Introduction to UX Design

Importance of UX Design

• Companies of all sizes rely on UX designers to make technology easier and more enjoyable to use.
• High demand for UX designers; many job openings.
• UX designers come from diverse backgrounds; a college degree isn't always necessary.
• Many UX designers are self-taught and have landed jobs without a specific work history.
• This program helps you gain foundational skills, hands-on experience, and confidence for a UX design career.
• Opportunities to share your credentials with top employers like Google.

Program Structure

• Seven-course program:
  1. Basics of UX Design.
  2. User Research, Empathize, Define, Ideate.
  3. Creating Storyboards, Wireframes, Low Fidelity Prototypes.
  4. Research and Testing Ideas.
  5. Creating Mock-Ups and High-Fidelity Prototypes.
  6. Designing with Adobe XD.
  7. Building a Portfolio and Marketing Yourself.
• Courses include videos, readings, hands-on activities, discussion prompts, and quizzes.
• Self-paced with the flexibility to complete material at your own speed.
• Tools used: Figma, Adobe XD.

Learning Outcomes

• Conduct research, draw wireframes, create designs using digital tools.
• Complete three unique projects to earn a completion certificate.
• Develop a portfolio, resume, and interview skills.
• Learn from Google employees with diverse backgrounds.
• Understand the general and specialized roles in UX.

Introduction to Instructors

• Michael: Interaction Designer at Google, covers fundamental principles of UX Design.
• Emily: Senior UX Researcher for Google Assistant, focuses on user research.
• Karen: Interaction Designer on the Material Design team, covers storyboards and wireframes.
• Jason: Head of Equity Engineering, covers research and testing ideas.
• Kunal: UX Designer for the Material Design team, focuses on creating mock-ups and prototypes.
• Dave: UX Manager on Google Maps, introduces Adobe XD.
• Paulo: Director of UX for YouTube Ads, guides portfolio creation for job readiness.
• Shabby: Interaction Designer for Central Accessibility, focuses on accessible design.

History of UX Design

• Term “User Experience” first coined in the 1990s by Don Norman.
• Principles date back to ancient practices like Feng Shui.
• UX in tech focuses on the interaction with products.
• Course covers UX foundations, common terms, tools, and frameworks.
• Plan and participate in design sprints.
• Build a professional online presence and portfolio.

Basic Concepts in UX Design

• User Experience (UX): How a person feels about interacting with a product.
• Good UX qualities: Usable, equitable, enjoyable, and useful.
• Research importance: Collecting evidence on user experience.

UX Roles and Colleagues

• UX Designers often share skills and interests rather than work histories or education backgrounds.
• Tasks include interaction design, visual design, motion design, user research, UX writing, production design, UX engineering, and program management.

Good vs. Poor UX Design

• Importance of usability, accessibility, enjoyment, and usefulness in design.
• Learn from everyday interactions with products with good or poor user experience.

Entry-Level UX Designer Responsibilities

• Research, wireframing, prototyping, creating information architecture, and effective communication.
• Tasks vary depending on the company and role specialization.
  • Generalist: Broad responsibilities, common in smaller companies.
  • Specialist: Focus on a specific aspect of UX, common in larger companies.
  • T-Shaped Designer: Specializes in one area while having a breadth of knowledge in others.

Working in UX Teams

• Importance of collaboration with other designers, engineers, researchers, product leads, and program managers.
• Understanding different company types (startups, agencies, large companies) and their influence on UX roles.

UX Career Paths

• Opportunities after training: Internships, apprenticeships, freelancing, entry-level jobs.
• Building a portfolio and gaining real job experience are crucial.
• Importance of self-promotion and continuous learning.

UX Design Frameworks

• User-Centered Design:
  • Understand, Specify, Design, Evaluate.
• Five Elements of UX Design:
  • Strategy, Scope, Structure, Skeleton, Surface.
• Design Thinking:
  • Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype, Test.

Inclusive and Accessible Design

• Universal Design:
  • One solution for the widest range of users.
  • Often falls short in inclusiveness.
• Inclusive Design:
  • Designing for one, extending to many.
  • Includes diverse abilities, backgrounds.
• Equity-Focused Design:
  • Focus on historically underrepresented or excluded groups.
  • Understanding difference between equality and equity.
  • Addressing permanent, temporary, and situational disabilities.
• Assistive Technologies:
  • Voice control, screen readers, color modification, alternative text.

Designing Across Platforms

• Importance of maintaining a consistent user experience and brand identity across platforms (desktop, mobile, tablets, etc.).
• Best Practices for Mobile Design:
  • Clear call-to-action buttons, simple navigation, intuitive gestures, responsive design.

Design Sprints

• Five Phases:
  • Understand, Ideate, Decide, Prototype, Test.
• Benefits: User-focused, inclusive, efficient, low-risk.
• Planning involves user research, cross-team collaboration, appropriate space, and documentation.
• Roles in Design Sprints:
  • Entry-level designers actively participate in brainstorming, prototyping, and user testing.
• Importance of retrospectives for continuous improvement.

Building a Portfolio

• Importance of showcasing work and skills for job applications.
• Website Builders:
  • Wix, Squarespace, Webflow.
• Essential Features:
  • Personal brand, storytelling, case studies, responsive design, testing.
• Professional Presence:
  • Consistent branding across social media and UX communities (LinkedIn, Twitter, Dribble, Behance, Medium).

Networking and Mentorship

• Importance of networking and finding a mentor.
• Benefits of professional connections for career growth.
• Strategies to overcome imposter syndrome and build confidence.

Course Wrap-Up

• Overview of user experience principles, tools, frameworks, and career paths.
• Building a professional presence and solid UX foundation for future courses.

Next Steps

• Continue learning in the next course focused on user research, understanding design problems, and brainstorming solutions.
• Instructor: Emily, Senior UX Researcher.
• Prepare for assessments and practical activities.

Conclusion

• Congratulations on completing the first course.
• Continue building your portfolio and engaging with the UX community.