Week 1: Introducing User Experience Design
Introducing User Experience Design INTRODUCTION
Welcome to Introducing User Experience Design, a course within the Google UX Design Professional Certificate program on Coursera. In this course, you’ll explore the world of UX design and its influence on product design. You’ll discover the key factors that contribute to exceptional user experience design, gain a clearer understanding of the role of a UX designer, and learn about the collaborative teams that UX designers often work with.
You’ll also become acquainted with the expectations of the Google UX Design Certificate program, helping you make informed decisions about your learning journey. By completing this course, you’ll develop the skills and knowledge needed to create useful, enjoyable, and accessible user experiences. Let’s dive in!
Learning Objectives:
- Identify and compare disciplines within UX
- Recognize the factors that lead to great user experience design
- Review the common job responsibilities of entry-level UX designers
- Explore the teams UX designers frequently collaborate with
- Understand how UX design roles are influenced by company size and industry
- Discover job opportunities available upon completion of this program
- Define UX design and explain its significance for both consumers and businesses
TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF THE ROLES YOU CAN PURSUE IN UX DESIGN
1. Fill in the blank: Hunter works at a startup as a user experience designer. Since Hunter is one of the only designers, she gets to oversee the majority of her UX processes. Throughout her work, Hunter discovers that she enjoys talking to users and testing designs more than actually designing things. For her next role, Hunter should consider becoming a ______
- Motion designer
- Interaction designer
- UX writer
- UX researcher (CORRECT)
Correct: Hunter’s experience with the complete UX design process will enhance her abilities as a researcher. In this role, she can concentrate on the aspects of UX she enjoys most, such as engaging with users and testing designs.
2. Fill in the blank: Designers that work as freelancers can expect to _____.
- work closely with a supervisor to learn more about a job or industry
- market their services to businesses to find customers (CORRECT)
- receive on-the-job training from an experienced professional
- find short-term jobs with limited responsibility
Correct: Freelancers work independently, promoting their services to businesses in order to attract clients.
3. What is an apprenticeship?
- A role with limited responsibilities that lasts a few months
- A role that provides on-the-job training and last between one to two years (CORRECT)
- A role where a designer markets their services to businesses
- A role that requires several years’ experience in the field
Correct: Apprenticeships provide on-the-job training to help individuals build practical skills. They typically last one to two years and are always paid positions.
WEEKLY CHALLENGE 1: THE BASICS OF USER EXPERIENCE DESIGN
1. How does it benefit businesses to consider the user experience?
- It helps businesses copy successful product ideas from competitors in their market segment.
- It helps businesses make design decisions based on business plans, rather than user preferences.
- It helps businesses limit spending on pricey user research studies, by focusing on design first.
- It helps businesses create products that are usable and accessible to a wider range of customers. (CORRECT)
Correct: Users are more likely to have a positive experience with a product when it is accessible and easy to use, and they are more inclined to share that experience with others.
2. What type of UX designer specializes in one kind of UX design, and has a breadth of knowledge in other areas?
- Y-shaped
- T-shaped (CORRECT)
- Specialist
- Generalist
Correct: The vertical line of the T symbolizes the specific area of UX design you specialize in, while the horizontal line represents your broader, complementary skills.
3. Which UX design role focuses on creating smooth transitions between pages of an app or website?
- Motion designer (CORRECT)
- Visual designer
- UX engineer
- Interaction designer
Correct: Motion designers focus on the user experience as they navigate through a product, ensuring smooth transitions between pages on an app or website. This often involves incorporating visual effects and animations to enhance the overall flow and engagement.
4. What are some qualities in a product that make a good user experience? Select all that apply.
- The product is enjoyable. (CORRECT)
- The product is usable. (CORRECT)
- The product is equitable. (CORRECT)
- The product is useful. (CORRECT)
- The product is complex.
Correct: Enjoyable products make positive connections between the user and the product.
Correct: Usable products are easier to use for everyone.
Correct: Equitable products are important because the designs are useful and marketable to people with diverse abilities and backgrounds.
Correct: Useful products are important because they solve user problems.
