design beginner

UX Design Fundamentals

Master the art and science of user experience design through practical projects and real-world case studies.

10 weeks
8 topics

Course Overview

Duration: 10 weeks
Level: beginner
Topics: 8

Topics Covered

  • Design Thinking
  • User Research
  • Wireframing
  • Prototyping
  • UI Design
  • Usability Testing
  • Design Systems
  • Figma

Requirements

  • No prior design experience needed
  • Computer with Figma access
  • Curiosity about user behavior
  • Basic computer skills

UX Design Fundamentals 🎨

Welcome to your journey into User Experience Design! This comprehensive course will teach you how to create digital products that users love, combining psychology, design principles, and modern tools.

Course Project: TaskFlow 🎯

Throughout this course, you’ll design a complete productivity app called “TaskFlow”. You’ll take it from initial concept to high-fidelity prototype, applying everything you learn along the way.

Course Structure 📚

Week 1: Introduction to UX Design

Understanding UX Fundamentals

  • What is UX design?
  • UX vs UI
  • Design thinking process
  • Psychology in design
  • Current UX trends

Practical Exercise

Analyze the UX of your favorite app using our evaluation framework

Week 2: User Research

Understanding Your Users

  • Research methodologies
  • User interviews
  • Surveys and questionnaires
  • User personas
  • Empathy mapping

Practical Exercise

Create user personas for TaskFlow

Week 3: Information Architecture

Organizing Information

  • Site mapping
  • User flows
  • Card sorting
  • Content hierarchy
  • Navigation patterns

Practical Exercise

Design TaskFlow’s information architecture

Week 4: Wireframing

Low-Fidelity Design

  • Sketching basics
  • Digital wireframing
  • Layout principles
  • Content placement
  • Interactive elements

Practical Exercise

Create TaskFlow’s wireframes in Figma

Week 5: Visual Design Principles

Making It Beautiful

  • Color theory
  • Typography
  • Grid systems
  • Visual hierarchy
  • Design systems

Practical Exercise

Develop TaskFlow’s visual design system

Week 6: Prototyping

Bringing Designs to Life

  • Prototyping basics
  • Interaction design
  • Micro-interactions
  • Animation principles
  • Advanced Figma prototyping

Practical Exercise

Create an interactive prototype of TaskFlow

Week 7: Usability Testing

Testing Your Designs

  • Test planning
  • Recruiting participants
  • Conducting tests
  • Analyzing results
  • Iterating designs

Practical Exercise

Conduct usability tests for TaskFlow

Week 8: Design Systems

Creating Scalable Designs

  • Component libraries
  • Style guides
  • Documentation
  • Version control
  • Team collaboration

Practical Exercise

Build TaskFlow’s design system

Week 9: Accessibility & Inclusive Design

Designing for Everyone

  • WCAG guidelines
  • Color contrast
  • Screen readers
  • Keyboard navigation
  • Inclusive design patterns

Practical Exercise

Audit and improve TaskFlow’s accessibility

Week 10: Portfolio & Presentation

Showcasing Your Work

  • Case study writing
  • Portfolio building
  • Presentation skills
  • Design handoff
  • Client communication

Practical Exercise

Create a case study for TaskFlow

Bonus Content 🎁

Design Tools Mastery

  • Figma advanced techniques
  • Prototyping tools
  • Design plugins
  • Collaboration features
  • Asset management

UX Writing

  • Microcopy
  • Error messages
  • Button text
  • Navigation labels
  • Content strategy

Career Development

  • Building your portfolio
  • Personal branding
  • Interview preparation
  • Design exercises
  • Networking strategies

Essential Resources 📚

Design Tools

Learning Resources

  • Design blogs
  • UX podcasts
  • Case studies
  • Design systems gallery
  • Pattern libraries

Weekly Design Challenges 🏆

Practice with additional mini-projects:

  1. Redesign a daily object
  2. Create a micro-interaction
  3. Design for accessibility
  4. Build a component library
  5. Write UX copy And more…

Design Community 🤝

  • UX Discord channel
  • Design critiques
  • Mentor matching
  • Peer reviews
  • Portfolio reviews

Design Tips 💡

  1. Always Start with Users: Research before design
  2. Iterate Frequently: Don’t aim for perfection first
  3. Test Early: Get feedback as soon as possible
  4. Document Everything: Keep track of your decisions
  5. Stay Current: Follow design trends and patterns

Support System 🆘

Multiple ways to get help:

  • Discord community
  • Weekly office hours
  • Design critiques
  • Email support
  • Resource library

Start Designing! 🚀

Ready to create amazing user experiences? Begin with Week 1 and start your journey into UX design! Remember, every great product started with understanding user needs.

Happy designing! 🎨✨