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Elizabeth Gerber
and
Scott Klemmer
What makes for a great user experience? How can you consistently design experiences that work well, are easy to use and people want to use? This course will teach you the core process of experience design and how to effectively evaluate your work with the people for whom you are designing. You'll learn fundamental methods of design research that will enable you to effectively understand people, the sequences of their actions, and the context in which they work. Through the assignments, you’ll learn practical techniques for making sense of what you see and transform your observations into meaningful actionable insights and unique opportunity areas for design. You’ll also explore how to generate ideas in response to the opportunities identified and learn methods for making your ideas tangible. By answering specific questions and refining your concepts, you’ll move closer to making your ideas real. We’ll use cases from a variety of industries including health, education, transportation, finance, and beyond to illustrate how these methods work across different domains.
Read more
What makes for a great user experience? How can you consistently design experiences that work well, are easy to use and people want to use? This course will teach you the core process of experience design and how to effectively evaluate your work with the people for whom you are designing. You'll learn fundamental methods of design research that will enable you to effectively understand people, the sequences of their actions, and the context in which they work. Through the assignments, you’ll learn practical techniques for making sense of what you see and transform your observations into meaningful actionable insights and unique opportunity areas for design. You’ll also explore how to generate ideas in response to the opportunities identified and learn methods for making your ideas tangible. By answering specific questions and refining your concepts, you’ll move closer to making your ideas real. We’ll use cases from a variety of industries including health, education, transportation, finance, and beyond to illustrate how these methods work across different domains.
Read more
What makes for a great user experience? How can you consistently design experiences that work well, are easy to use and people want to use? This course will teach you the core process of experience design and how to effectively evaluate your work with the people for whom you are designing. You'll learn fundamental methods of design research that will enable you to effectively understand people, the sequences of their actions, and the context in which they work. Through the assignments, you’ll learn practical techniques for making sense of what you see and transform your observations into meaningful actionable insights and unique opportunity areas for design. You’ll also explore how to generate ideas in response to the opportunities identified and learn methods for making your ideas tangible. By answering specific questions and refining your concepts, you’ll move closer to making your ideas real. We’ll use cases from a variety of industries including health, education, transportation, finance, and beyond to illustrate how these methods work across different domains.
Good luck and we hope you enjoy the course!
Register for this course and see more details by visiting:
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What's inside
Syllabus
Design Research
Our course begins with the first step for generating great user experiences: understanding what people do, think, say, and feel. In this module, you’ll learn how to keep an open mind while learning more about how people’s needs, goals, values play out in their day-to-day lives and their hopes for the future. You’ll consider the different activities they do, in what order, and the larger systems in which they interact. You’ll start by generating lists of questions and move through different research methods to answer your specific questions. To illustrate these research methods, the lessons share several examples from real design projects across a variety of fields. What I hope you’ll take away from this module is the importance and thrill of going out to talk with and learn from people when and where they do their everyday activities, rather than basing your designs on assumptions. Through these techniques you’ll gain a new perspective on the problem and identify opportunities for creating a meaningful and accessible design.
Read more
Syllabus
Design Research
Our course begins with the first step for generating great user experiences: understanding what people do, think, say, and feel. In this module, you’ll learn how to keep an open mind while learning more about how people’s needs, goals, values play out in their day-to-day lives and their hopes for the future. You’ll consider the different activities they do, in what order, and the larger systems in which they interact. You’ll start by generating lists of questions and move through different research methods to answer your specific questions. To illustrate these research methods, the lessons share several examples from real design projects across a variety of fields. What I hope you’ll take away from this module is the importance and thrill of going out to talk with and learn from people when and where they do their everyday activities, rather than basing your designs on assumptions. Through these techniques you’ll gain a new perspective on the problem and identify opportunities for creating a meaningful and accessible design.
Read more
Traffic lights
Traffic lights
Read about what's good
what should give you pause and
possible dealbreakers
Develops user experience methods that are standard in the design industry
Provides opportunities to experiment and iterate on design solutions
Taught by expert instructors with extensive experience in user experience design
Requires extensive background knowledge in user experience design
Emphasizes the importance of understanding users' needs and goals
Involves hands-on activities and projects to enhance practical skills
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Reviews summary
Foundational ux research & prototyping
According to learners, this course offers an excellent introduction to UX research and prototyping, providing a solid foundational understanding. Students frequently highlight its highly practical assignments, enabling immediate application of concepts like personas, journey maps, and user interviews. The engaging and knowledgeable instructor is often praised. While it's particularly valuable for beginners or career changers due to its accessible 'no coding needed' approach, some more experienced learners found the prototyping limited to low-fidelity methods, desiring more exposure to industry-standard tools.
