UI Design Patterns for Successful Software v1
How This Course Will Help Your Career
Have you ever found yourself spotting shapes in the clouds? That is because people are hard-wired to recognize patterns, even when there are none. It’s the same reason that we often think we know where to click when first experiencing a website—and get frustrated if things aren’t where we think they should be. Choosing the right user interface design pattern is crucial to taking advantage of this natural pattern-spotting, and this course will teach you how to do just that.
User interface design patterns are the means by which structure and order can gel together to make powerful user experiences. Structure and order are also a user’s best friends, and along with the fact that old habits die hard (especially on the web), it is essential that designers consider user interfaces very carefully before they set the final design in stone. Products should consist of such good interactions that users don’t even notice how they got from point A to point B. Failing to do so can lead to user interfaces that are difficult or confusing to navigate, requiring the user to spend an unreasonable amount of time decoding the display—and just a few seconds too many can be “unreasonable”—rather than fulfilling their original aims and objectives.
In this course, taught by your instructor, Don Norman, you’ll learn how designers can improve the world, how you can apply human-centered design to solve complex global challenges, and what 21st century skills you’ll need to make a difference in the world. Each lesson will build upon another to expand your knowledge of human-centered design and provide you with practical skills to make a difference in the world.
“The challenge is to use the principles of human-centered design to produce positive results, products that enhance lives and add to our pleasure and enjoyment. The goal is to produce a great product, one that is successful, and that customers love. It can be done.”
— Don Norman
While the focus is on the practical application of user interface design patterns, by the end of the course you will also be familiar with current terminology used in the design of user interfaces, and many of the key concepts under discussion. This should help put you ahead of the pack and furnish you with the knowledge necessary to advance beyond your competitors.
So, if you are struggling to decide which user interface design pattern is best, and how you can achieve maximum usability through implementing it, then step no further. This course will equip you with the knowledge necessary to select the most appropriate display methods and solve common design problems affecting existing user interfaces.
What you will learn
How to choose user interface design patterns and use them appropriately
How to organize content to achieve maximum usability
The implementation of logical page structure
How to ensure minimal effort is required from the user when moving through the user interface
How to simplify data entry
The use of social aspects within user interface design
How to enhance the user experience
Who should take this course
This is a beginner-level course suitable for newcomers to user interface design and experienced practitioners alike:
UX and UI designers interested in using the right UI design patterns to create optimal product designs
Project managers keen on incorporating tried and tested UI design patterns to speed up and optimize the product development process
Software engineers looking to boost their skill sets and gain a foundational understanding of user interface design
Entrepreneurs who want to make sure their products have the appropriate user interface for maximum success
Newcomers to design who are considering making a switch to UX or UI design
Courses in the Interaction Design Foundation are designed to contain comprehensive, evidence-based content, while ensuring that the learning curve is never too steep. All participants will have the opportunity to share ideas, seek help with tests, and enjoy the social aspects afforded by our open and friendly forum.
Learn and work with a global team of designers
When you take part in this course, you will join a global multidisciplinary team working on the course and the exercises at the same time as you. You will work together to improve your skills and understanding. Your course group will be made up of an incredibly diverse group of professionals, all of whom have the same objective—to become successful designers. It’s your chance to learn, grow, and network with your peers across the planet.
Gain an Industry-Recognized UX Course Certificate
Use your industry-recognized Course Certificate on your resume, CV, LinkedIn profile or your website.
![Course Certificate example](https://assets.interaction-design.org/build/assets/ixdf-lazy-placeholder-D25niUHk.png)
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Lessons in This Course
- Each week, one lesson becomes available.
- There’s no time limit to finish a course. Lessons have no deadlines.
- Estimated learning time: 36 hours 23 mins spread over 8 weeks .
Lesson 0: Welcome and Introduction
To be scheduled. Estimated time to complete: 1 hour 46 mins.
