UX Course

Lesson 1 • Mental Models and User Psychology

Covers cognitive principles that explain how users perceive and interact with interfaces. Grounds design decisions in human behavior rather than personal preference.

Lesson 2 • The UX Design Process

Introduces the end-to-end design process from discovery to delivery. Frames each phase so students understand where each course topic fits.

Lesson 3 • Accessibility and Inclusive Design

Introduces accessibility standards and inclusive design thinking as non-negotiable foundations. Students learn to design for diverse abilities from the start.

Lesson 4 • What UX Design Really Means

Defines UX beyond aesthetics, covering usability, utility, and desirability. Establishes shared vocabulary used throughout the course.

Lesson 1 • Research Ethics and Participant Safety

Addresses informed consent, data handling, and vulnerable population considerations. Ensures research practice meets professional and ethical standards.

Lesson 2 • Research Planning and Strategy

Covers how to define research goals, questions, and scope before fieldwork begins. Prevents wasted effort by aligning research to design decisions.

Lesson 3 • Surveys and Contextual Inquiry

Introduces survey design principles and field observation methods. Expands the research toolkit beyond interviews for broader or in-context data.

Lesson 4 • Conducting User Interviews

Teaches interview structure, question types, and active listening techniques. Students practice extracting deep insights without leading participants.

Lesson 1 • Problem Statement and HMW Questions

Covers point-of-view statements and How Might We question framing. Converts user insights into design-ready problem definitions.

Lesson 2 • Empathy Mapping

Introduces empathy maps as a tool to externalize user thinking, feeling, and doing. Bridges raw research data and actionable design insights.

Lesson 3 • Jobs-to-Be-Done Framework

Reframes user needs as jobs users hire products to accomplish. Shifts focus from features to underlying motivations and desired outcomes.

Lesson 4 • Building User Personas

Teaches evidence-based persona creation grounded in research data. Personas become shared references that keep design decisions user-centered.

Lesson 1 • Card Sorting Techniques

Covers open, closed, and hybrid card sorting methods for validating content groupings. Connects user mental models to navigation structure decisions.

Lesson 2 • Sitemaps and Content Hierarchies

Teaches sitemap creation as a communication tool between designers and stakeholders. Formalizes content hierarchy decisions before wireframing begins.

Lesson 3 • Tree Testing and IA Validation

Introduces tree testing as a method to validate navigation structures without visual design. Provides data-driven evidence for IA decisions.

Lesson 4 • Principles of Information Architecture

Introduces IA concepts including organization, labeling, and findability. Establishes why structure directly impacts usability and user trust.

Lesson 1 • High-Fidelity Prototyping

Covers building polished, near-production prototypes with real UI components. Prepares students to communicate final design intent to developers.

Lesson 2 • Interaction Design Fundamentals

Covers microinteractions, state changes, and feedback loops that make interfaces feel responsive. Connects interaction decisions to user mental models.

Lesson 3 • Clickable Prototype Creation

Teaches linking wireframes into navigable prototypes for user testing. Students learn to scope prototype fidelity to match testing goals.

Lesson 4 • Mid-Fidelity Wireframing

Introduces structured wireframes with real content, spacing, and component placement. Bridges early sketches and high-fidelity mockups for stakeholder review.

Lesson 1 • Layout, Grids, and Spacing

Introduces grid systems, spacing scales, and visual rhythm for consistent layouts. Provides a systematic approach to layout decisions across screen sizes.

Lesson 2 • Color Theory and Accessibility

Teaches color psychology, palette construction, and contrast requirements. Ensures color choices serve communication and meet accessibility standards.

Lesson 3 • Iconography and Imagery

Covers icon design principles, illustration style, and photography guidelines for UI. Aligns visual assets with brand voice and user comprehension.

Lesson 4 • Typography in Interface Design

Covers type hierarchy, readability, and font pairing for digital screens. Students learn to use typography as a functional tool, not decoration.

Lesson 1 • Usability Testing Fundamentals

Defines usability testing goals, types, and when to use each. Distinguishes usability testing from other research methods introduced earlier.

Lesson 2 • Iterating Designs from Test Insights

Teaches how to prioritize fixes, redesign problem areas, and retest efficiently. Closes the design loop and builds a habit of evidence-based iteration.

Lesson 3 • Analyzing Usability Test Data

Covers qualitative and quantitative analysis of test observations and metrics. Converts raw session data into ranked usability issues.

Lesson 4 • Writing Effective Test Tasks

Covers scenario-based task writing that elicits natural user behavior. Well-written tasks are the single biggest factor in test validity.

Lesson 1 • UX Maturity and Organizational Models

Covers UX maturity models and how design teams are structured in organizations. Helps students navigate and grow UX practice within any company.

Lesson 2 • Presenting UX Work to Stakeholders

Covers storytelling, critique facilitation, and executive presentation techniques. Students learn to defend design decisions with evidence and confidence.

Lesson 3 • UX Metrics and KPIs

Introduces behavioral, attitudinal, and business metrics for measuring UX quality. Students learn to select metrics aligned to specific design goals.

Lesson 4 • Aligning UX with Business Strategy

Teaches how to map UX goals to business objectives and OKRs. Positions UX as a strategic driver rather than a production function.