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Evaluating User Interfaces

Joseph A Konstan, Loren Terveen, Haiyi Zhu, Lana Yarosh, and Dr. Brent Hecht

In this course you will learn and practice several techniques for user interface evaluation. First we start with techniques that can be applied alone or in a design team, including action analysis, walkthroughs, and heuristic evaluation. Then we move on to user testing, including learning from a series of usability tests carried out in a real usability lab, and techniques to carry out your own tests even without a lab. Finally, we wrap up the discussion of evaluation--and of UI Design in the specialization as a whole--by looking at the question of how to set and measure usability goals, and in turn, when a design is usable enough to release it.

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What's inside

Syllabus

Preface

We situate evaluation in the larger UI design process and provide an introduction to the course's content.

Evaluation without Users (Part 1)

We cover industry-standard techniques for evaluating interfaces without users, a lower-cost approach that precedes higher-cost "with user" strategies (Part 1 of 2).

Evaluation without Users (Part 2)

We continue our overview of evaluation techniques that do not involve users (Part 2 of 2).

Evaluation with Users (Part 1)

We dive into the most important - and most costly - family of evaluation techniques: those that involve testing your user interface with real users (Part 1 of 3)

Evaluation with Users (Part 2)

We continue our discussion of with-user evaluation techniques (Part 2 of 3)

Evaluation with Users (Part 3)

Wrap-Up

We revisit our overview of UI evaluation.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Teaches methods that are standard in industry

Teaches techniques that are highly relevant in an academic setting

Taught by Joseph A Konstan, Loren Terveen, Haiyi Zhu, Lana Yarosh, Dr. Brent Hecht, who are recognized for their work in human-computer interaction

Develops capabilities in software testing, which are core skills for design engineering

Develops capabilities in user interface evaluation, which are core skills for design engineering

Examines usability, which is highly relevant to user interface design

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Reviews summary

Highly praised ui evaluation course

Learners say that this highly praised course on evaluating user interfaces is excellent for beginners. The course covers all aspects of interface design with engaging assignments and detailed videos featuring great instructors. Students feel that this is a worthwhile course, especially for those new to UX or those wanting to expand their knowledge. Some students even found the course helpful in their careers.

The course is great for your career.

"helpful and assignments were fun to complete"

"I am working as market researcher for more than 15+ years and wanted to get expertise on UI domain"

Beginners will enjoy this course.

"Like the content and the assignments for the beginner level."

The course leaves no stone unturned.

"provides a whole view on all the aspects of interface design!"

Instructors are knowledgeable.

"videos with very good professors"

Assignments aid in learning.

"Like the content and the assignments"

"The assignment is top notch, it makes me understand the course well."

Students love this course.

"excellent"

"great course"

"I am very happy"

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 Evaluating User Interfaces with these activities:

Review basic HCI principles

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Review basic HCI principles to refresh your knowledge and ensure that you have a solid foundation for understanding user interface evaluation.

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Review your lecture notes or textbook.
Take practice quizzes or tests.
Discuss the principles with classmates or colleagues.

Read “Don't Make Me Think, Revisited” by Steve Krug

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This book provides practical guidance on how to design user interfaces that are easy to use and understand. Krug's insights will help you identify common usability issues and develop effective solutions.

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

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Read the book thoroughly.
Take notes on the key concepts and principles.
Apply the principles to your own design work.

Develop a usability testing plan

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Create a usability testing plan to guide your user testing efforts. This will help you define the goals of your testing, recruit the right participants, and ensure that you collect meaningful data.

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Define the goals of your usability testing.
Identify the target users for your testing.
Develop a recruitment strategy.
Create a testing script.
Determine the data collection methods.

Four other activities

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Try out heuristic evaluation techniques

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Practice heuristic evaluation techniques on several websites or apps to reinforce your understanding and develop your eye for usability issues.

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Choose a website or app to evaluate.
Apply the 10 heuristic evaluation principles.
Write down your findings and identify any usability issues.

Conduct user interviews

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Conduct user interviews to gain insights into user needs, pain points, and expectations. This will help you develop a deeper understanding of user behavior and improve the usability of your designs.

Browse courses on User Testing

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Prepare a list of interview questions.
Recruit participants for your interviews.
Conduct the interviews and take notes.
Analyze the interview data and identify key findings.

Contribute to open-source usability testing tools

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Contribute to open-source usability testing tools to gain hands-on experience in usability evaluation and make a positive impact on the community.

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Identify an open-source usability testing tool.
Explore the tool's codebase and documentation.
Identify an area where you can contribute.
Make your contributions to the tool.
Submit your contributions for review.