5. What might be some of the day-to-day responsibilities of an entry-level UX designer?
- Pitching the product to prospective customers
- Prototyping and wireframing (CORRECT)
- Responding to incoming customer support tickets
- Debugging and back-end engineering
Correct: Prototyping and wireframing are common responsibilities for an entry-level UX designer, helping to visualize and test the structure and functionality of a product before development.
6. Which kind of designer focuses on one particular type of UX design?
- Specialist (CORRECT)
- T-shaped
- Generalist
- Y-shaped
Correct: Specialists possess a deep expertise in a specific UX design role, such as visual, interaction, or motion design, focusing on mastering that particular area of the field.
7. Why do startups usually hire UX generalists instead of specialists?
- Startups expose designers to a lot of different industries and get to solve unique problems.
- Startups are a lot like freelancing, in that you get to work with many different brands.
- Startups have tight budgets and few employees. (CORRECT)
- Startups have thousands of employees working on lots of different projects.
Correct: At companies with fewer employees, designers often take on a variety of roles within the business. With a broad range of UX knowledge, a UX generalist can handle the diverse set of tasks required across the design process.
8. Which of the following team members does a UX designer collaborate with to understand how people use a product?
- UX researcher (CORRECT)
- UX writer
- Motion designer
- Visual designer
Correct: UX research focuses on gaining a deep understanding of what users need, want, and expect from your product, ensuring it aligns with their goals and preferences.
9. Which of the options below is a common characteristic of internships?
- Internships are often short-term, lasting a few months, with limited responsibility. (CORRECT)
- Internships allow you to work for yourself and market your services to find customers.
- Internships generally last a long time, around one or two years.
- Internships are always paid.
Correct: Internships are typically short-term and involve limited responsibility, offering you the opportunity to work closely with a supervisor and gain valuable insights into the job or industry. They provide hands-on experience and can potentially lead to a full-time position in the future.
10. Fill in the blank: If a user finds a product enjoyable to use, then the UX designer created a positive connection by considering the user’s ______ when making the product.
- thoughts and feelings (CORRECT)
- hobbies and interests
- personal background
Correct: UX designers foster that positive connection by taking a user’s thoughts and feelings into account when making products.
11. What is user experience?
- How closely aligned a user’s preferred design is to a real product
- How a person, the user, feels about interacting with or experiencing a product (CORRECT)
- How a user creates opportunities for improvement on a product
- How a designer creates a product
Correct: User experience (UX) refers to how a person feels when interacting with or using a product, encompassing their perceptions, emotions, and overall satisfaction.
12. Which of the following is NOT a type of user experience designer?
- Interaction designer
- Visual designer
- Motion designer
- UX engineer (CORRECT)
Correct: UX engineers are not considered a type of UX designer. However, they frequently work with the user experience team to translate the design’s intent into a functioning experience, like a website or an app.
13. What qualities are needed in a product for users to have a good experience? Select all that apply.
- Enjoyability (CORRECT)
- Marketability
- Usefulness (CORRECT)
- Equity (CORRECT)
Correct: A product that’s useful, equitable, and enjoyable contributes to a good user experience.
14. Wireframing, prototyping, researching, and creating information architecture are all common responsibilities of an entry-level UX designer.
- False
- True (CORRECT)
Correct: An entry-level UX designer may be expected to do any of these tasks.
15. Specialist UX designers are more common at smaller companies with fewer employees.
- True
- False (CORRECT)
Correct: Specialist designers are more commonly found at larger companies, where the organization has the resources to support a larger team of UX designers with specific areas of expertise.
16. What does a design agency focus on?
- Product research
- Design and branding (CORRECT)
- Campaign analytics
- Marketing and advertising
Correct: Design agencies or design studios provide design and branding services.
17. Alex is starting a career in UX and wants to be able to specialize in a particular UX design role and focus on one project from beginning to end. Which job is a good fit for Alex?
