UX: User-Centered Analysis and Conceptual Design

Course Overview

Foundations of User-Centered Design

• Defining User-Centered Design (UCD) and Its Principles
• UCD vs. Design Thinking: Contrasts and Connections
• When and Why to Use User Research
• Understanding Return on Investment (ROI) in UX
• Introduction to User-Centered Analysis (UCA)
• User Testing vs. Usability Testing
• Qualitative vs. Quantitative Research
• The Importance of Context: Client and Industry Analysis

Stakeholder Engagement and Research Planning

• Identifying Stakeholders and Their Roles
• Stakeholder Management Strategies
• Conducting Effective Stakeholder Interviews
• Aligning Business and User Goals
• Planning Your Research: Objectives, Constraints, and Ethics

The Researcher’s Mindset

• The Role of the UX Researcher
• Embracing Objectivity and Intersubjective Knowledge
• Understanding and Mitigating Bias
• Types of Cognitive Biases (e.g., Confirmation, Framing, Social Desirability)
• Avoiding Researcher Influence: Best Practices
• Ethical Considerations in Research

Conducting Qualitative User Research

• Designing a Research Plan
• Recruiting Participants: Strategies and Screeners
• Crafting an Interview Guide
• Conducting 1:1 Interviews
• Building Rapport and Active Listening
• Interviewing for Empathy and Insight
• Focus Groups
• Competitor Studies
• Analyzing Qualitative Data
• Story Share-and-Capture Sessions
• Grounded Theory and Thematic Analysis

Conducting Quantitative User Research

• When to Use Quantitative Methods
• Defining Metrics and Statistical Significance
• Designing and Distributing Surveys
• Gathering Rich Data in an Actionable Format
• Triangulating Data with Qualitative Insights

From Data to Insight

• Synthesizing Research Findings
• Creating Empathy Maps and Journey Maps
• Visualizing Pain Points and Emotions
• Mapping Touchpoints and Interactions
• Setting User-Centered Goals
• Defining Problem and Mission Statements
• Using “How Might We…” and Laddering Techniques
• Hypothesis Generation and Prioritization
• Introduction to SMART UX Metrics

Personas

• Purpose and Power of Personas in UX
• Creating Meaningful, Data-Driven Personas
• Elastic vs. Concrete Personas
• Persona-Driven Decision Making

Scenarios and Storyboarding

• Using Scenarios to Frame User Needs
• Writing High-Quality Scenarios
• Visualizing Scenarios through Storyboards

Content Strategy in Conceptual Design

• Defining Content Strategy in UX
• Key Components: Substance, Structure, Workflow, and Governance
• Aligning Content with User Motivations and Business Goals
• Developing Fact-Based Personas for Content Planning
• Using Content Models and Mapping Flows
• Creating Style Guides, Templates, and Governance Structures
• Voice, Tone, and Accessibility Considerations
• Measuring Content Effectiveness

Prototyping Concepts and Testing Ideas

• Low-Fidelity Prototyping: Paper and Sketches
• High-Fidelity Prototyping: Tools like Figma, XD, and Sketch
• Incorporating Research into Prototyping Decisions
• Iterative Testing and Feedback Loops

Prerequisites

UX: A Deep Dive into Users