Instructor praised for clarity, knowledge, and passion.
"The instructor was very engaging and knowledgeable."
"I found the instructor's passion for UX evident, and they explained complex topics with great clarity."
"I was impressed by the instructor's ability to explain complex topics with great clarity."
Emphasizes hands-on techniques for real-world use.
"The concepts were explained clearly, and the assignments were highly practical, allowing me to apply what I learned immediately."
"I particularly enjoyed the hands-on approach to creating personas and journey maps."
"I loved learning about personas, journey maps, and the 2x2 matrix – tools I can now apply directly to my work."
"I found it useful for building a portfolio."
Provides a strong entry point for UX concepts.
"This course was an excellent introduction to UX research and prototyping."
"I found this to be a solid foundation in UX."
"I gained a clear roadmap for approaching UX projects from this course."
"It's excellent for building foundational understanding in UX."
Some students experienced unhelpful or inconsistent peer evaluations.
"The peer review assignments were also inconsistent and sometimes unhelpful."
May feel slow or basic for those with prior design knowledge.
"Some parts felt a bit basic given my existing design background."
"I found the pace to be a bit slow at times, especially in the ideation module."
"I felt it was too theoretical for my professional needs; I needed more hands-on software guidance."
Focuses on low-fidelity, not industry-standard software.
"My only minor critique is that some parts felt a bit basic if I already have some design background. I would have liked to see more advanced prototyping tools demonstrated beyond just 'paper prototypes'."
"I found it limited the depth of prototyping that could be explored."
"I was hoping for more practical tools and software applications. It doesn't prepare me for industry-standard tools like Figma or Sketch."
"I felt the 'no coding needed' aspect actually meant 'no relevant skills learned for current industry jobs'."
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: Research & Prototyping with these
activities:
Review Core Concepts
Show steps
Review foundational concepts in UX design to refresh your knowledge and prepare for the course.
Browse courses on
User Experience Design
Show steps
-
Review readings from previous courses or industry articles on UX design principles.
-
Complete practice exercises or quizzes to test your understanding of core concepts.
Organize Course Resources
Show steps
Gather and organize course materials, including notes, assignments, and readings, to enhance your learning experience.
Show steps
-
Create a dedicated system for storing and organizing course materials.
-
Review and summarize key concepts from lecture notes and readings.
-
Organize assignments and projects by due date and priority.
-
Create a study schedule and stick to it.
Explore Online UX Resources
Show steps
Explore online tutorials and resources to gain practical experience in UX design tools and techniques.
Show steps
-
Identify and select online tutorials or workshops on specific UX design tools or methods.
-
Follow the tutorials and complete the exercises to gain hands-on experience.
-
Share your learnings and insights with classmates or online communities.
Five other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all eight activities
Attend Industry Events
Show steps
Network with professionals in the UX field to learn about industry trends, exchange ideas, and explore potential collaborations.
Show steps
-
Research and identify upcoming industry events relevant to UX design.
-
Attend events and actively participate in discussions and networking sessions.
-
Follow up with connections made at the events to build relationships and stay informed.
Read Don Norman's 'The Design of Everyday Things'
Show steps
Explore the foundational principles of user-centered design and cognitive psychology to enhance your understanding of UX design.
View
Things That Make Us Smart: Defending Human...
on Amazon
Show steps
-
Read the book and take notes on key concepts and principles.
-
Apply the concepts to practical design scenarios and everyday objects.
-
Engage in discussions with classmates or online communities to share your insights.
Design a User Experience Prototype
Show steps
Create a prototype to apply your understanding of UX design principles and demonstrate your creative problem-solving skills.
Show steps
-
Identify a user problem or opportunity based on your research.
-
Sketch and iterate on design solutions using prototyping tools and techniques.
-
Present your prototype to peers or industry professionals for feedback and critique.
Conduct a User Research Study
Show steps
Plan and execute a user research study to gather insights into user needs and behavior, and inform your design decisions.
Show steps
-
Develop a research plan outlining your research questions, methods, and timeline.
-
Recruit and conduct interviews or surveys with users.
-
Analyze and interpret data to identify user needs and pain points.
-
Synthesize findings and create a report summarizing your research insights.