- Working at a design studio
- Working at a large tech company
- Working for clients on a freelance basis
- Working at an advertising agency (CORRECT)
18. Which team member is responsible for translating a design into a functional product?
- Engineer (CORRECT)
- Interaction designer
- Production designer
- Program manager
Correct: UX engineers translate the design’s intent into a functioning experience.
19. What is the user experience?
- The user experience is how the developer feels about a user.
- The user experience is how the user feels about interacting with or experiencing a product. (CORRECT)
- The user experience is the attitude the UX designer has about a product.
Correct: The user experience is how a person, the user, feels about interacting with or experiencing a product
20. Which role represents a type of designer with broad knowledge in multiple areas of UX design, and a depth of knowledge in a single area?
- Generalist
- Stakeholder
- T-shaped (CORRECT)
- Specialist
Correct: The vertical line of the T represents the type of UX design you specialize in, while the horizontal line of the T represents your complementary skills.
21. What does a visual designer do?
- Focus on how a product or technology looks. (CORRECT)
- Focus on what it feels like for a user to move through a product.
- Focus on translating the design’s intent into a functioning experience.
- Focus on the experience of a product and how it functions.
Correct: Specialist designers are more commonly found at larger companies, where the organization has the resources to support a larger team of UX designers with specific areas of expertise.
22. Which type of UX designer dives deep into one particular role?
- Generalist
- Specialist (CORRECT)
- Y-shaped
- T-shaped
Correct: Specialists have a deep understanding of a particular UX design role such as visual, interaction, or motion design.
23. Choose the environment that best suits a generalist. Select all that apply.
- Large corporations
- Design agencies (CORRECT)
- Small companies (CORRECT)
- Startup businesses (CORRECT)
UX designers at design agencies often move between teams and contribute to different stages of a product’s development. The generalist’s ability to handle various tasks and roles enables them to excel in a design agency setting.
Like startups, small companies typically have small departments and limited budgets for UX designers. A generalist’s ability to take on multiple tasks and roles is highly beneficial in these environments.
Startups are often best served by a UX generalist who can handle a range of tasks. While they may not specialize in any single skill, generalists can fulfill multiple roles, which is essential for success in a small company.
24. Alex is starting a career in UX and wants to work in a company with room for growth. Alex prefers a fast-paced, unstructured work environment. Which job is a good fit for Alex?
- Working at a design studio
- Working for a large company
- Working at a small startup (CORRECT)
- Working for a city government
Correct: Startup companies allow employees to make large contributions and guide the company towards growth.
25. Why are program managers necessary when working in UX design?
- Program managers ensure the process of building a product goes smoothly from start to finish through the use of clear and timely communication. (CORRECT)
- Program managers act as a bridge between interaction designers and engineers.
- Program managers ensure the language within a product is clear.
- Program managers translate the design’s intent into a functioning experience.
Correct: Program managers facilitate clear and timely communication, ensuring that the process of developing a useful product progresses smoothly from start to finish.
26. Which UX design role focuses on designing the experience and functionality of a product?
- Motion designer
- Visual designer
- Production designer
- Interaction designer (CORRECT)
Correct: Interaction designers focus on designing the experience of a product and how it functions. They assess how to connect the user’s needs and the business’s goals with what’s actually feasible to build.
27. Imagine a user needs to get directions to a destination while driving. They are able to use the voice command feature on their phone to open a maps app for voice-guided directions. Is this an example of a good user experience?
- Yes (CORRECT)
- No
Correct: This is an example of a good user experience because the app helps the user navigate to where they need to go safely and without disruption.
28. What are some of the day-to-day responsibilities of an entry-level UX designer? Select all that apply.
- Program management
- Researching (CORRECT)
- Marketing
- Wireframing (CORRECT)
Wireframing is a common responsibility for an entry-level UX designer. It’s one of the first steps in the process when building a new product or feature.
Through user research and designing products based on that research, designers are able to achieve goals that align with users’ needs.
29. Fill in the blank: The user experience is _____.
- a one-stop shop for the appearance of brands, products, and services
- the framework of a website or how it’s organized, categorized, or structured
- the ability to understand someone else’s feelings or thoughts in a situation
- how a person, the user, feels about interacting with or experiencing a product (CORRECT)
Correct: The user experience is how a person, the user, feels about interacting with or experiencing a product.