Mentor junior UX designers

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Mentoring junior UX designers will allow you to share your knowledge and experience, while also reinforcing your own understanding of user interface evaluation.

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Identify a junior UX designer who is looking for mentorship.
Set up regular meetings to discuss their work and provide guidance.
Provide feedback on their designs and help them develop their skills.
Encourage them to ask questions and seek your support when needed.

Career center

Learners who complete Evaluating User Interfaces will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

User Experience Researcher

User Experience Researchers study the user experience to better understand user needs and improve the usability of digital products. The ability to evaluate the user interface of digital products is vital to the success of a UX Researcher, and this course provides a thorough and rigorous foundation in UI evaluation.

See salaries and explore the career path for User Experience Researcher

Usability Analyst

Usability Analysts evaluate user interface designs for ease of use, learnability, and other usability factors. Understanding the techniques and principles of UI evaluation is essential for this role, and this course can provide you with the foundation you need.

See salaries and explore the career path for Usability Analyst

Design Researcher

Design Researchers use research methods to study user experience and make recommendations for improvements to digital products. This course in UI evaluation can help you develop the research skills necessary to succeed as a Design Researcher.

See salaries and explore the career path for Design Researcher

Information Architect

Information Architects organize, structure, and label web pages and other digital content to improve usability and user experience. Knowledge of UI Design and evaluation techniques is very useful for Information Architects, and this course can give you a competitive edge.

See salaries and explore the career path for Information Architect

Product Manager

Product Managers are responsible for developing and overseeing the release of digital products from conception to retirement. Having a background in UI Design and user interface evaluation will set you apart from other Product Management applicants and help you understand the full scope of your product.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Manager

Human Factors Engineer

Human Factors Engineers apply principles of human behavior, engineering, and design to improve the interaction between humans and technology. Having a thorough understanding of UI design and evaluation is an asset to any Human Factors Engineer and can bolster your resume applications.

See salaries and explore the career path for Human Factors Engineer

Interaction Designer

Interaction Designers conceptualize and design digital products' visual appearance, behavior, and overall user experience. You can use the knowledge of UI Design and evaluation techniques you learn in this course to impress employers as a highly-qualified Interaction Designer candidate.

See salaries and explore the career path for Interaction Designer

Data Scientist

Data Scientists collect and analyze data to help organizations make informed decisions. While UI evaluation is not typically a required skill for Data Scientists, having a strong foundation in UI design and evaluation can be a substantial benefit, especially for those working with web-based data.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Scientist

Graphic designer

Graphic Designers create visual concepts, using computer software or by hand, to communicate ideas that inspire, inform, and captivate consumers. A background in UI evaluation is not required, but it will give you a stronger understanding of how to design user interfaces and can make you more attractive to potential employers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Graphic designer

Web Designer

Web Designers create and design websites and other web-based content. While understanding UI evaluation is not unbedingt necessary for Web Design, it will help you stand out in the competitive job market and can help you become a more well-rounded web professional.

See salaries and explore the career path for Web Designer

Network Administrator

Network Administrators maintain and manage computer networks. While UI evaluation is not a required skill for Network Administrators, having a background in UI design and evaluation can help them more effectively set up and maintain user-facing interfaces, like dashboards and portals.

See salaries and explore the career path for Network Administrator

Software Engineer

Software Engineers design, develop, and maintain software. While UI evaluation is not a common or required skill for Software Engineers, some delve into the subfields of UI Engineering or User Interface Development, which do rely on UI Design and evaluation skills. If this interests you, then taking this course will be of great benefit to you.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineer

Quality Assurance Analyst

Quality Assurance Analysts test and evaluate software and applications to ensure quality and functionality. Knowing how to evaluate user interfaces can be a useful skill, as some QA work is concerned with the user experience, but it is not typically a required skill for Quality Assurance Analysts.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quality Assurance Analyst

Information Technology Specialist

Information Technology Specialists plan, implement, and maintain computer systems for an organization. Having a background in UI evaluation can be helpful, even though it is not typically required, as an understanding of UI can augment other facets of the job, like technical support.

See salaries and explore the career path for Information Technology Specialist

Computer Programmer

Computer Programmers write and test code that allows computer applications and software programs to run. While UI evaluation is not a required skill for this role, it can be especially helpful for those working on the front end of programs and applications.

See salaries and explore the career path for Computer Programmer

Reading list

We've selected 14 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 Evaluating User Interfaces.

The Elements of User Experience

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Classic guide to user experience design for the web. It provides a clear and concise overview of the principles of good UX design.

Evaluating User Interfaces

What's inside

Syllabus

Good to know

Save this course

Reviews summary

Highly praised ui evaluation course

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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