Professional Diploma in UX Design
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The University of Lynchburg has partnered with the UX Design Institute to offer the industry leading UX Design Professional Diploma. This online program is ideal for those who are ready to elevate their career in one of the fastest growing professions.
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Module 1: Introduction to UX Design
This module will give you a strong, foundational understanding of the user experience (UX) design process. You'll learn that UX design is a problem-solving discipline focused on building products that solve problems for the user.
You will learn:
- What the user experience (UX) design is and why it is essential for designing products users love.
- What happens at each stage of the UX process and the importance of each step.
- The importance of understanding the user's contexts, goals, and behaviors when designing a digital product or service.
- How to communicate the value of UX to other business stakeholders.
- Important concepts within UX, such as agile development, mental models, the paradox of specificity, and prototyping.
Module 2: User Research
This module will help you to see research as the key ingrediant underpinning UX Design. You'll learn about a range of research techniques and methods, including usability testing, interviewing, card sorting, online surveys, A/B testing, and heuristic evaluation.
You will learn:
- The importance of research in the UX process.
- How to distinguish between different types of research, for example qualitative vs. quantitative, and observational vs. attitudinal research.
- What research bias is and how to remain impartial as a user researcher.
- How to carry out your own usability tests and take effective notes.
- How to conduct other research methods, including online surveys, card sorting, A/B testing, and depth interviews.
Module 3: Analysis Techniques
You'll understand the need to analyze the research data that you gather. You'll look at a number of frameworks and techniques that will help you make sense of raw, unstructured data.
You will learn:
- Triangulation and the benefits of this approach.
- How to use affinity diagrams to analyze unstructured data and uncover insights.
- How to create customer journey maps to visually represent a user's experience.
- The benefits and pitfalls of user personas, and how to create accurate personas to represent your audience.
- How to prepare a customer value curve to assess how your product performs compared to competitors.
- How to use empathy maps to visualize what your users say, think, feel, as well as their behaviors and goals.
Module 4: Structure and Navigation
In this module, you'll learn how to define a clear structure and information architecture for your software. This in turn will help you to design intuitive navigation and a smooth flow for your users.
You will learn:
- How information architechture determines the way a website or app is structured and helps users achieve their goals.
- That user flows map how users move through a website or app.
- How to create a flow diagram, to map out each user interaction and screen state.
- How to use navigation patterns effectively to guide users through a website or app, improving their experience.
Module 5: Interactions
This module will teach you the components of an interaction and how these components - controls, rules, and feeback - facilitate an interaction.
You will learn:
- How users engage with software through a series of interactions and micro-interactions.
- The role of controls in helping users determine how they will engage with a digital product.
- How to apply interface elements such as tabs, radio buttons, and check boxes as part of your designs.
- The importance of rules for defining how the user interface will work.
- The concept of feedback and how it guides users on what to do next.
- The benefits of sketching to visualize and develop your design ideas.
Module 6: Design Principles
This module will enable you to harness the power of design principles to create high-quality software. Design principles are proven guidelines and rules for effective design. You'll learn why using design principles as reference points will increase the probability that your designs and software will be successful.
You will learn:
- The importance of design principles such as affordances, conventions, feedback, constraints, and forgiveness.
- The theory of Hick's Law and how it can be applied to the design of user interfaces.
- The concept of progressive disclosure and the benefits of this approach when presenting information to users.
- The theory of Fitts Law and how it can be applied to the design of user interfaces.
Module 7: Design Patterns
In this module, you'll be introduced to the concept of design patterns, which are reusable solutions to common problems in software. By using these common sollutions, you can ensure that your designs are more perceivable and predictable for your users.
You will learn:
- How chunking, alignment, and visual hierarchy can help users understand information more quickly and accurately.
- How to help guide users through a digital interface with progress indicators and smart defaults.
- How a 'call to action' is used to guide a user toward completing a particular task or behavior.
- How to help and support users to progress through their flow with error handling and inline validation.
Module 8: Mobile UX
You'll understand the key differences between responsive websites, mobile websites, and native applications. You'll also learn about different mobile application types and gain an understanding of mobile design patterns.
You will learn:
- The high-level implications and constraints of designing for mobile versus desktop.
- The differences between responsive websites, mobile websites, and native apps, and understand how each of them are built.
- The two main mobile app flows: linear and hub-and-spoke, and the characteristics of each.
- The five main styles of mobile navigation and the ideal scenarios where each should be implemented.
Module 9: Workflows
You'll learn the importance of designing effective workflows which allow users to complete common tasks like registration, onboarding, and sign-in. You'll also be introduced to complex forms and payment flows.
You will learn:
- The concepts of workflows and how they help users complete a defined task.
- How to design registration, onboarding, and sign-in screens following optimal design patterns.
- How complex forms can be designed to minimize the amount of user input and effort required.
- How to design a payment page following best design practices to minimize abandonment.
- The concepts of micro-tasks and modes and how to design these effectively.
Module 10: Prototyping and Handover
You'll gain the skills and knowledge to build interactive prototypes. You'll learn the differences between high, medium, and low-fidelity prototypes. Finally, you'll reconize the importance of clear handover documentation when transitioning from design to build.
You will learn:
- How prototypes offfer a cost effective technique for iterating designs.
- The differences between low, medium, and high fidelity prototypes.
- The key considerations involved in choosing the appropriate fidelity of the prototype.
- To use Figma to create a medium fidelity prototype.
- How to progress from a medium fidelity prototype to a higher fidelity, interactive prototype.
- How to effectively handover your designs to be built by the software developers.
Module 11: AI and UX Design
You'll explore how AI can help you design better and what you should consider when desgining AI products. You'll learn how to integrate tools like ChatGPT into your workflow, and what's different about designing for AI-assisted experiences.
You will learn:
- The benefits of using AI tools in your workflow. Current AI limitations and the importance of human judgement when it comes to using these tools.
- The current landscape of available AI tools for UX design.
- Emerging approaches and techniques for designing AI-assisted products.
- The current thinking on the role of AI in UX, today and in the future.
Module 12: Creating Your Portfolio
You'll learn how to structure your portfolio to best showcase your skills. You'll recognize the importance of a well-structured case study in telling the story of your work, and where to get UX experience before you've landed your first role.
You will learn:
- How to structure your case studies like a story.
- What to include in your portfolio, from well-crafted case studies to a compelling 'About' section.
- Strategies for creating a strong portfolio even without professional experience.
- How to showcase your UX process, demonstrating your ability to idenfity problems and create solutions.
- How to emphasize the impact of your design decisions and the value you bring as a UX designer.
Live Mentor Feedback
Get expert feedback and support during multiple mentor-led workshops every week. Our mentors are seasoned professionals with a genuine passion for UX.
Meet some of the course mentors:
Portfolio Projects
You'll complete a series of real-world projects to help you create a high-quailty portfolio. This means you will leave the course ready for the UX job market.
Career Guidance, Tutor Support, and Community
Through our UX design course, you'll never work alone. With personal support from our education advisors, course tutors, and a thriving community of fellow students, you are continually supported.
Our Students Find Jobs They Love
Thousands of students have started rewarding careers with great companies. You can, too!
"I got a job in UX less than a month afgter completing my diploma. The mentors were always willing to schedule one-on-one sessions to go over the portfolio and prepare for interviews. As a former iOS developer switching to UX design, the UX Design Institute played a crucial role in my career change."
Shreya Choudhari
Product Designer
@Vodafone
"I managed to secure a new job as a Product Designer before I even completed the Professional Diploma in UX Design. So I would absolutely recommend the course. The student support has been amazing."
Annie Crossland
Product Designer
@Cirevo