The main goal of user experience (UX) is creating and improving people's experiences in their everyday life and work. Specifically, UX efforts often focus on improving digital products and services, though the philosophy can apply to physical products and experiences as well.
This article lists NN/g’s?most helpful content for learning the basics of UX.
Introduction to UX
This section explains key definitions and concepts of user experience (UX). If you are new to UX you should start here.
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Link |
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Description |
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1 |
Article |
A distinction between UX and usability |
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2 |
Video |
Difference between UX and UI |
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3 |
Video |
What UX actually means |
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4 |
Video |
An explanation of the cognitive aspects of design |
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5 |
Video |
Importance of people in the design process |
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6 |
Video |
Foundational principles of user experience |
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7 |
Article |
A summary of key usability concepts |
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8 |
Article |
Definition and common components of design thinking |
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9 |
Video |
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10 |
Video |
How users spend their time online |
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11 |
Article |
What users believe?about the system at hand |
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12 |
Article |
An overview of users’ efforts to reach their goals |
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13 |
Video |
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14 |
Video |
How to choose amongst contradictory design solutions |
The following study guide offers an in-depth collection for introducing you to UX:
The UX Philosophy
The field of UX sees the world through a user-focused lens. This section contains short videos of NN/g’s UX slogans that explain the key components of this user-centered philosophy.
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Description |
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1 |
Video |
Why you should design for your users, not yourself |
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2 |
Video |
Why simple designs are better designs |
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3 |
Video |
Why you shouldn’t aim to entertain your users |
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4 |
Video |
How decoration can be detrimental to your design |
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5 |
Video |
How to communicate online |
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6 |
Video |
A comparison of the importance of asking “Why” and “What” |
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7 |
Video |
Why UX is not about technologies but all about people |
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8 |
Video |
Why easy designs are important but hard to create |
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9 |
Video |
How to design simple interactions for key user tasks |
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10 |
Video |
Why your design should help users being efficient |
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11 |
Video |
Importance of data in the design process |
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12 |
Video |
Why more features and choices can create problems for users |
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13 |
Video |
How to design for the way real customers behave |
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14 |
Video |
Why design decisions highly depend on the specific context |
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15 |
Video |
How data helps with decision-making |
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16 |
Video |
Why you should watch your users’ behavior |
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17 |
Video |
An overview of why designs can’t be too easy |
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18 |
Video |
Why you should understand the problem before trying to solve it |
UX Planning and Research
UX professionals should plan their steps and conduct user research before designing a product. This section gives you an overview of the most important research methods and steps to follow.
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Number |
Link |
Format |
Description |
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1 |
Article |
Risks of leaving users out of product development |
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2 |
Article |
Guidance on choosing the best research method for every situation |
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3 |
Video |
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4 |
Article |
An overview of the best methods to discover, explore, test, and listen |
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5 |
Video |
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6 |
Article |
Why user interviews help create good designs |
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7 |
Article |
An overview of personas and the benefits of using them |
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8 |
Video |
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9 |
Article |
An overview of 4 common mapping methods |
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10 |
The Difference Between Information Architecture (IA) and Navigation |
Article |
How information architecture and visible navigation are different |
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11 |
Article |
Different levels of prototype and wireframe fidelity for user research |
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12 |
Video |
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13 |
Video |
Why conducting usability tests is important and how these tests are performed |
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14 |
Article |
An introduction to the concept of qualitative usability testing |
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15 |
Video |
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16 |
Article |
An explanation of why 5 users are enough for qualitative user testing |
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17 |
Video |
Identifying the main findings in research data |
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18 |
Article |
Tools and methods to gather quantitative data |
The following study guides offer more in-depth collections for UX planning and research:
- Qualitative Usability Testing: Study Guide
- Personas: Study Guide
- Information Architecture: Study Guide
- Remote Usability Testing: Study Guide
- Wireframing and Prototyping
- Quantitative Research: Study Guide
Other free materials:
- How to Recruit Participants for Usability Studies?(Free Report)
User-Interface (UI) Design
No matter what product you design, users have to interact with it. This section helps you learn about?best practices that you can apply to any design situation, including web, mobile, complex and simple apps, and consumer products.
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Number |
Link |
Format |
Description |
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1 |
Article |
Design principles to create well-rounded and thoughtful visuals |
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2 |
Video |
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3 |
Article |
10 broad rules every design should follow |
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4 |
Video |
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5 |
Article |
How visual hierarchy guides users through a design |
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6 |
Video |
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7 |
Video |
How users locate features or content within a design |
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8 |
Article |
Definition and common components of design systems |
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9 |
Video |
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10 |
Article |
How to design truly accessible products |
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11 |
Article |
How to avoid the most damaging web-design mistakes |
The following study guides offer more in-depth collections for user interface design:
- Visual Design in UX: Study Guide
- Design-Pattern Guidelines: Study Guide
- UX Writing: Study Guide
- Psychology for UX: Study Guide
- Mobile UX: Study Guide?????
UX Careers
This section provides you with articles and videos on how to start and grow your UX career.
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Number |
Link |
Format |
Description |
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1 |
Article |
How to start and grow a UX career |
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2 |
Video |
Multiple options of how to start your UX career |
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3 |
Article |
Advice for writing a UX resume |
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4 |
Article |
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5 |
Article |
Do and don’ts of UX portfolios |
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6 |
Video |
The following study guide offers an in-depth collection for starting your UX career:
Other free materials:
- User Experience Careers?(Free Report)
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Additional Paid Resources
Full-day courses:
Introduction to UX
UX Planning and Research
- User Research Methods: From Strategy to Requirements to Design
- Discoveries: Building the Right Thing
- Personas: Turn User Data into User-Centered Design
- Remote User Research
User Interface (UI) Design
- Visual Design Fundamentals
- User Interface Principles Every Designer Must Know
- The Human Mind and Usability?
- Emerging Patterns in Interface Design
UX Careers
Books:
