Foundations of User Experience (UX) Design

This course is part of Google UX Design Professional Certificate

Instructor: Google Career Certificates

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What you'll learn

Identify common job responsibilities of entry-level UX designers and other teams you might work with.
Understand foundational concepts in UX design, such as user-centered design, the design process, accessibility, and equity-focused design.
Explain why design sprints are an important and useful part of a UX designer’s work.

Skills you'll gain

User Experience

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Assessments

11 quizzes, 6 assignments

Taught in English

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This course is part of the Google UX Design Professional Certificate

When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Professional Certificate.

Learn new concepts from industry experts
Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
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There are 4 modules in this course

Foundations of User Experience (UX) Design is the first of a series of seven courses that will equip you with the skills needed to apply to entry-level jobs in user experience design. UX designers focus on the interactions that people have with products like websites, mobile apps, and physical objects. UX designers make those everyday interactions usable, enjoyable, and accessible. The role of an entry-level UX designer might include empathizing with users, defining their pain points, coming up with ideas for design solutions, creating wireframes, prototypes, and mockups, and testing designs to get feedback.

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. No previous experience is necessary. By the end of this course, you will be able to: - Define the field of UX and explain why it’s important for consumers and businesses. - Understand foundational concepts in UX design, such as user-centered design, the design thinking framework, accessibility, and equity-focused design. - Identify the factors that contribute to great user experience design. - Review common job responsibilities of entry-level UX designers and teams that they work with. - Explore job opportunities and career paths within the field of user experience. - Explain why design sprints are an important and useful part of a UX designer’s work. - Describe common UX research methods. - Identify and account for biases in UX research.

User experience (UX) designers focus on the experience that users have while using products like websites, apps, and physical objects. UX designers make those everyday interactions useful, enjoyable, and accessible. In the first part of this course, you'll be introduced to the world of UX and the factors that contribute to great user experience design. You'll understand the job of a UX designer and teams that UX designers often work with. You’ll also get to know more about the expectations of the Google UX Design Certificate.

What's included

18 videos13 readings2 quizzes1 assignment3 plugins

18 videosTotal 60 minutes

Welcome to the Google UX Design Certificate5 minutesPreview module
Michael: Get started in UX design2 minutes
Introduction to Course 1: Foundations of User Experience Design2 minutes
Welcome to module 1 1 minute
The basics of user experience design4 minutes
Jobs in the field of user experience 5 minutes
The product development life cycle 5 minutes
Design for good user experience 3 minutes
Job responsibilities of entry-level UX designers3 minutes
Specialists, generalists, and T-shaped designers3 minutes
Dane - A day in the life of an entry-level UX designer2 minutes
Erika - Generalist or specialist designer3 minutes
Work in a cross-functional team2 minutes
UX design jobs at different types of companies3 minutes
From certificate to career success2 minutes
Juan - A UX design career journey 4 minutes
Mike - A UX design career journey3 minutes
Wrap-up: Introducing user experience design 1 minute

13 readingsTotal 210 minutes

Begin the Google UX Design Certificate20 minutes
Obtain the Google UX Design Certificate10 minutes
Helpful resources and tips10 minutes
User experience careers 20 minutes
Most common UX tools10 minutes
Stay current with the UX industry40 minutes
Learn more about the product development life cycle 20 minutes
Characteristics of good user experience20 minutes
Review: Identify good user experience10 minutes
The role of a beginner UX designer20 minutes
Interact with cross-functional teammates 10 minutes
The influence of company size and industry10 minutes
Glossary terms from module 110 minutes

2 quizzesTotal 81 minutes

Test your knowledge of the roles you can pursue in UX design6 minutes
Module 1 Challenge: The basics of user experience design75 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 20 minutes

Self-Reflection: Your journey to become a UX designer20 minutes

3 pluginsTotal 30 minutes

Commit to completing the program10 minutes
Participant entry survey10 minutes
Identify a good user experience10 minutes

UX designers always put the user first. In this part of the course, you'll be introduced to user-centered design and one of the design frameworks that UX designers use on the job. You'll also learn about design best practices, including the importance of inclusive design and accessibility when designing. In addition, you'll learn how to think across platforms to design seamless user experiences.

