TRAINING

Introduction to UX Research and Design

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Course Description

Your website is your main window to the world, and its user experience (UX) could be the key difference between users finding the information and services they need or moving on to the next option. Optimizing your site’s UX starts with user research and integration into user-centric designs. 

This course will give you a hands-on introduction to UX and usability principles to assess and improve your site’s usability. We'll guide you through the basics of UX theory, help you understand how to listen to your users’ needs, translate a concept into a prototype, and conduct user testing to validate your findings.

Learning Objectives

You'll come away from the course with knowledge of:

  • UX principles like user-centered design and design cycle phases
  • User’s needs and how to integrate research into the design process
  • Persona creation and how to identify your primary audiences 
  • UX design principles for non-designers, including usability heuristics and accessibility best practices
  • UX ideation and how to translate a concept into a prototype 
  • Best practices for validating design prototypes during usability testing 

Outline

You'll have exercises to complete between live sessions, access to a Slack channel and a one-on-one session to help you out.

  • Setup and introductions
  • Introduction to User Experience principles and processes
  • Understanding user needs: integrating research into the design process
  • UX Design: from concept to prototype
  • Evaluation: testing designs with users
  • Wrap-up and recommendations for further learning 

Background and Prerequisites

Is it UX design or UX research? 

People often think “design” when they see UX, but you do not need to be a UX designer or a user research expert to train with us! Think of this as an introduction to UX research with hands-on exercises and useful tips to help you collaborate with design teams and push your projects further. 

  • This course is for you if you know your website’s layout and UX needs improvement but you’re not sure how or where to begin
  • This course is for you if you’ve always been interested in UX, and are looking for a quick foundation to user experience principles and research practices
  • This course is not for you if you’re already very familiar with UX design and research practices like questionnaires and user persona creation
  • There are no technical requirements for the course but having access to your site’s Google Analytics could be an asset
  • Trainees should set aside about 2 hours between live sessions to review materials and prepare exercises

“I learned some very good techniques that improved on some of our existing practices. The hands-on approach was great to keep impatient learners engaged.”

– Lola Slade, Web Developer

Who Will Gain the Most From This Training?

This course is ideal for web managers, administrators, communications professionals, and even developers interested in UX and looking to improve their website usability.

 

Meet Your Instructor

Annika's headshot

 

 

 

 

 

Annika Oeser is an experienced UX designer and researcher who has designed countless websites and apps. She helps organizations build intuitive web experiences with her strong creative and problem-solving skills, and has experience in a variety of UX design and research techniques. Annika enjoys sharing her knowledge on UX improvements, and you will certainly learn some helpful tips no matter the size of your team or budget.

FAQ

Our blended learning approach mixes the best of both worlds: live online sessions and self-paced complementary learning materials. The core of our online training offering is our expert-led live sessions. In addition, you can always take advantage of our virtual learning platform's training guides and video tutorials as needed. 

Here's what to expect:

  • 👩‍🏫 Interactive sessions over Zoom (twice a week from 2 pm to 4 pm ET)
  • 📺 On-demand videos and virtual exercises to complete in between the sessions
  • 👨‍💻 A one-to-one session with your trainer for personalized support
  • 💬 A dedicated Slack workspace to get real-time answers to your specific questions
  • 🏆 A certificate upon completion

What is the format of live sessions? Our classes usually have 6-10 participants, and we have a hard limit of 12 participants per trainer. Our live sessions happen twice a week, usually on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and are 2-hour long (all times are on ET).

How is this different from other courses on the market? Our courses are designed for people who work full-time jobs and need to apply what they learn to real-life projects quickly. Our training includes live learning sessions and offers real-time mentorship from an expert

What are the trainers' credentials? Our courses are delivered by Strategists, Designers and Senior Developers with 10+ years of experience. They're seasoned professionals with real-world projects in a variety of sectors, from small businesses to multinational corporations.

Do I need to install anything on my computer? We’ll give you the necessary instructions and support to work with Drupal locally on your computer for the development courses. If you face restrictions, we’ll provide an alternative remote environment so you can work from your browser.

My organization requires an invoice. Can you provide one? Yes. Contact us before proceeding with payment. We can issue you an invoice with a link to pay via credit card or electronic transfer.

Do you offer discounts for charities or individuals? Yes, contact us to receive a discount on the course.

Do you offer custom training? Yes, we can provide custom training for your team. Learn more about our approach to tailoring a custom course or get in touch with us, and we can set up training that fits your needs.

Can I switch my start date? Can I get a refund? We can reschedule your ticket to the next available course. Our training program runs twice a year, with a first cohort slated to start in March and the second in September. Tickets are refundable up until 30 days before the start of the course. And it's always free and easy to transfer your ticket to another person, just contact us.

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