30. Which of the options below is a common characteristic of freelancing in UX?
- It requires working closely with a supervisor to learn more about the industry.
- It requires limited responsibility.
- It requires working with an experienced professional for around one or two years.
- It requires marketing your services to businesses to find customers. (CORRECT)
Correct: In freelancing, you are responsible for finding your own customers and projects, rather than having them assigned by a supervisor. A great way to get started as a freelancer is to offer your services to a small business or nonprofit in exchange for a positive recommendation and a project to showcase in your portfolio.
31. What does a T-shaped UX designer specialize in?
- T-shaped designers specialize in a lot of areas of UX design.
- T-shaped designers specialize in one type of UX design and have a breadth of knowledge in other areas. (CORRECT)
- T-shaped designers have a deep understanding of one kind of UX design and lack knowledge in other areas.
- T-shaped designers have knowledge in many areas but lack specialization.
Correct: The vertical line of the T represents the area of UX design you specialize in, while the horizontal line represents the complementary skills you possess.
32. Debugging is part of an entry-level UX designer’s day-to-day duties.
- True
- False (CORRECT)
Correct: Debugging is a routine responsibility for developers. Their role involves implementing designs and resolving issues that arise during the development process. UX designers, on the other hand, are responsible for designing the features that developers will implement.
33. Fill in the blank: A startup is a good fit for beginner UX designers looking for _____.
- one or two main projects with a defined work schedule
- diverse projects and a flexible work schedule
- unstructured environments with top-down management
- fast-paced environments with less structure (CORRECT)
Correct: Startups are often staffed by small teams of excited individuals that take on multiple roles within a growing company. Startups could be a good fit for UX professionals who want to guide a product design and life cycle, or influence the path of user experience within a company.
34. Which of the following terms is how a person, the user, feels about interacting with or experiencing a product?
- Experience design
- Interaction design
- User interface design
- User experience (CORRECT)
35. What is a generalist UX designer?
- Generalist designers have a deep understanding of one kind of UX design and lack knowledge in other areas.
- Generalist designers specialize in one kind of UX design and have some knowledge in other areas.
- Generalist designers have knowledge in one area with complementary skills adjacent to that area.
- Generalist designers are UX designers with a broad number of responsibilities, not specializing in any area. (CORRECT)
36. Which UX design role focuses on designing the experience and functionality of a product?
- Production designer
- Motion designer
- Visual designer
- Interaction designer (CORRECT)
37. Alex is starting a job as an entry level UX designer. Which of the following is a type of communication they are unlikely to use day-to-day?
- Proposals
- Emails
- Client pitches
- Press releases (CORRECT)
38. Which team member is responsible for translating a design into a functional product?
- Interaction designer
- Engineer (CORRECT)
- Program manager
- Production designer
39. What is a benefit of starting your career with an apprenticeship?
- Apprenticeships are paid. (CORRECT)
- Apprenticeships allow you to work primarily for a recommendation.
- Apprenticeships are short-term, lasting a few months.
- Apprenticeships allow you to work for yourself.
40. In UX design, what makes a product equitable?
- The designs are useful and marketable to people with diverse abilities and backgrounds. (CORRECT)
- The design is designed to function the same for everyone.
- The design is difficult to learn at first, but easy to understand as time goes on.
- The design, structure, and purpose of the product are clear to everyone.
41. Alex is working with a team to solve a problem for their users. The team will follow a process to bring their idea to reality. What is this process called?
- Product creation life cycle
- Product development life cycle (CORRECT)
- Design and development life cycle
- Product development timeline
42. What is the second stage in the product development life cycle?
- Define (CORRECT)
- Brainstorm
- Test
- Launch
- Design
43. How does it benefit businesses to consider the user experience (UX)?
- It helps businesses create products that are usable and accessible to a wider range of customers. (CORRECT)
- It helps businesses limit spending on pricey user research studies, by focusing on design first.
- It helps businesses copy successful product ideas from competitors in their market segment.
