Start the UX Design Process Empathize, Define, and Ideate

Start the UX design process: Empathize, Define, Ideate is the second course in a certificate program that will equip you with the skills needed to apply to entry-level jobs in user experience (UX) design. In this course, you’ll complete the first phases of the design process for a project that you’ll be able to include in your portfolio. You will learn how to empathize with users and understand their pain points, define user needs using problem statements, and come up with lots of ideas for solutions to those user problems. 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. No previous experience is necessary.

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

• Empathize with users to understand their needs and pain points.
• Create empathy maps, personas, user stories, and user journey maps to understand user needs.
• Develop problem statements to define user needs.
• Generate ideas for possible solutions to user problems.
• Conduct competitive audits.
• Start designing a mobile app, a new project to include in your professional UX portfolio.

• Empathize with users to understand their needs and pain points.

• Develop problem statements to define user needs.

• Generate ideas for possible solutions to user problems.

Syllabus

Syllabus - What you will learn from this course
Week 1
Empathizing with users and defining pain points
Week 2
Creating user stories and user journey maps
Week 3
Defining user problems
Week 4
Ideating design solutions

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:

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 the refund policy?

If you subscribed, you get a 7-day free trial during which you can cancel at no penalty. After that, we don’t give refunds, but you can cancel your subscription at any time. See our full refund policy.

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 second 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, before completing this second course of the program.

Otherwise, 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!

What tools or platforms are included in the curriculum?

Figma and Adobe XD are the design tools taught in the seven courses of the Google UX Design Certificate. This course focuses on the early phases of the design process, so both Figma and Adobe XD will be introduced in later courses of the 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 second 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

Research is not my stong suit, and it was a challenge for me to get through this course. Now that I've completed this portion I have developed a new appreciation for UX research and design.

My instructor was engaging and communicated very well. The transcription was super handy and I loved that the reading after the lecture re-emphasized the content of the lecture. Excellent. Thank you.

I fell off and didn't begin working on the final assignment for a WEEKS. I just got so busy. I kept resetting my deadlines multiple times. It's such a relief to finally have this course completed.

Very good course with a really solid project to follow through each week. Going through all the steps helped me think about project design with an eye towards the user experience in new ways.