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0.1: Welcome (10 mins)
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0.2: An introduction to courses from the Interaction Design Foundation (37 mins)
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0.3: Let our community help you (1 min)
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0.4: Meet your peers online in our discussion forums (6 mins)
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0.5: Meet and learn from design professionals at an upcoming meet-up (1 min)
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0.6: Gain Timeless Skills Through Courses From the Interaction Design Foundation (21 mins)
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0.7: How to Earn Your Course Certificate (16 mins)
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0.8: Mandatory vs. Optional Lesson Items (7 mins)
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0.9: A Mix Between Video-Based and Text-Based Lesson Content (6 mins)
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0.10: UI Design Patterns (6 mins)
Lesson 1: Organising Content for the Best Results
To be scheduled. Estimated time to complete: 7 hours 7 mins.
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1.1: Organising Content for the Best Results - Visual Hierarchy (42 mins)
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1.2: Progressive Disclosure: Organising Content for the Best Results (40 mins)
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1.3: Two-Panel Selector: Organising Content for the Best Results (37 mins)
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1.4: List Inlay: Organising Contents for the Best Results (38 mins)
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1.5: Slideshows: Organising Content for the Best Results (38 mins)
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1.6: Wizard: Organising Content for the Best Results (41 mins)
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1.7: Archive List: Organising Content for the Best Results (37 mins)
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1.8: Navigation Tabs: Organising Content for the Best Results (41 mins)
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1.9: Module Tabs: Organising Content for the Best Results (39 mins)
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1.10: Vertical Dropdown Menus: Organising Content for the Best Results (41 mins)
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1.11: Horizontal Dropdown Menus: Organising Content for the Best Results (34 mins)
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1.12: Community-based learning and networking (6 mins)
Lesson 2: Affording Fluid Navigation
To be scheduled. Estimated time to complete: 9 hours 37 mins.
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2.1: Global Navigation: Organising Content for the Best Results (1 hour 10 mins)
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2.2: Top-Level Navigation: Affording Fluid Navigation (41 mins)
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2.3: Progressive Disclosure: Affording Fluid Navigation (42 mins)
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2.4: Mega Dropdown Menus: Affording Fluid Navigation (42 mins)
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2.5: Tabbed Document Interface: Afford Fluid Navigation (41 mins)
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2.6: Breadcrumbs: Affording Fluid Navigation (1 hour 7 mins)
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2.7: Scrolling Lists: Affording Fluid Navigation (37 mins)
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2.8: Search Boxes: Affording Fluid Navigation (42 mins)
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2.9: Homepage Link: Affording Fluid Navigation (40 mins)
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2.10: Sitemap Footers: Affording Fluid Navigation (37 mins)
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2.11: Pagination: Affording Fluid Navigation (37 mins)
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2.12: Tag Clouds: Affording Fluid Navigation (41 mins)
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2.13: Inline Linking: Affording Fluid Navigation (40 mins)
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2.14: Virtual Screapheap (6 mins)
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2.15: Community-based learning and networking (6 mins)
Lesson 3: Implementing Page Structure
To be scheduled. Estimated time to complete: 3 hours 2 mins.
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3.1: Visual Framework: Implementing Page Structure (34 mins)
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3.2: Centre Stage: Implementing Page Structure (35 mins)
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3.3: Movable Pieces: Implementing Page Structure (34 mins)
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3.4: Titled Sections: Implementing Page Structure (34 mins)
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3.5: Responsive Enabling: Implementing Page Structure (37 mins)
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3.6: UI Page Structure Patterns (6 mins)
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3.7: Community-based learning and networking (6 mins)
Lesson 4: Simplifying Data Entry
To be scheduled. Estimated time to complete: 3 hours 41 mins.
