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User Experience

Research & Prototyping

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.

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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.

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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

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Review foundational concepts in UX design to refresh your knowledge and prepare for the course.

Browse courses on User Experience Design

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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

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Gather and organize course materials, including notes, assignments, and readings, to enhance your learning experience.

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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

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Explore online tutorials and resources to gain practical experience in UX design tools and techniques.

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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

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Attend Industry Events

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Network with professionals in the UX field to learn about industry trends, exchange ideas, and explore potential collaborations.

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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'

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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

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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

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Create a prototype to apply your understanding of UX design principles and demonstrate your creative problem-solving skills.

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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

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Plan and execute a user research study to gather insights into user needs and behavior, and inform your design decisions.

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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

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Join a UX design competition or hackathon to showcase your skills, collaborate with others, and receive feedback from industry experts.

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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

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.

See salaries and explore the career path for User Experience Researcher

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.

See salaries and explore the career path for UX Designer

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.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Manager

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.

See salaries and explore the career path for Interaction Designer

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.

See salaries and explore the career path for Information Architect

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.

See salaries and explore the career path for Visual Designer

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.

See salaries and explore the career path for Front-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.

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

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.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineer

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.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data 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.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

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.

See salaries and explore the career path for Consultant

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.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager

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.

See salaries and explore the career path for Marketer

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.

See salaries and explore the career path for Salesperson

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.

Observing the User Experience

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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.

Observing the User Experience: A Practitioner's...

Kindle Edition

Computers as Theatre

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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.

User Experience

Research & Prototyping

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What's inside

Syllabus

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Reviews summary

Foundational ux research & prototyping

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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