Foundational concepts that everyone should know

Get a thorough overview of the user experience (UX) field and its complex components. You’ll discover the most important UX activities and how they are incorporated at every stage of a project.

Demystify UX terminology and jargon, and understand how its many methods fit together.

Who Should Attend

  • Anyone who is new to UX or looking to launch a UX career
  • Self-taught UX practitioners who want help filling in knowledge gaps or gaining confidence in their practice
  • People in roles other than UX who want a better understanding of the field
  • Experienced UX practitioners who want a refresher on the basics

What You'll Learn

01 Understand the UX philosophy and mindset
  • Why UX is a valuable business investment
  • The differences between key related concepts (for example, UX, UI, usability, user-centered design)
  • The importance of studying your users and what they need
02 Influence your organization’s approach to UX
  • Estimation of your organization’s UX maturity
  • Promotion and education about UX
  • Advocacy for cost-effective and iterative design
03 Understand the UX design cycle when to use each UX activity
  • UX research methods (interviews, usability testing, analytics, and more)
  • Attitudinal vs. behavioral methods
  • When to use different types of research throughout the project lifecycle
  • How to conduct heuristic evaluations to quickly assess usability
  • The UX work involved in each layer of an interface
  • UX deliverables (like personas and journey maps)

This Course Includes

  • Findings and video clips from our research studies
  • Glossary of important UX terms
  • Recommended reading list for further learning
  • Free reports on building your UX career and running usability studies
  • Template for conducting heuristic evaluations

Why NN/g

What People Say About This Course

  • Prior to taking this class, I was skeptical as to how much I'd be learning or if the content was too obvious in terms of UX. I was pleasantly surprised to be reviewing information I thought I knew, as this class clearly and concisely clarifies some of the blurred areas within UX and product design processes. I would highly recommend this course for people with or without UX design experience.

    Tim
    Penske Truck Leasing Co.
  • As a basis of understanding of UX and immense breadth and importance, I thought it was great. Having exercises break up the sessions was also really nice. Katie was a great presenter and kept it nice and light and energetic.

    Josh
    EA
  • Lots of take away after this session. Basically covered most of the basics of UX. Clear & well presented. I do have a bit of background on UX & this session does make everything clearer. It is easy to understand.

    Lay
    Providend Ltd
  • Awesome high level review of UX basics which will make the next 4 days more useful. Very glad I started with this class because it gave me better understanding of concepts.

    Liz
    SmithBucklin

Frequently Asked Questions

How will I get the link to the Zoom meeting for the course?

60 minutes before your course begins, your link will be available when you log into your NN/g profile.

Can I watch a recording of the course?

Virtual courses are live events that extend throughout the day and include many periods of interactive exercises. The learning experience cannot be replicated by simply watching recordings after the event. We will not be making course recordings, and making your own recordings is not permitted.

Will I be able to network and get to know other participants?

You'll join a Slack community for both course-related discussion and networking with fellow participants. You'll also be able to use the Slack workspace before, during, and after the event to maintain your connections. You'll be invited to join the Slack community the week before the event starts.

What equipment will I need to participate in NN/g live online courses?

You'll be streaming video and audio to your computer, and also speaking with other participants. Make sure you have:

  • A laptop or desktop (using a tablet is not recommended)
  • A stable high-speed internet connection
  • Speakers or headphones
  • A microphone
  • A webcam
Do I really need a microphone and webcam?

White it's possible to attend our virtual courses without your own webcam or microphone, you will not be able to fully participate in learning activities. Many of our courses use hands-on practice as the primary way of learning design and research techniques. You'll learn more during these activities if you can fully participate, and your collaboration partners can see and hear you. We also recommend using headphones.

Do I have to download any software?

All courses use Zoom and Hightail, a file-sharing service. Some courses require the use of Google Drive apps or Miro. All tools are free to use and do not require you to create an account, but you should ensure your device permissions allow you to access these tools.

  • Zoom is a video conferencing service. Our meetings follow security best practices, including passwords and waiting rooms. We recommend installing the Zoom app, which is free. If you are not able to install the Zoom software, you can also join through Chrome web browser. Test your access to Zoom.
  • Hightail will be used to share downloadable course materials (such as PDF copies of presentation slides). Test your access to Hightail. (If your network blocks you from access Hightail, during the event our conference team will be able to assist you with alternative ways to receive your course materials.
  • Google Drive apps are used for collaborative learning activities. If you are not able to use Google Docs or Sheets, you will be able to download copies of the activity materials, but may not be able to fully participate in group work. Test your access to Google Docs.
  • Miro is an online whiteboarding tool and is used for collaborative learning activities in some courses. You can download the Miro app or open a Miro link in your browser.
Will my internet connection be fast enough?

You will need a stable internet connection with a minimum of 3 Mbps (up and down) in order o participate in 
NN/g virtual courses. Ideally, a faster connection speed of 25 Mbps download and 5Mbps upload is recommended to ensure HD video and audio quality. If you are using a WIFI network, disconnect all other devices from that network to improve the streaming quality. Check your internet connection speed.

Can I join from my phone or tablet?

We do not recommend attending our classes from a small-screen device. Although you will be able to connect to the meeting, it will be difficult to see the detailed examples shared during class. It will also be extremely difficult to participate in collaborative exercises which require typing and interactive documents.