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4.1: Input Fields: Simplifying Data Structure (37 mins)
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4.2: Autocomplete: Simplifying Data Entry (37 mins)
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4.3: Refining Search: Simplifying Data Entry (35 mins)
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4.4: Forgiving Format: Simplifying Data Entry (35 mins)
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4.5: Event Calendar: Simplifying Data Entry (37 mins)
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4.6: Input Hints: Simplifying Data Entry (34 mins)
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4.7: UI Design and Data Entry (6 mins)
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4.8: Community-based learning and networking (6 mins)
Lesson 5: Social Aspects of UI Design
To be scheduled. Estimated time to complete: 4 hours 34 mins.
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5.1: Achievements: Social Aspects of UI Design (1 hour 10 mins)
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5.2: Language: Social Aspects of UI Design (40 mins)
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5.3: Person Perspective: Social Aspects of UI Design (8 mins)
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5.4: Leaderboards: Social Aspects of UI Design (38 mins)
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5.5: Importing Connections: Social Aspects of UI Design (34 mins)
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5.6: Sign-In Reminder: Social Aspects of UI Design (8 mins)
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5.7: Update Alerts: Social Aspects of UI Design (36 mins)
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5.8: Starred Reviews: Social Aspects of UI Design (33 mins)
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5.9: Social Media-Personal Experience (6 mins)
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5.10: Community-based learning and networking (6 mins)
Lesson 6: Dark Patterns: Methods of Coercing, Manipulating and Tricking Users
To be scheduled. Estimated time to complete: 3 hours 55 mins.
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6.1: Dark Patterns (2 hours 35 mins)
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6.2: Prioritising Advertisements: Dark Patterns (7 mins)
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6.3: Automatically Checked Boxes: Dark Patterns (7 mins)
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6.4: Terms and Conditions Linked to Command Button: Dark patterns (7 mins)
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6.5: Forced Registration: Dark Patterns (7 mins)
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6.6: Using Colour to Confuse: Dark Patterns (7 mins)
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6.7: Automatic Opt-In: Dark Patterns (7 mins)
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6.8: Opt-In, Opt-Out Dance: Dark Patterns (7 mins)
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6.9: Monthly Charge: Dark Patterns (7 mins)
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6.10: Small Print: Dark Patterns (7 mins)
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6.11: Sneak Into Basket: Dark Patterns (6 mins)
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6.12: Implied Consent: Dark Patterns (7 mins)
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6.13: Dark Pattern Manipulation (6 mins)
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6.14: Community-based learning and networking (6 mins)
Lesson 7: The Complete User Interface
To be scheduled. Estimated time to complete: 2 hours 40 mins.
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7.1: The Complete User Interface (32 mins)
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7.2: User Interface Design: The Complete User Interface (31 mins)
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7.3: 'Wikipedia': User Interface Design (32 mins)
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7.4: 'Ebay': User Interface Design (31 mins)
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7.5: 'Twitter': User Interface Design (31 mins)
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7.6: Community-based learning and networking (6 mins)
Lesson 8: Course Certificate, Final Networking, and Course Wrap-up
To be scheduled.
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8.1: Course Evaluation (1 min)
How Others Have Benefited
![Nicolas Leclair](https://public-images.interaction-design.org/user-uploads/13819/profile-pictures/original.9adf5d3b25cb14613dc0d4708b90942c.jpg?tr=w-560,h-560)
Nicolas Leclair, Canada
“It's nice to put words and explanation on pattern that we use daily, and that are habits. Using them and having to decide which one to offer to a user are two different things, like driving a car, and building a car. I feel that I am learning to build the car.”
![Phillip Krasnick](https://public-images.interaction-design.org/user-uploads/11842/profile-pictures/original.beb52d3bdee73fc86913a556495cf8dc.jpg?tr=w-560,h-560)
Phillip Krasnick, United States
“The content was well-structured and concepts were clearly articulated.”
![Gideon Cohen](https://public-images.interaction-design.org/user-uploads/12540/profile-pictures/original.21424f565cdf93a09f94e3f7a00c6cfb.jpg?tr=w-560,h-560)
Gideon Cohen, Canada
“I really liked the section on Perspective Writing. Overall, this is good material that helps orient the nascent interaction designer in the terminology and tools of the trade.”
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