This course is focused on the early user experience (UX) challenges of research, planning, setting goals, understanding the user, structuring content, and developing interactive sequences. While the concepts covered will translate to many kinds of interactive media (apps, digital kiosks, games), our primary focus will be on designing contemporary, responsive websites. In this course you will complete the first half of a large scale project—developing a comprehensive plan for a complex website—by defining the strategy and scope of the site, as well as developing its information architecture and overall structure. Along the way we will also discuss:
This course is part of the UI / UX Design Specialization
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UI / UX Design SpecializationCalifornia Institute of the ArtsAbout this Course
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Shareable Certificate
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Course 3 of 4 in the
Flexible deadlines
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Intermediate Level
Approx. 12 hours to complete
English
Subtitles: Arabic, French, Portuguese (European), Italian, Vietnamese, German, Russian, English, Spanish
Skills you will gain
Adobe IllustratorAdobe IndesignTreejack
Shareable Certificate
Earn a Certificate upon completion
100% online
Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.
Course 3 of 4 in the
Flexible deadlines
Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.
Intermediate Level
Approx. 12 hours to complete
English
Subtitles: Arabic, French, Portuguese (European), Italian, Vietnamese, German, Russian, English, Spanish
Offered by
California Institute of the Arts
CalArts has earned an international reputation as the leading college of the visual and performing arts in the United States. Offering rigorous undergraduate and graduate degree programs through six schools—Art, Critical Studies, Dance, Film/Video, Music, and Theater—CalArts has championed creative excellence, critical reflection, and the development of new forms and expressions.
Syllabus - What you will learn from this course
22 minutes to complete
Course Overview
Welcome! In this first module I will summarize the assignments and expectations of this course.
22 minutes to complete
1 video (Total 3 min), 9 readings
3 hours to complete
The User Experience Process
This week I will give you a brief overview of the user experience process that I will teach in this course sequence. We will begin by defining the term "user experience", and then briefly look at the five phases of UX design: Strategy, Outline of Scope, Sitemap, Wireframes, and Visual Mockups. I will also talk about the differences between mobile apps and websites, and the differences between waterfall and agile approaches to UX design. Lastly, I will introduce you to the main project that you will be working on in this course and the one that follows it. You’ll be starting your first assignment at the end of the week. Last, here's something to keep in mind this week: “Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.”—Steve Jobs
3 hours to complete
9 videos (Total 39 min), 5 readings, 2 quizzes
3 hours to complete
Asking Good Questions: Determining Strategy
This week is all about strategy. We will talk about how to conduct research in the beginning of a project. And I will tell you about the importance of defining a target audience for your website. We’ll also discuss how to determine user needs and client needs. The strategy that you develop in this first step in the UX process will influence all decisions you make further down the line. That’s why it’s so important to take the time and think about what you want to accomplish, what the goals are, and how they might be measured when the project launches.
3 hours to complete
8 videos (Total 90 min), 5 readings, 1 quiz
3 hours to complete
What is in and What is Out: Outlining Scope
3 hours to complete
6 videos (Total 65 min), 2 readings, 1 quiz
3 hours to complete
Getting your Ducks in a Row: The Sitemap
Welcome to the last week of this course. With your outline of scope in hand, you will now learn how to transform the content and functionality requirements determined last week into a navigable structure. This structure will be visualized by something called a sitemap. I’ll tell you all about sitemaps and how to create them. Along the way we will also define the term "information architecture". And I will introduce a tool called TreeJack, which will enable you to test your site map on actual users.
3 hours to complete
10 videos (Total 43 min), 5 readings, 1 quiz
Reviews
TOP REVIEWS FROM WEB DESIGN: STRATEGY AND INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE
by SSJul 27, 2019
This course is extremely beneficial who wish to understand as to how web designing happens and works. I helps build strategy as it show show to build your ideas when you are actually working.
by PTSep 24, 2020
Great content, I think most of the concept was taught in my highschool Information Technology subject, however, this is a good reinforcement. The peer reviewing process needs to be improved.
by AAApr 4, 2021
Amazing course! The way it's explained with real examples. Alyson and Bradley's projects are insightful for learning. The course is much better than the first 2 of the specialization.
by SWApr 17, 2019
This course was fantastic! Content clear and the best part was seeing the instructor with actual students discussing actual projects. I would highly recommend this course. Thanks!
About the UI / UX Design Specialization
The UI/UX Design Specialization brings a design-centric approach to user interface and user experience design, and offers practical, skill-based instruction centered around a visual communications perspective, rather than on one focused on marketing or programming alone. In this sequence of four courses, you will summarize and demonstrate all stages of the UI/UX development process, from user research to defining a project’s strategy, scope, and information architecture, to developing sitemaps and wireframes. You’ll learn current best practices and conventions in UX design and apply them to create effective and compelling screen-based experiences for websites or apps.
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