Online | Fit to your Schedule | University Accreditation | Industry-approved
Commencement Date: August 8th 2024.
A bespoke university-accredited and industry-approved 4-month programme for Designers and Creatives, combining online learning and live webinars to further develop your skills and build successful careers in user research design, one of the most in-demand skills in the Design industry.
Register your Interest for the Professional Certificate in User Research Now.
User skills are highly in demand and are fundamental for anyone creating products. User research, the process of researching a product or service’s current or potential users, helps designers understand their users so that the products they create are more likely to satisfy them while meeting business objectives. Understanding users is the key to crafting successful products, creating memorable user experiences and a fundamental stepping stone to improving customer satisfaction for any business, hence why skilled researchers are increasingly in demand.
The 4-month professional certificate course will equip you with the skills you need to master the research skills that make UX professionals so valuable; become a confident, credible and effective user researcher with globally recognised qualifications and convert data into actionable insights as well as practically assess and process user experience data to create better customer experiences. Upon completion, you’ll become a UX research expert, adept at uncovering insights and inspiring action and empowered to impact people’s lives in meaningful ways.
Why take this user research course:
- Gain the most in-demand skills* and boost your career in a thriving industry.
- Learn a complete range of UX research methods and expand your toolkit to conduct high-quality research at pace.
- Become a confident, credible and effective insights expert: Translate findings into actionable insights and communicate them with conviction.
- Showcase your expertise. Build a professional user research portfolio.
- Earn a university credit-rated industry-approved and globally recognised qualification.
- Build your Professional Network: Access UX Insider live events on the industry landscape, get advice from seasoned industry professionals and collaborate, share tips and build connections with design peers.
- Get the confidence to succeed: Count on your mentors, career advisors and student community network throughout your journey.
*Research is one of the top 10 most in-demand skills globally (LinkedIn, 2023).
Programme and syllabus:
The Professional Certificate in User Research has been created and validated by experts in UX research. It is credit-rated by Glasgow Caledonian University via the UX Design Institute.
The user research programme is available to study online via our best-in-class learning management system, specifically handpicked for its user experience design.
Your course mentors are expert user researcher who brings years of practical insight from years of experience working in the field of UX. They host webinars and will be available during these live sessions to answer questions, review progress and run quick tutorials guided by an experienced UX professional in a small group environment.
You’ll be part of a lively community of tutors, mentors and fellow students who support each other along the way, collaborate, share tips and build connections on the lively student Slack channels.
What’s covered in the course*
Introduction to User Research
Planning the Research
Fundamental User Research Skills
Expanding your Toolkit
Analysing Qualitative Research
Quantitative Research
Communicating the Research
AI for User Research
**Scroll down for details on each module.
Who is this course for?
- UX Designers seeking to enhance their user research skills
- UX Researchers looking for a formal qualification that validates their expertise
- Researchers or Social Scientists considering a career in UX
- Product Managers/Owners who need research skills to succeed in their roles
- Anyone who enjoys interacting with users, seeking a meaningful UX research career
Application:
Spaces are limited, so book early to avoid disappointment.
Deadline for applications: August 7th 2024.
Download the Professional Certificate in User Research 2024 Brochure:
Register your interest:
Fees:
Full rate: €2050
Design Skillnet subsidised government-funded rate* €1045
**Member rates apply to members of IDI, ICAD, IAPI, 100 Archive who are private sector or commercial semi-state organisations based in the Republic of Ireland.
Please note the cost of flights and accommodation for the exchange visit or travel to Dublin are not included in the programme fee. Installment plans can be discussed.
More information on Design Skillnet subsidies eligibility requirements. Please contact us directly at info@designskillnet.ie to discuss your interest and membership options.
Do you have a question?
Do you have a question about the programme’s content?
Contact us at info@designskillnet.ie to book a call with a course advisor.
About UX Design Institute
The UX Design Institute is setting the gold standard in UX education across the globe. Formerly known as UX Training, they have trained thousands of digital professionals across the globe and helped them pursue successful careers in UX design. Their alumni now work as UX designers with some of the world’s leading companies; Google, Facebook, IBM, Aer Lingus, Accenture, Vodafone, Virgin, Dell, Three, WorkDay and many more.
Design Skillnet training focuses on helping designers and creatives in their careers and their businesses to up-skill their teams and attract and service clients in a rapidly changing commercial landscape.
Modules
This module provides an overview of user research and explains why it’s fundamental to UX design. You’ll explore the role of the researcher and get introduced to the research methods covered in the course. You’ll also learn about the ethics of conducting research with people.
Lessons include:
• What is user research?
• The three phases of research
• The role of the researcher
• Challenges in user research
• Types of research
• Quantitative vs. qualitative research
• Overview of research methods
• Researching ethically
In this module, you’ll learn how to plan a research project. This covers formulating research questions, choosing research methods and recruiting participants. You’ll also learn about participant rights and how to manage data efficiently and ethically.
Lessons include:
• The research plan
• Defining research questions
• Running a stakeholder kick-off meeting
• Choosing research methods
• Recruiting participants
• The rights of participants
• Developing the research plan
• Data management best practices
This module dives deep into two core qualitative research techniques: interviewing and usability testing. You’ll learn how to use them effectively, including asking the right questions to get real, honest answers. Plus, you’ll develop the art of taking productive notes, a crucial skill for any researcher.
Lessons include:
• Interviewing skills
• Remote interviewing
• An introduction to RITE
• Moderated versus unmoderated usability testing
• Setting up usability tests
• Moderating skills
• Collecting qualitative data
• How to take good notes
You’ll explore more qualitative methods including ethnographic techniques, participatory design, service safaris and diary studies. The module also looks at stimuli and other interview enhancements. You’ll get practical advice on how to implement each of these methods in the field.
Lessons include:
• Ethnography
• Contextual inquiries
• Service safaris
• Interview enhancements
• Participatory design
• Diary studies
• Card sorting
In this module, you’ll discover methods to analyse and interpret qualitative data. You’ll explore how to use affinity diagrams and learn sensemaking techniques like personas and journey maps.
Lessons include:
• Thematic analysis
• Collaborative analysis
• Affinity diagramming
• Personas
• Customer journey mapping
• Beyond journeys: stakeholder and system maps
This module covers the quantitative research methods most commonly used within UX research. You’ll learn how and when to use online surveys, A/B testing, and analytics. You’ll also learn about conducting mixed-methods research.
Lessons include:
• Principles and terminology
• Online surveys: design & analysis
• A/B testing
• Analytics for UX researchers
• Integrating quantitative and qualitative research
In this module, you’ll master skills for communicating research findings. You’ll learn how to share findings through reports, presentations, and workshops. Finally, you’ll get tips on how to showcase your work in a professional portfolio: essential for those pursuing a UX research role.
Lessons include:
• The importance of communication
• Thinking of your audience
• Golden rules for key findings
• Explaining the ‘so what’
• What goes into a good report
• Bringing research reports to life
• Effective presentations
• Effective workshops
• Showcasing research in your portfolio
The final module contains a collection of resources that explore the potential of using AI in your UX research workflow. These lessons cut through the hype so that you can focus on the AI tools and techniques that are genuinely useful when conducting user research.
Lessons include:
• Leveraging AI for user research
• The AI tools landscape
• ChatGPT for user research
• AI and ethics
Build a professional portfolio to showcase your research expertise.
“The course has significantly enhanced my user research skills. In my role as the Deputy Head of Product & Design, I not only feel more self-assured in carrying out user research tasks, but I also feel well-equipped to lead and guide my team.”
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Register Interest
If you are interested in securing a place on this course, please fill in the application form to the right.