Participate in a UX Design Challenge
Show steps
Join a UX design competition or hackathon to showcase your skills, collaborate with others, and receive feedback from industry experts.
Show steps
-
Identify and register for a relevant UX design competition or hackathon.
-
Form a team or collaborate with others to develop your solution.
-
Develop and submit your design solution within the specified timeframe.
-
Attend the event, present your solution, and receive feedback from judges and peers.
Review Core Concepts
Show steps
Review foundational concepts in UX design to refresh your knowledge and prepare for the course.
Browse courses on
User Experience Design
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Review readings from previous courses or industry articles on UX design principles.
- Complete practice exercises or quizzes to test your understanding of core concepts.
Organize Course Resources
Show steps
Gather and organize course materials, including notes, assignments, and readings, to enhance your learning experience.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Create a dedicated system for storing and organizing course materials.
- Review and summarize key concepts from lecture notes and readings.
- Organize assignments and projects by due date and priority.
- Create a study schedule and stick to it.
Explore Online UX Resources
Show steps
Explore online tutorials and resources to gain practical experience in UX design tools and techniques.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Identify and select online tutorials or workshops on specific UX design tools or methods.
- Follow the tutorials and complete the exercises to gain hands-on experience.
- Share your learnings and insights with classmates or online communities.
Five other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all eight activities
Attend Industry Events
Show steps
Network with professionals in the UX field to learn about industry trends, exchange ideas, and explore potential collaborations.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Research and identify upcoming industry events relevant to UX design.
- Attend events and actively participate in discussions and networking sessions.
- Follow up with connections made at the events to build relationships and stay informed.
Read Don Norman's 'The Design of Everyday Things'
Show steps
Explore the foundational principles of user-centered design and cognitive psychology to enhance your understanding of UX design.
View
Things That Make Us Smart: Defending Human...
on Amazon
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Read the book and take notes on key concepts and principles.
- Apply the concepts to practical design scenarios and everyday objects.
- Engage in discussions with classmates or online communities to share your insights.
Design a User Experience Prototype
Show steps
Create a prototype to apply your understanding of UX design principles and demonstrate your creative problem-solving skills.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Identify a user problem or opportunity based on your research.
- Sketch and iterate on design solutions using prototyping tools and techniques.
- Present your prototype to peers or industry professionals for feedback and critique.
Conduct a User Research Study
Show steps
Plan and execute a user research study to gather insights into user needs and behavior, and inform your design decisions.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Develop a research plan outlining your research questions, methods, and timeline.
- Recruit and conduct interviews or surveys with users.
- Analyze and interpret data to identify user needs and pain points.
- Synthesize findings and create a report summarizing your research insights.
Participate in a UX Design Challenge
Show steps
Join a UX design competition or hackathon to showcase your skills, collaborate with others, and receive feedback from industry experts.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Identify and register for a relevant UX design competition or hackathon.
- Form a team or collaborate with others to develop your solution.
- Develop and submit your design solution within the specified timeframe.
- Attend the event, present your solution, and receive feedback from judges and peers.
Career center
Learners who complete User Experience: Research & Prototyping will develop knowledge and skills
that may be useful to these careers:
User Experience Researcher
User Experience Researcher
A UX Researcher is responsible for conducting user research to understand the needs, behaviors, and motivations of users. This course can help you build a strong foundation in user research methods, including how to design and conduct research studies, analyze data, and make recommendations for design improvements. This course is particularly relevant for UX Researchers because it covers a wide range of research methods that are commonly used in the field, such as interviews, surveys, and usability testing.
UX Designer
UX Designer
A UX Designer is responsible for designing and developing user interfaces for websites, apps, and other digital products. This course can help you build a strong foundation in UX design principles and methods, including how to create user-centered designs, conduct usability testing, and iterate on designs based on feedback. This course is particularly relevant for UX Designers because it covers the entire UX design process, from research to prototyping to evaluation.
Product Manager
Product Manager
A Product Manager is responsible for overseeing the development and launch of new products. This course can help you build a strong foundation in product management principles and practices, including how to define product requirements, prioritize features, and track product performance. This course is particularly relevant for Product Managers because it covers the entire product development process, from ideation to launch.
Interaction Designer
Interaction Designer
An Interaction Designer is responsible for designing the interactions between users and digital products. This course can help you build a strong foundation in interaction design principles and methods, including how to create user-centered designs, conduct usability testing, and iterate on designs based on feedback. This course is particularly relevant for Interaction Designers because it covers the entire interaction design process, from research to prototyping to evaluation.
