Introduction to User Experience Principles and Processes

The University of Michigan connects UX research and design with how people perceive information and act. Design heuristics provide a way to critique an interface, while research and prototyping support iteration. It is a foundations choice for understanding why a seemingly simple interaction can succeed or fail.

What you will learn

• Explain the relationship between UX research and design.
• Apply design heuristics to interactive systems.
• Connect human behavior with interface decisions.

Who this suits

Learners seeking an introduction to UX principles and the relationship between research, design and evaluation.

Before you enroll

Allow time to conduct research and revise the design, beyond watching the lessons. Obtain consent for interviews and usability sessions, protect participant information and distinguish observed evidence from your assumptions. A course certificate does not establish professional experience.

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Put it into practice

Review a fictional registration interface with a short heuristic checklist, then separate observed problems from changes that still need user evidence.

Source and review

This overview is based on the provider's published information, checked on 12 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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