout.
Show steps
  • Obtain a list of interface design principles from the course materials.
  • Identify a simple user interface to redesign.
  • Apply the design principles to redesign the user interface.
  • Evaluate your redesign and identify areas for improvement.
Design an interface prototype
Create a paper or tool-based prototype of a user interface for a specific task or user group, applying the principles and patterns learned in the course.
Show steps
  • Identify a specific task or user group for your prototype.
  • Sketch out several paper or digital wireframes for your prototype.
  • Create a final prototype using a prototyping tool or software.
  • Write a design rationale that explains your design decisions.
Write a blog post on a specific design pattern
Enhance your understanding and communication skills by writing a blog post that explains a specific design pattern and its applications in user interface design.
Browse courses on Design Patterns
Show steps
  • Choose a specific design pattern that you find particularly interesting or challenging.
  • Research the design pattern and its applications in user interface design.
  • Write a blog post that explains the design pattern, its benefits, and when to use it.
  • Share your blog post with your classmates or peers for feedback and discussion.
Attend a workshop on interface design
Gain hands-on experience and learn from experts by attending a workshop focused on interface design, prototyping, or user experience.
Browse courses on Interface Design
Show steps
  • Research and identify workshops on interface design that align with your interests.
  • Register for the workshop and prepare any necessary materials.
  • Actively participate in the workshop, ask questions, and take notes.
  • Apply what you learned in the workshop to your own design projects.

Career center

Learners who complete Prototyping and Design will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
User Experience Designer
A User Experience Designer focuses on the overall user experience of a product, including the usability, accessibility, and enjoyability of the interface. This course can help you to develop the skills you need to create user-centered designs.
UX Researcher
A UX Researcher conducts research to understand the needs and wants of users, and then uses this information to design and evaluate user interfaces. This course can help you to develop the skills you need to conduct user research and to use this information to create user-centered designs.
Interaction Designer
An Interaction Designer designs the interactions between users and products, including the way that users navigate through a website or app and the way that they interact with its features. This course can help you to develop the skills you need to create engaging and intuitive interactions.
Product Designer
A Product Designer is responsible for the design and development of a product, including the user interface, the user experience, and the overall look and feel of the product. This course can help you to develop the skills you need to create user-centered and innovative products.
Usability Engineer
A Usability Engineer evaluates the usability of websites and mobile apps, and then makes recommendations for improvements. This course can help you to develop the skills you need to conduct usability evaluations and to use this information to improve the user experience.
Information Architect
An Information Architect designs the site structure of a website or mobile app, as well as the navigation and search functionality. This course can help you to develop the skills you need to create user-friendly and intuitive interfaces.
UI Designer
A UI Designer is responsible for the design of the user interface of a website or mobile app, including the layout, the typography, and the colors. This course can help you to develop the skills you need to create visually appealing and user-friendly interfaces
Front-End Developer
A Front-End Developer is responsible for the design and development of the front-end of a website or mobile app, including the user interface and the user experience. This course can help you to develop the skills you need to create visually appealing and user-friendly interfaces.
Web Designer
A Web Designer is responsible for the design and development of websites, including the user interface, the user experience, and the overall look and feel of the website. This course can help you to develop the skills you need to create visually appealing and user-friendly websites.
Graphic designer
A Graphic Designer creates visual concepts, using computer software or by hand, to communicate ideas that inspire, inform, and captivate consumers. This course can help you to develop the skills you need to create visually appealing and effective designs.
Mobile App Developer
A Mobile App Developer designs and develops mobile apps, including the user interface, the user experience, and the overall look and feel of the app. This course may be useful if you are interested in developing the skills you need to design and develop user-friendly and engaging mobile apps.
Human Factors Engineer
A Human Factors Engineer designs and evaluates products and systems to ensure that they are safe, efficient, and user-friendly. This course may be useful if you are interested in developing the skills you need to design and evaluate interfaces for a variety of products and systems.
Game Designer
A Game Designer designs and develops video games, including the game mechanics, the levels, and the characters. This course may be useful if you are interested in developing the skills you need to design and develop engaging and user-friendly games.
Visual Designer
A Visual Designer creates visual concepts, using computer software or by hand, to communicate ideas that inspire, inform, and captivate consumers. This course may be useful if you are interested in developing the skills you need to create visually appealing and effective designs, including icons and logos.
Technical Writer
A Technical Writer creates documentation for technical products and services, including user manuals, help files, and training materials. This course may be useful if you are interested in developing the skills you need to write clear and concise documentation for a variety of technical products and services.

Reading list

We've selected 12 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 Prototyping and Design.
Provides a deep dive into universal design, which is one topic that the course only briefly covers.
Classic in the field of design, and can provide additional context on the design principles covered in the course.
Is about prototyping in general, but can be used as supplementary reading, particularly for the sections on low-fidelity prototyping.
Explores the relationship between humans and computers, and can provide context for the course's focus on user-centered design.
Provides a broad overview of information architecture, which is not covered in the course, but can provide valuable additional knowledge.
Technical guide to adaptive web design, which is not covered in the course, but can provide valuable additional knowledge.

Share

Help others find this course page by sharing it with your friends and followers:

Similar courses

Here are nine courses similar to Prototyping and Design.
Information Design
UX Design: Research, Prototyping, Accessible Interactions
Interaction Design Fundamentals
Introduction to User Experience Principles and Processes
User Interface Design: Principles, Prototyping, Practices
Interaction Design Fundamentals
UX Fundamentals
Prototypes in Figma: Creating an Initial Low Fidelity...
Complete Figma Megacourse: UI/UX Design Beginner to Expert
Our mission

OpenCourser helps millions of learners each year. People visit us to learn workspace skills, ace their exams, and nurture their curiosity.

Our extensive catalog contains over 50,000 courses and twice as many books. Browse by search, by topic, or even by career interests. We'll match you to the right resources quickly.

Find this site helpful? Tell a friend about us.

Affiliate disclosure

We're supported by our community of learners. When you purchase or subscribe to courses and programs or purchase books, we may earn a commission from our partners.

Your purchases help us maintain our catalog and keep our servers humming without ads.

Thank you for supporting OpenCourser.

© 2016 - 2024 OpenCourser