Information Architect
Information Architect
An Information Architect is responsible for organizing and structuring the content of websites, apps, and other digital products. This course can help you build a strong foundation in information architecture principles and practices, including how to create user-centered designs, conduct usability testing, and iterate on designs based on feedback. This course is particularly relevant for Information Architects because it covers the entire information architecture process, from research to prototyping to evaluation.
Visual Designer
Visual Designer
A Visual Designer is responsible for creating the visual design of websites, apps, and other digital products. This course can help you build a strong foundation in visual design principles and practices, including how to create user-centered designs, conduct usability testing, and iterate on designs based on feedback. This course is particularly relevant for Visual Designers because it covers the entire visual design process, from research to prototyping to evaluation.
Front-End Developer
Front-End Developer
A Front-End Developer is responsible for developing and maintaining the front-end of websites and apps. This course can help you build a strong foundation in front-end development principles and practices, including how to create user-centered designs, conduct usability testing, and iterate on designs based on feedback. This course is particularly relevant for Front-End Developers because it covers the entire front-end development process, from research to prototyping to evaluation.
Back-End Developer
Back-End Developer
A Back-End Developer is responsible for developing and maintaining the back-end of websites and apps. This course may be useful for Back-End Developers because it covers the basics of user research and prototyping, which can be helpful for understanding the user experience of a product.
Software Engineer
Software Engineer
A Software Engineer is responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining software systems. This course may be useful for Software Engineers because it covers the basics of user research and prototyping, which can be helpful for understanding the user experience of a software system.
Data Analyst
Data Analyst
A Data Analyst is responsible for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data. This course may be useful for Data Analysts because it covers the basics of user research and prototyping, which can be helpful for understanding the user experience of a data product.
Business Analyst
Business Analyst
A Business Analyst is responsible for analyzing business processes and systems. This course may be useful for Business Analysts because it covers the basics of user research and prototyping, which can be helpful for understanding the user experience of a business process or system.
Consultant
Consultant
A Consultant is responsible for providing advice and guidance to businesses and organizations. This course may be useful for Consultants because it covers the basics of user research and prototyping, which can be helpful for understanding the user experience of a business or organization.
Project Manager
Project Manager
A Project Manager is responsible for planning, executing, and closing projects. This course may be useful for Project Managers because it covers the basics of user research and prototyping, which can be helpful for understanding the user experience of a project.
Marketer
Marketer
A Marketer is responsible for promoting and selling products and services. This course may be useful for Marketers because it covers the basics of user research and prototyping, which can be helpful for understanding the user experience of a marketing campaign.
Salesperson
Salesperson
A Salesperson is responsible for selling products and services. This course may be useful for Salespeople because it covers the basics of user research and prototyping, which can be helpful for understanding the user experience of a sales process.
For more career information including salaries, visit:
OpenCourser.com/course/xl4mgp/user
Reading list
We've selected 38 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
User Experience: Research & Prototyping.
Provides a comprehensive overview of user research methods and techniques. It valuable resource for anyone interested in learning more about how to conduct user research.
Save
Provides a comprehensive guide to the art of human-computer interface design. It covers the principles of HCI design, the different types of HCI design, and the methods and techniques used in HCI design.
Teaches you how to plan and conduct every stage of the research process including online surveys, interviews, and usability testing.
Classic in the field of user experience design. It covers the fundamentals of user experience design, including understanding users, designing for usability, and creating a positive user experience.
Save
Provides a broad overview of the field of interaction design. It covers topics such as the history of interaction design, the different types of interaction design, and the methods and techniques used in interaction design.
Provides a comprehensive guide to the principles of design. It covers the 125 principles of design, the ways that these principles can be applied to design, and the benefits of using these principles in your work.
For small teams or organizations, this book dives deep into methods to conduct effective user research, design usable and delightful products and services, and collaborate with engineering to turn ideas into reality.
Save
Provides a comprehensive overview of the design thinking process. It covers everything from understanding user needs to generating ideas to prototyping and testing.
Classic in the field of design. It provides insights into how people interact with products and how to design products that are easy to use.
Provides a detailed overview of the principles of user psychology. It valuable resource for anyone interested in learning more about how to design for the user's mind.
The book showcases the principles of human-centered design to help you understand why some products succeed, while others fail.
