Build Dynamic User Interfaces (UI) for Websites from Coursera

Build Dynamic User Interfaces (UI) for Websites is the sixth course in a program that will equip you with the skills you need to apply to entry-level jobs in user experience (UX) design. In this course, you will plan a design for a website, create wireframes and prototypes, and test your designs to get feedback. Additionally, you will learn about engaging in design critique sessions and how to give and receive feedback. By the end of this course, you will have a new design project to include in your professional UX portfolio. In addition, you’ll learn how to search for entry-level UX design jobs, create a resume that highlights your skills and accomplishments, and build your professional portfolio website.

Current UX designers and researchers at Google will serve as your instructors, and you will complete hands-on activities that simulate real-world UX design scenarios. Learners who complete the seven courses in this certificate program should be equipped to apply for entry-level jobs as UX designers.

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

- Apply each step of the UX design thinking framework (empathize, define, ideate, prototype, test) to create a responsive website.

- Plan information architecture and create sitemaps for website designs.

- Apply common layouts for web pages.

- Plan and conduct a usability study to gather feedback about designs.

- Iterate on designs based on research insights.

- Work with design systems.

- Add a new design project to your professional UX portfolio.

- [Optional] Create or update a UX-focused resume.

- [Optional] Learn how to search for and apply to introductory-level jobs in the field of UX.

This course is suitable for beginner-level UX designers who have completed the previous five courses of the Google UX Design Certificate. Alternatively, learners need to have a strong foundational understanding of the design process; experience creating wireframes, mockups, and prototypes; and the ability to conduct usability studies. No previous experience with Figma is required.

What's inside

Syllabus

Plan a responsive website

Get started with the basics of responsive web design. To create a responsive website, you’ll follow the steps of the UX design process: empathize, define, ideate, prototype, and test. In this part of the course, you'll complete the empathize and define phases.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Taught by Google's UX designers and researchers, who are recognized for their work in UX

Develops beginner skills in planning, creating, and testing website designs

Builds a strong foundation in UX design thinking, prototyping, and usability testing

Teaches the basics of responsive web design, enabling learners to create websites that adapt to different screen sizes

May require learners to have access to design software like Figma, which might create additional financial barriers

Assumes learners have a basic understanding of the design process and experience in creating mockups and wireframes

Reviews summary

Practical ui design for ux portfolios

According to learners, this course is a highly practical and valuable step for aspiring UX designers, especially those building a professional portfolio. Students frequently highlight the hands-on projects, particularly the responsive website design, as the strongest aspect, noting it helps them create strong portfolio case studies. The guidance from Google instructors is consistently praised for being clear and practical. While some earlier feedback noted the course might feel introductory for those with prior experience or wished for more advanced topics like coding, recent reviews overwhelmingly affirm its effectiveness in providing a solid foundation and actionable skills for entry-level UX roles.

Well-suited for foundational learning but may feel basic for some.

"Good for beginners, but I already knew some of this."

"Found it a bit too basic. I was hoping for more coding examples or deeper dives into front-end frameworks..."

"It's purely design-focused, which is fine, but maybe the title could be clearer about that expectation."

Strong coverage of user testing and design feedback processes.

"The usability studies section was gold, really helped me refine my process for gathering meaningful user feedback."

"The design critique sessions were really insightful."

"The feedback sessions were useful though, especially learning how to give and receive constructive critique."

Google instructors provide clear, practical insights.

"The instructors from Google are incredible, very clear and practical."

"Instructors clearly explain concepts like design systems and common web page layouts."

"The Google instructors are knowledgeable and their experience shines through."

Key focus on creating projects suitable for a professional UX portfolio.

"This course was a game-changer for my portfolio."

"The focus on portfolio work is fantastic for job seekers and gave me concrete deliverables."

"The opportunity to add a new project to my portfolio was a huge motivator and benefit."

Emphasizes practical application through real-world design projects.

"The hands-on projects, especially the responsive website design, felt truly professional and relevant."

