User Research and Design

About this course: In this course you will learn and practice techniques of user research and early UI design exploration. First, you will learn and practice several techniques for user research, including in-person research and survey and log-analysis techniques. Then, you will learn to analyze and deliver user research in forms that support UI design, including personas, use cases, tasks, and scenarios. Finally, you will learn and practice ideation techniques that start from user research and broadly generate potential design ideas.

Created by:  University of Minnesota

• Taught by:  Loren Terveen, Professor

  Computer Science and Engineering

• Taught by:  Haiyi Zhu, Assistant Professor

  Computer Science and Engineering

• Taught by:  Lana Yarosh, Assistant Professor

  Computer Science and Engineering

• Taught by:  Dr. Brent Hecht, Assistant Professor

  Computer Science and Engineering

• Taught by:  Joseph A Konstan, Distinguished McKnight Professor and Distinguished University Teaching Professor

  Computer Science and Engineering

Basic Info Course 2 of 5 in the User Interface Design Specialization Language English How To Pass Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. User Ratings 4.7 stars Average User Rating 4.7See what learners said Coursework

Each course is like an interactive textbook, featuring pre-recorded videos, quizzes and projects.

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University of Minnesota The University of Minnesota is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation’s most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

Syllabus


WEEK 1


Preface
Note that weeks 1 and 2 form a cohesive whole, with more lecture content in week 1, and more practice (assignment and quizzing) in week 2.


2 videos expand

1. Video: From User Research to Design
2. Video: An Introduction to the Course

User Research Methods — Part 1



6 videos expand

1. Video: Introduction to User Research
2. Video: Interview and Focus Groups
3. Video: Observations
4. Video: Contextual Inquiry
5. Video: Ethics and Consent
6. Video: Design a User Research Protocol

WEEK 2


User Research Methods — Part 2



3 videos, 1 reading, 1 practice quiz expand

1. Video: Log Analysis
2. Video: Surveys and Questionnaires
3. Video: Assignment Video: Observing Users
4. Reading: Observation Assigment Overview
5. Practice Quiz: Observation Review Practice

Graded: Formative Observations of 2 Users
Graded: User Research Methods Quiz

WEEK 3


Analyzing and Delivering User Research
The 3rd and 4th week of the course are intended to be a unit, with more lecture content in week 3, and more practice (assignment and quizzing) in week 4.


8 videos expand

1. Video: Introduction: Translating User Research to Support Design
2. Video: Qualitative Analysis
3. Video: Quantitative Analysis
4. Video: Personas I: What They Are; How They're Used
5. Video: Personas II: Walking Through Examples
6. Video: Use Cases
7. Video: Tasks and Walkthrough Scenarios
8. Video: Implications for Design

WEEK 4


Ideation and Idea Selection



5 videos expand

1. Video: From Research to Ideas: Module Introduction
2. Video: Ideation
3. Video: Idea Selection
4. Video: Communicating Ideas to Stakeholders
5. Video: Assignment Video: Ideation and Selection

Graded: Idea Generation & Selection Peer Review
Graded: Delivering User Research, Ideation, and Idea Selection