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UX Design Fundamentals: Delivering Value to Users

Learn the role of design thinking in UX – from the five stages of design thinking to defining and creating an ideation plan.

Two people standing in front of a screen with notes and post-its on it.
  • Duration

    4 weeks
  • Weekly study

    4 hours

What is design thinking, and what part does it play in the wider scheme of user experience design?

This short design thinking course will teach you the basics you need to kickstart your career as a digital designer in UX. You’ll develop the knowledge and skills needed to successfully implement design thinking practices grounded in solid UX fundamentals in the workplace.

By getting to grips with the design thinking framework, you’ll be able to tackle large, complex and even unknown issues within product development. It will give you the tools, skills and mindset to seek out practical and logical innovation, and to take a solution-based view to solving problems as a UX designer.

Empathise to test: the five stages of design thinking

You’ll examine the five-stage design thinking model proposed by the Hasso-Plattner Institute of Design at Stanford University: empathise, define (the problem), ideate, prototype and test. You’ll explore the non-linear nature of this methodology that will allow you to work through obstacles and bring ideas to life.

Understand the design thinking mindset: ideation and implementation

On this course you’ll deep dive into two key design elements – ideation and implementation.

You’ll find out why ideation matters, learn its content and carry out differentiation activities and exercises. And you’ll explore the purpose of implementation, its context, different types of interaction and its requirements in terms of business and resources. You’ll also learn how to use a number of powerful tools to help you with the implementation process.

What topics will you cover?

  • Introduction to ideation
  • Brainstorming and prototyping
  • Implementation methods and tools
  • Factors affecting implementation

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Define and justify an ideation plan
  • Articulate how to leverage the concepts of diverge/converge in order to find wise solutions
  • Articulate the key elements of an implementation plan
  • Justify the right moment to execute an implementation plan
  • Recognise support mechanisms to keep an implementation plan going

Who is the course for?

This course is ideal for developing theoretical and practical expertise in the fundamentals of design thinking.

You may be an entry-level or intermediate graphic or digital designer, a non-technical digital team leader or an aspiring product manager.

What software or tools do you need?

In this course, you will use Canva.

Who will you learn with?

I create positive impact through Design Thinking.

Mainly across topics such as Business & Service design, UX/CX/EX Design, Product Management, Strategy, Innovation, Training & Facilitation.

Who developed the course?

FutureLearn

FutureLearn is a leading social learning platform and has been providing high quality online courses for learners around the world over the last ten years.

In collaboration with

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Endorsers and supporters

endorsed by

Coventry University logo

Learning on FutureLearn

Your learning, your rules

  • Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
  • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
  • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

  • Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
  • Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
  • Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

  • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
  • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
  • Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

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