"I loved the practical assignments that simulated real-world scenarios."

"The project work is helpful for building a portfolio."

Optional sections are brief and could be more comprehensive.

"Some parts felt a bit rushed, especially around the job search section; it was more of an overview than a deep dive..."

"My only minor gripe is that the optional sections on resume and job search could have been more comprehensive."

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 Build Dynamic User Interfaces (UI) for Websites with these activities:

Organize and review course materials regularly.

Show steps

Establish a regular routine for reviewing and organizing course materials to reinforce your understanding of key concepts and enhance your retention of the material.

Browse courses on UX Design

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Set aside dedicated time each week to review materials.
Chunk materials into smaller sections for easier digestion.
Summarize key points and create visual aids.

Review foundational design principles.

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Start by reviewing basic design principles to refresh your understanding of visual hierarchy, typography, and color theory, which are essential for creating effective user interfaces.

Browse courses on Design Principles

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Read articles or watch videos on design principles.
Review design portfolios to observe how professionals apply these principles.

Attend a UX design workshop on user research methods.

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Participate in a UX design workshop to gain hands-on experience in user research methods, which will enhance your understanding of users' needs and behaviors.

Browse courses on UX Design

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Find a UX design workshop on user research methods.
Register for the workshop.
Attend the workshop.
Participate in the activities.
Network with other attendees.

Five other activities

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Create a digital wireframe for a simple website.

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Create a digital wireframe using a tool like Figma to practice planning the layout and structure of a website, which will help you visualize and iterate on your designs more efficiently.

Browse courses on Wireframing

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Sketch out a paper wireframe of your website.
Use a digital wireframing tool to create a high-fidelity wireframe.

Follow tutorials on responsive web design.

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Enhance your understanding of responsive web design by completing tutorials that will guide you through the principles and techniques for creating websites that adapt to different devices and screen sizes.

Browse courses on Responsive Web Design

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Search for online tutorials on responsive web design.
Follow the steps in the tutorials to create your own responsive web design.

Participate in a UX design critique session.

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Engage in a UX design critique session with peers to receive feedback on your designs, enabling you to identify areas for improvement and gain valuable insights from others' perspectives.

Browse courses on User Experience Design

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Find a UX design critique session to join.
Prepare your design for presentation.
Attend the critique session.
Actively participate in the discussion.
Take notes and implement feedback.

Conduct usability testing on a website.

Show steps

Practice conducting usability testing on a website to gather feedback from users, which will help you identify areas for improvement and ensure your designs meet user needs.

Browse courses on Usability Testing

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Find a website to test.
Create a usability testing plan.
Recruit participants.
Conduct the usability test.
Analyze the results.

Develop a portfolio website to showcase your UX design work.

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Create a portfolio website that highlights your UX design skills and projects, enabling you to showcase your abilities to potential employers and demonstrate your commitment to the profession.

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Choose a portfolio website builder.
Design and develop your portfolio website.
Include examples of your best UX design work.
Write clear and concise descriptions of your projects.
Get feedback on your portfolio website.

Career center

Learners who complete Build Dynamic User Interfaces (UI) for Websites will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

User Experience Designer (UX Designer)

User experience designers (UX designers) are responsible for the user experience of a product or service. They work to make sure that the product is easy to use and enjoyable for the user. This course is a great fit for those who want to become UX designers. It provides a comprehensive overview of the UX design process, from empathizing with users to testing prototypes. You’ll also learn about design systems and how to collaborate with engineers to bring your designs to life.

See salaries and explore the career path for User Experience Designer (UX Designer)

Product Designer

Product designers are responsible for the design of products, from concept to launch. They work to create products that are useful, usable, and desirable. This course may be useful because it provides a comprehensive overview of the UX design process. You’ll also learn about design systems and how to collaborate with engineers to bring your designs to life.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Designer

Design Lead

Design leads are responsible for leading design teams and projects. They work to ensure that design is integrated into the product development process and that the user experience is a priority. This course may be useful because it provides a comprehensive overview of the UX design process. You’ll also learn about design systems and how to collaborate with engineers to bring your designs to life.