- It helps businesses make design decisions based on business plans, rather than user preferences.
44. What does an interaction designer focus on in UX design?
- How a product or technology looks
- Designing the experience of a product and how it functions (CORRECT)
- What it feels like for a user to move through a product
- Translating the design’s intent into a functioning experience.
45. Creating information architecture is a day-to-day responsibility of an entry level UX designer. What is information architecture?
- The content that will eventually be in a digital product
- An outline or a sketch of a product or a screen
- The framework of a website, or how it’s organized, categorized, and structured (CORRECT)
- An early model of a product that demonstrates functionality
46. What are some of the benefits a beginner UX designer might find working at a startup?
- Startup companies allow generalist UX designers to work with a wide range of clients.
- Startup companies allow employees to pick the projects they want to work on and manage their own schedule.
- Startup companies allow employees to make large contributions and guide the company towards growth. (CORRECT)
- Startup companies allow employees to specialize in one specific skill and learn from expert colleagues.
47. A beginner UX designer is looking for a short-term work opportunity with not a lot of responsibility. Which of the following is a good option for them?
- Working at a start-up
- An internship (CORRECT)
- Freelancing
- An entry level job
48. In UX design, what makes a product enjoyable?
- The designs are useful and marketable to people with diverse abilities and backgrounds.
- The designs foster a positive connection by taking a user’s thoughts and feelings into account. (CORRECT)
- The design is designed to function the same for everyone.
- The design is difficult to learn at first, but easy to understand as time goes on.
49. What is the product development life cycle?
- The process used to take a product from an idea to reality. (CORRECT)
- The time that a designer is learning product development.
- How long a product exists before it needs to be retired.
- The amount of time a product takes to be coded after it’s been designed.
50. What is the first stage in the product development life cycle?
- Define
- Design
- Launch
- Test
- Brainstorm (CORRECT)
51. Fill in the blank: The user experience is _____.
- the ability to understand someone else’s feelings or thoughts in a situation
- the framework of a website or how it’s organized, categorized, or structured
- how a person, the user, feels about interacting with or experiencing a product (CORRECT)
- a one-stop shop for the appearance of brands, products, and services
52. What is a specialist UX designer?
- A designer who specializes in one kind of UX design and has a breadth of knowledge in other areas.
- A designer who maintains a wide breadth of knowledge and responsibilities.
- A designer who has a deep understanding of one kind of UX design and lacks knowledge in other areas.
- A designer with a deep understanding of a particular UX design role such as visual, interaction, or motion design. (CORRECT)
53. When designing a good user experience, what is a key task of the designer?
- Confirming that the product matches the needs of the client above all else.
- Making a user work hard to understand the product.
- Connecting a specific emotion to the experience of using the product. (CORRECT)
- Leaving room for improvement in later versions.
54. Alex is starting a career in UX and wants to have lots of impact on projects. Alex is interested in working with a wide variety of companies and clients. Which job is a good fit for Alex?
- Working for a design agency
- Working for a large company (CORRECT)
- Working for the local government
- Working for a small startup
55. A beginner UX designer is looking for a short-term work opportunity with not a lot of responsibility. Which of the following is a good option for them?
- Freelancing
- An entry level job
- Working at a start-up
- An internship (CORRECT)
56. Creating prototypes is a day-to-day responsibility of an entry level UX designer. What is a prototype?
- The framework of a website, or how it’s organized, categorized, and structured
- An outline or a sketch of a product or a screen
- An early model of a product that demonstrates functionality (CORRECT)
- The content that will eventually be in a digital product
57. What does a T-shaped UX designer specialize in?
- T-shaped designers have knowledge in many areas but lack specialization.
- T-shaped designers specialize in one kind of UX design and have a breadth of knowledge in other areas. (CORRECT)
- T-shaped designers specialize in a lot of areas of UX design.
- T-shaped designers have a deep understanding of one kind of UX design and lack knowledge in other areas.
