Conduct UX Research and Test Early Concepts

Conduct UX Research and Test Early Concepts is the fourth course in a certificate program that will equip you with the skills you need to apply to entry-level jobs in user experience (UX) design. In this course, you will learn how to plan and conduct a usability study to gather feedback about designs. Then, you will modify your low-fidelity designs based on insights from your research. 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.

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Plan a UX research study, including the project background, research goals, research questions, Key Performance Indicators, methodology, participants, and script.
• Explain the importance of respecting privacy and user data.
• Conduct a moderated and unmoderated usability study.
• Take notes during a usability study.
• Create affinity diagrams to group and analyze data.
• Synthesize observations from research and come up with insights.
• Develop persuasive presentation skills to share research insights.
• Modify low-fidelity designs based on research insights.
• Continue to design a mobile app to include in your professional portfolio.

To be successful in this course, you should complete the previous three courses in the certificate program. Or, you need to have an ability to conduct user research to inform the creation of empathy maps, personas, user stories, user journey maps, problem statements, and value propositions; as well as an ability to create wireframes and low-fidelity prototypes on paper and in Figma.

• Plan and conduct moderated and unmoderated usability studies.

• Synthesize observations from usability studies and come up with insights.

• Share research methodology and insights using persuasive presentation skills.

• Modify low-fidelity designs based on research insights.

Syllabus

Syllabus - What you will learn from this course
Week 1
Planning UX research studies
Week 2
Conducting research with usability studies
Week 3
Analyzing and synthesizing research results
Week 4
Sharing research insights for better designs

FAQ

When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?

Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:

The course may not offer an audit option. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid.

The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.

What will I get if I subscribe to this Certificate?

When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Certificate, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.

What is a UX designer?

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!

What background is required?

This course is the fourth of seven courses that will equip you with the skills you need to apply to entry-level jobs in user experience design. We recommend that you complete the first course of the Google UX Design Certificate (Foundations of User Experience (UX) Design), the second course (Start the UX Design Process: Empathize, Define, and Ideate), and the third course (Build Wireframes and Low-Fidelity Prototypes) before completing this fourth course of the program.

Alternatively, you should have experience conducting user research in order to empathize with user needs and determine specific user pain points. You also need to have the ability to create personas, user stories, and user journey maps, as well as draft problem statements and value propositions. You need to know how to create wireframes and low-fidelity prototypes on paper and in the design tool Figma. If you are unfamiliar with any of these topics, they are covered in earlier courses of the Google UX Design Certificate.

What tools or platforms are included in the curriculum?

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.

Which jobs will this certificate help me prepare for?

One of the most exciting parts about joining the field of user experience is the large number of job opportunities available. Nearly every company needs UX designers to help create their digital and physical products. While the need for UX designers continues to grow, there is currently a shortage of UX design professionals to fill those roles. 

A career in UX design allows you the opportunity to work as a generalist, finding a role as a UX designer, UI designer, or UX researcher, or as a specialist, like a visual designer or interaction designer. Upon completion of this certificate program, you will be able to search for jobs with all of these titles, and find the role that best suits you.

Do I need to take the course in a certain order?

This is the fourth of seven courses in the Google UX Design Certificate. We highly recommend completing the seven courses in this certificate program in the order presented, because the content and applications in each course build on information presented and practiced in earlier courses.

Reviews

It was nice course describing how to conduct UX research and test early concepts. Some parts of it were jsut text heavy and would have worked better it was an interactive activity (team work).

One of the best courses in the UX/UI professional certificate because its explains the importance of secomdary research in understanding user's needs and pain points.

The course was great, with detailed explanation and a lot of examples. The assessments and quizzes were very helpful. My experience with this course was really awesome.

The course is hard and the instructions for the weekly challenge, especially the last one was very vague and lack of instructions made it hard to complete the course.