What's included

9 videos5 readings1 quiz2 assignments

9 videosTotal 37 minutes

Welcome to week 21 minutePreview module
Universal design, inclusive design, and equity-focused design 8 minutes
The importance of equity-focused design4 minutes
Get to know platforms 2 minutes
Design for different platforms 4 minutes
User-centered design3 minutes
Assistive technology 5 minutes
Elise - The importance of assistive technology4 minutes
Akhil - Thinking about users new to technology3 minutes

5 readingsTotal 42 minutes

Designing cross-platform experiences10 minutes
Who are my users? 10 minutes
Additional resources on designing for accessibility2 minutes
User-centered design and assistive technology10 minutes
Glossary terms from module 210 minutes

1 quizTotal 50 minutes

Module 2 challenge: Thinking like a UX designer50 minutes

2 assignmentsTotal 12 minutes

Test your knowledge on equitable design approaches 6 minutes
Test your knowledge on the user6 minutes

UX designers often participate in design sprints to define the direction of a product. In this part of the course, you'll explore the world of design sprints, including the phases of a design sprint and how to plan and participate in one. You'll also learn about retrospectives, which is a way to constructively reflect on a design sprint and identify areas of improvement to implement next time.

What's included

10 videos10 readings6 quizzes1 assignment1 plugin

10 videosTotal 27 minutes

Welcome to module 30 minutesPreview module
Introduction to design sprints3 minutes
Five phases of design sprints 5 minutes
Benefits of design sprints 2 minutes
Plan design sprints4 minutes
The design sprint brief 3 minutes
An entry-level designer’s role in a sprint 3 minutes
Jason - All about design sprints1 minute
Design sprint retrospectives2 minutes
Wrap up module 30 minutes

10 readingsTotal 125 minutes

Design thinking: A UX design framework10 minutes
UX design business requirements10 minutes
Phase 1: Empathize with users10 minutes
Phase 2: Define users’ needs10 minutes
Phase 3: Ideate solutions10 minutes
Phase 4: Prototype solutions10 minutes
Phase 5: Test solutions10 minutes
Learn more about design sprints 30 minutes
Common retrospective questions 15 minutes
Glossary terms from module 310 minutes

6 quizzesTotal 112 minutes

Test your knowledge on the design thinking framework30 minutes
Test your knowledge on planning a design sprint6 minutes
Self-Reflection: Identify the benefits of design sprints10 minutes
Self-Reflection: Think through a retrospective for a previous project10 minutes
Test your knowledge on design sprint retrospectives 6 minutes
Module 3 challenge: Design sprints50 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 8 minutes

Test your knowledge on design sprints8 minutes

1 pluginTotal 30 minutes

Organize a design sprint30 minutes

As a UX designer, it's your job to put the user front-and-center in everything you do. In this part of the course, you'll explore the role of research in the design process to help you better understand and empathize with users. You'll also learn about the benefits and drawbacks of common UX research methods. And, you'll identify and account for biases that can arise when conducting research.

What's included

10 videos8 readings2 quizzes2 assignments1 plugin

10 videosTotal 35 minutes

Emily - The power of UX research 1 minutePreview module
Introduction to UX research 5 minutes
Christie - How feedback impacts design 2 minutes
Choose the right research method 5 minutes
Understand benefits and drawbacks of research methods3 minutes
Craig - My journey to UX 2 minutes
Identify types of bias in UX research 9 minutes
Deana - Identify bias in UX research1 minute
Wrap-up: Integrating research into the design process1 minute
Congratulations on completing Course 1: Foundations of User Experience Design1 minute

8 readingsTotal 110 minutes

Integrating research into the design process10 minutes
Learn more about UX research 20 minutes
Learn more about research methods 20 minutes
Learn more about bias in UX research 20 minutes
Glossary terms from module 410 minutes
Join the community 10 minutes
Course 1 glossary10 minutes
Start the next course10 minutes

2 quizzesTotal 90 minutes

Activity: Optional - Implicit bias quiz30 minutes
Module 4 Challenge: Research in the design process60 minutes

2 assignmentsTotal 12 minutes

Test your knowledge on the importance of UX research6 minutes
Test your knowledge on UX research methods6 minutes

1 pluginTotal 30 minutes

Choose the best research method30 minutes

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Google Career Certificates

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Reviewed on Apr 24, 2021

It's been a great start, however creating a portfolio doesn't seem quite feasible within this time frame. I will now enroll in webflow university to better understand and get started on the portfolio.

Reviewed on Oct 7, 2024

it helped me become aware of my own shortcomings and taught me to be sensitive towards myself and others as they are also humans and in their own journey! that is, if you look at the bigger picture ;)

Reviewed on Nov 19, 2023

I was nervous trying out this course and I am really surprised and happy by how well broken down it is, It is easy to understand and also very flexible. I look forward to completing the other courses

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