58. Which type of designer maintains a wide breadth of knowledge and responsibilities?
- Specialist
- Y-shaped
- Generalist (CORRECT)
- T-shaped
59. What design role focuses on how a product looks?
- Motion designer
- Production designer
- UX engineer
- Visual designer (CORRECT)
60. What are some of the benefits a beginner UX designer might find working at a large company?
- Large companies allow generalist UX designers to work with a wide range of clients.
- Large companies allow employees to make large contributions and guide the company towards growth.
- Large companies allow employees to specialize in one specific skill and learn from expert colleagues. (CORRECT)
- Large companies allow employees to pick the projects they want to work on and manage their own schedule.
61. Which of the options below is a common characteristic of freelancing in UX?
- It requires working with an experienced professional for around one or two years.
- It requires limited responsibility.
- It requires marketing your services to businesses to find customers. (CORRECT)
- It requires working closely with a supervisor to learn more about the industry.
62. Which UX design role focuses on creating smooth transitions between pages of an app or website?
- Motion designer (CORRECT)
- Visual designer
- Interaction designer
- UX engineer
63. What are some of the benefits a beginner UX designer might find working at a design agency?
- Design agencies allow employees to make large contributions and guide the company towards growth.
- Design agencies allow employees to pick the projects they want to work on and manage their own schedule.
- Design agencies allow employees to specialize in one specific skill and learn from expert colleagues.
- Design agencies allow generalist UX designers to work with a wide range of clients. (CORRECT)
64. In UX design, what makes a product equitable?
- The design, structure, and purpose of the product are clear to everyone.
- The design is difficult to learn at first, but easy to understand as time goes on.
- The design is designed to function the same for everyone.
- The designs are useful and marketable to people with diverse abilities and backgrounds. (CORRECT)
65. Which of the following terms describes the process used to take a product from idea to reality?
- Design and development life cycle
- Product creation life cycle
- Product development life cycle (CORRECT)
- Product development timeline
66. What is the third stage in the product development life cycle?
- Brainstorm
- Design (CORRECT)
- Test
- Launch
- Define
67. Is UX design applicable to physical products as well as digital products?
- Yes (CORRECT)
- No
- Sometimes
68. What might be some day-to-day responsibilities of an entry-level UX designer?
- Code debugging and back-end engineering
- Prototyping and information architecture (CORRECT)
- Responding to incoming customer support tickets
- Pitching the product to prospective customers
69. Which type of business is most likely to hire a specialist designer?
- Small business
- Design agencies
- Large companies (CORRECT)
- Startups
70. In UX design, what makes a product usable?
- The design, structure, and purpose of the product are clear to everyone. (CORRECT)
- The design is difficult to learn at first, but easy to understand as time goes on.
- The design is designed to function the same for everyone.
- The design is beautiful to the intended audience.
71. Which of the following describes the user experience?
- The user experience is how the developer feels about a user.
- The user experience is the attitude the ux designer has about a product.
- The user experience is how the user feels about interacting with or experiencing a product. (CORRECT)
- The user experience is how the company wants a user to feel.
72. What is a specialist UX designer?
- A designer with a deep understanding of a particular UX design role such as visual, interaction, or motion design. (CORRECT)
- A designer who specializes in one kind of UX design and has a breadth of knowledge in other areas.
- A designer who has a deep understanding of one kind of UX design and lacks knowledge in other areas.
- A designer who maintains a wide breadth of knowledge and responsibilities.
73. What does a motion designer focus on in UX design?
- Focus on the experience of a product and how it functions.
- How a product or technology looks.
- Translating the design’s intent into a functioning experience.
- What it feels like for a user to move through a product. (CORRECT)
Introducing User Experience Design conclusion
As a UX designer, you focus on enhancing the experience users have when interacting with products such as websites, apps, and physical objects. Your goal is to make these everyday interactions useful, enjoyable, and accessible. In this course, you’ll be introduced to the world of UX and the key factors that contribute to excellent user experience design.
You’ll learn about the role of a UX designer and the teams they often collaborate with. By the end of this course, you’ll have a clearer understanding of what it takes to succeed as a UX designer. Don’t wait—join Coursera now!