See salaries and explore the career path for Design Lead

Web Designer

Web designers are responsible for the design and layout of websites. They work to create websites that are visually appealing, easy to navigate, and informative. This course may be useful because it provides hands-on experience in designing website layouts, wireframes, and prototypes. You’ll also learn about usability testing and how to iterate on designs based on research insights.

See salaries and explore the career path for Web Designer

UX Engineer

UX engineers are responsible for translating UX designs into code. They work to ensure that the user experience is consistent across all platforms and devices. This course may be useful because it provides hands-on experience in collaborating with engineers to bring designs to life. You’ll also learn about design systems and how to work in an agile environment.

See salaries and explore the career path for UX Engineer

Creative Director

Creative directors are responsible for overseeing the creative vision for a company or organization. They work to ensure that all creative output is aligned with the brand and that the user experience is consistent across all touchpoints. This course may be useful because it provides a comprehensive overview of the UX design process. You’ll also learn about design systems and how to collaborate with engineers to bring your designs to life.

See salaries and explore the career path for Creative Director

Product Manager

Product managers are responsible for managing the development and launch of products. They work to ensure that products meet the needs of users and that they are successful in the market. This course may be useful because it provides a comprehensive overview of the UX design process. You’ll also learn about design systems and how to collaborate with engineers to bring your designs to life.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Manager

Interaction Designer

Interaction designers are responsible for designing the way that users interact with products and services. They work to create interactions that are intuitive, efficient, and engaging. This course may be useful because it provides hands-on experience in designing website layouts, wireframes, and prototypes. You’ll also learn about usability testing and how to iterate on designs based on research insights.

See salaries and explore the career path for Interaction Designer

UX Researcher

UX researchers are responsible for conducting user research to inform the design of products and services. They work to understand the needs and wants of users and to identify pain points in the user experience. This course may be useful because it provides hands-on experience in conducting usability studies. You’ll also learn about the UX design process and how to use research insights to improve designs.

See salaries and explore the career path for UX Researcher

Design Researcher

Design researchers are responsible for conducting user research to inform the design of products and services. They work to understand the needs and wants of users and to identify pain points in the user experience. This course may be useful because it provides hands-on experience in conducting usability studies. You’ll also learn about the UX design process and how to use research insights to improve designs.

See salaries and explore the career path for Design Researcher

Usability Analyst

Usability analysts are responsible for evaluating the usability of products and services. They work to identify usability issues and to recommend solutions to improve the user experience. This course may be useful because it provides hands-on experience in conducting usability studies. You’ll also learn about the UX design process and how to use research insights to improve designs.

See salaries and explore the career path for Usability Analyst

Information Architect

Information architects are responsible for designing the structure and organization of information. They work to ensure that information is easy to find and use. This course may be useful because it provides a comprehensive overview of the UX design process. You’ll also learn about design systems and how to collaborate with engineers to bring your designs to life.

See salaries and explore the career path for Information Architect

Web Developer

Web developers are responsible for developing and maintaining websites. They work to create websites that are functional, reliable, and secure. This course may be useful because it provides hands-on experience in designing website layouts, wireframes, and prototypes. You’ll also learn about usability testing and how to iterate on designs based on research insights.

See salaries and explore the career path for Web Developer

Agile Coach

Agile coaches are responsible for helping organizations adopt agile methodologies. They work to improve team collaboration, productivity, and quality. This course may be useful because it provides hands-on experience in collaborating with engineers to bring designs to life. You’ll also learn about design systems and how to work in an agile environment.

See salaries and explore the career path for Agile Coach

Front-End Web Developer

Front-end web developers are responsible for creating the visual interface for websites and web pages. This course may be useful because it provides hands-on experience in designing website layouts, wireframes, and prototypes. You’ll also learn about usability testing and how to iterate on designs based on research insights.

See salaries and explore the career path for Front-End Web Developer