Foundations of User Experience (UX) Design
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Foundations of User Experience (UX) Design
This course is part of Google UX Design Professional Certificate
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75,742 reviews
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.
Details to know
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- Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
- Earn a shareable career certificate from Google
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 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
17 videos12 readings3 assignments2 plugins
17 videos•Total 57 minutes
- Welcome to the Google UX Design Certificate•5 minutes
- Introduction to Course 1: Foundations of User Experience Design•2 minutes
- Get started with your Google UX Design Certificate•2 minutes
- Welcome to module 1 •1 minute
- The basics of user experience design•5 minutes
- Design for good user experience •3 minutes
- The product development life cycle •5 minutes
- Michael: Get started in UX design•2 minutes
- Jobs in the field of user experience •5 minutes
- Job responsibilities of entry-level UX designers•4 minutes
- Specialists, generalists, and T-shaped designers•4 minutes
- Erika - Generalist or specialist designer•4 minutes
- Work in a cross-functional team•2 minutes
- Juan - A UX design career journey •4 minutes
- UX design jobs at different types of companies•4 minutes
- From certificate to career success•2 minutes
- Wrap-up: Introducing user experience design •1 minute
12 readings•Total 74 minutes
- Begin the Google UX Design Certificate•8 minutes
- Helpful resources and tips•4 minutes
- Characteristics of good user experience•8 minutes
- Review: Identify good user experience•4 minutes
- Learn more about the product development life cycle •8 minutes
- User experience careers •8 minutes
- Most common UX tools•4 minutes
- Stay current with the UX industry•12 minutes
- The role of a beginner UX designer•8 minutes
- Interact with cross-functional teammates •4 minutes
- The influence of company size and industry•4 minutes
- Glossary terms from module 1•2 minutes
3 assignments•Total 101 minutes
- Module 1 Challenge•75 minutes
- Reflection: Your journey to become a UX designer •20 minutes
- Test your knowledge of the roles you can pursue in UX design•6 minutes
2 plugins•Total 20 minutes
- Participant entry survey•10 minutes
- Identify a good user experience•10 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 videos6 readings3 assignments1 app item
9 videos•Total 37 minutes
- Welcome to module 2•1 minute
- Universal design, inclusive design, and equity-focused design •9 minutes
- The importance of equity-focused design•5 minutes
- Get to know platforms •2 minutes
- Design for different platforms •4 minutes
- User-centered design•3 minutes
- Assistive technology •6 minutes
- Elise - The importance of assistive technology•4 minutes
- Akhil - Thinking about users new to technology•3 minutes
6 readings•Total 20 minutes
- Get learning assistance with Google AI Pro at no cost•4 minutes
- Designing cross-platform experiences•4 minutes
- Who are my users? •4 minutes
- Additional resources on designing for accessibility•2 minutes
- User-centered design and assistive technology•4 minutes
- Glossary terms from module 2•2 minutes
3 assignments•Total 62 minutes
- Module 2 Challenge•50 minutes
- Test your knowledge on equitable design approaches •6 minutes
- Test your knowledge on the user•6 minutes
1 app item•Total 4 minutes
- Redeem Your Google AI Pro Trial•4 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 readings7 assignments1 plugin
10 videos•Total 27 minutes
- Welcome to module 3•1 minute
- Introduction to design sprints•3 minutes
- Five phases of design sprints •5 minutes
- Benefits of design sprints •2 minutes
- Plan design sprints•4 minutes
- The design sprint brief •3 minutes
- An entry-level designer’s role in a sprint •4 minutes
- Jason - All about design sprints•2 minutes
- Design sprint retrospectives•2 minutes
- Wrap up module 3•0 minutes
10 readings•Total 57 minutes
- Design thinking: A UX design framework•4 minutes
- UX design business requirements•4 minutes
- Phase 1: Empathize with users•4 minutes
- Phase 2: Define users’ needs•4 minutes
- Phase 3: Ideate solutions•4 minutes
- Phase 4: Prototype solutions•4 minutes
- Phase 5: Test solutions•4 minutes
- Learn more about design sprints •12 minutes
- Common retrospective questions •15 minutes
- Glossary terms from course 1, module 3•2 minutes
7 assignments•Total 120 minutes
- Module 3 Challenge•50 minutes
- Test your knowledge on the design thinking framework•30 minutes
- Test your knowledge on design sprints•8 minutes
- Test your knowledge on planning a design sprint•6 minutes
- Self-Reflection: Identify the benefits of design sprints•10 minutes
- Self-Reflection: Think through a retrospective for a previous project•10 minutes
- Test your knowledge on design sprint retrospectives •6 minutes
1 plugin•Total 30 minutes
- Organize a design sprint•30 minutes
As a UX designer, a portfolio is an opportunity to share your skills and experience with potential employers. Throughout these courses, you will complete activities that guide you through the process of creating your own portfolio website.
What's included
3 videos7 readings1 assignment
3 videos•Total 6 minutes
- Introduction to UX design portfolios•2 minutes
- Lisa - Create a UX design portfolio•2 minutes
- Congratulations on completing Course 1: Foundations of User Experience Design•2 minutes
7 readings•Total 58 minutes
- Introduction to the first portfolio project•10 minutes
- The portfolio project guide checklist•10 minutes
- Review: Explore UX design portfolios•10 minutes
- Choose your portfolio prompt•10 minutes
- Join the community •4 minutes
- Course 1 glossary•10 minutes
- Start the next course•4 minutes
1 assignment•Total 60 minutes
- Submit your choice of portfolio project prompt•60 minutes
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Reviewed on Dec 27, 2022
It was a great experience. It is natural that some of the beginnings are difficult or exciting for the two together, but this course was enthusiastic and enjoyable and a good beginning for the future
Reviewed on Aug 28, 2022
I learned so much about the foundations of UX design, the various roles and processes that UX designers engage in daily. The overlay of videos, readings, and test modules helped solidify my learning.
Reviewed on Dec 17, 2021
It has been fantastic so far. The gradual guided transition of a total newbee to the world of UX designing is commendable. The section on networking has been very useful in setting a path to walk on.
Frequently asked questions
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. The role of an entry-level UX designer might include coming up with ideas to address user problems, conducting research with users, and designing wireframes, mockups, and prototypes.
If you enjoy talking to and empathizing with people, drawing, thinking creatively, or paying attention to details, a job as a UX designer might be a good fit for you!
No prior experience with design or specific tools is required. All you need is an interest in creating great user experiences for apps, websites, and physical products!
Figma and Adobe XD are the design tools taught in this certificate program. Spreadsheets, word processing applications, and presentation applications will also be used. Throughout the program, you will create a professional portfolio, using the platform of your choice, to showcase your UX design work.
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