User Research and Design

The University of Minnesota develops research methods and the design exploration that follows them. In-person study, surveys and log analysis lead into communicating findings through personas, tasks, scenarios and use cases. Ideation and selection then connect those findings with possible solutions. The sequence is useful when you need to explain how research changes a design decision rather than remain a separate presentation.

What you will learn

• Compare qualitative and quantitative research methods.
• Translate findings into tasks, scenarios and useful deliverables.
• Generate and select design ideas informed by research.

Who this suits

The provider labels the course as mixed level. Learners with a concrete interface or product question can use that context to make the methods and deliverables easier to assess.

Before you enroll

Some modules emphasize lectures while others emphasize practice and assignments. Leave time for both. A persona should summarize justified findings rather than invent details to make a story more persuasive.

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Put it into practice

Study a small permitted task, separate observations from interpretation and propose two design directions. Explain which research finding supports each direction and what evidence you would need before choosing between them.

Source and review

This overview is based on the provider's published information, checked on 14 October 2026. It is an editorial assessment, not a claim that we completed the resource. Time filters are approximate study ranges; projects and exercises can take longer.

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