Save
Provides a comprehensive overview of the prototyping process. It covers everything from planning and execution to testing and evaluation.
Provides a detailed overview of the principles of web usability. It valuable resource for anyone interested in learning more about how to design websites that are easy to use and navigate.
Save
Provides an introduction to design thinking, a human-centered approach to problem solving. It valuable resource for students and practitioners who want to learn more about how to use design thinking to create innovative solutions.
Provides a set of principles that can be used to design effective and user-friendly products and services.
Value Proposition Design practical guide to creating products and services that customers want.
Save
Explores the role of emotion in design. It covers the ways that emotion can influence our behavior, the principles of design that can evoke emotion, and the applications of emotional design in the real world.
Save
Provides a comprehensive guide to prototyping, which key part of the user experience design process. It covers the different types of prototypes, how to create prototypes, and how to use prototypes to test and improve your designs.
Save
Explores the role of emotion in user experience design. It provides a detailed overview of the principles of emotional design, with a focus on everyday objects. It valuable resource for anyone interested in learning more about how to design for the user's emotions.
Classic in the field of information architecture. It provides a detailed overview of the principles of information architecture, with a focus on the World Wide Web. It valuable resource for anyone interested in learning more about how to design for the web.
Provides insights into the challenges that established companies face when they try to innovate. It covers topics such as the innovator's dilemma, the importance of disruptive innovation, and the strategies that companies can use to overcome the innovator's dilemma.
Introduces the Lean Startup methodology, which process for developing and validating new products and services.
Provides a practical guide to UX for small teams and individuals. It covers a wide range of topics, from user research to prototyping to usability testing. It valuable resource for students and practitioners who want to learn more about how to do UX on a small scale.
Aims to address important issues that new researchers may encounter. It guides users in the research planning process by offering candid advice on how to avoid common pitfalls.
The Innovator’s Dilemma explains why even the most successful companies can fail when they are too focused on protecting their core business.
Sketching User Experiences practical guide to sketching user interfaces. It provides exercises and tips to help you create effective and visually appealing sketches.
Practical guide to creating prototypes. It provides tips and advice on how to build prototypes quickly and cheaply.
Save
Provides a practical guide to user story mapping, which technique for capturing and organizing user stories in a way that makes it easy to see the big picture of a project.
Save
Provides a detailed overview of the principles of site planning for information architecture. It valuable resource for anyone interested in learning more about how to design websites that are easy to use and navigate.
Save
Provides a step-by-step guide to the Sprint process, which five-day process for solving critical business problems.
Classic guide to product design. It provides a wealth of insights into how people interact with products. It valuable resource for students and practitioners who want to learn more about how to design products that are both useful and usable.
Save
Is for anyone who wants to be more creative. It provides exercises and tips to help you unlock your creative potential.
Explores the role of emotion in design. It provides a wealth of insights into how emotions can influence our interactions with products and services. It valuable resource for students and practitioners who want to learn more about how to design experiences that are both emotionally engaging and usable.
Provides a practical guide to web design. It covers a wide range of topics, from HTML and CSS to JavaScript and responsive design. It valuable resource for students and practitioners who want to learn more about how to design and develop websites.
Save
Provides an overview of UX. It covers a wide range of topics, from user research to interaction design to evaluation. It valuable resource for students and practitioners who want to learn more about the field of UX.
Save
Provides a comprehensive overview of usability engineering. It covers a wide range of topics, from user research to usability testing to design guidelines. It valuable resource for students and practitioners who want to learn more about how to design usable products and services.
Save
Provides a comprehensive overview of interaction design. It covers a wide range of topics, from user research to interaction design to prototyping. It valuable resource for students and practitioners who want to learn more about the field of interaction design.
Save
Provides a catalog of design patterns that can be used to solve common design problems. It valuable resource for students and practitioners who want to learn more about how to design reusable and extensible software.
For more information about how these books relate to this course, visit:
OpenCourser.com/course/xl4mgp/user
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Effort
11 hours to complete
Via
Coursera
Institution
University of California San Diego
Instructors
Elizabeth Gerber
Scott Klemmer
Language
English
Transcripts
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This course belongs to a
collection
called
Interaction Design. It's comprised of eight courses:
- User Experience: Research & Prototyping (viewing)
- Information Design
- Interaction Design Capstone Project
- Human-Centered Design: an Introduction
- Design Principles: an Introduction
- Designing, Running, and Analyzing Experiments
- Input and Interaction
- Social Computing
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