Learn by Source
University of Michigan · on Coursera

User Research and Design

4.7(3,800) on Coursera·170K enrolled
Intermediate 12 hours English University Certificate
SkillsUser researchUX researchInterviewsUsability testingResearch methodsDesign

Is this course right for you?

Our take
The University of Michigan's grounding in the research half of UX, from Clifford Lampe: how to plan, run and act on user research.

Good for: Designers and product people who want to strengthen user research skills.

Skip if: You want visual or UI design, or you already run research studies.

It concentrates on the part many design courses skip — understanding real user needs before anything gets drawn, from interviews and surveys through to turning findings into decisions. That makes it a good complement to tool-focused courses rather than a replacement.

It won't teach visual or UI craft, and if you already run research studies it will feel basic. Free to audit on Coursera, certificate about $49 a month with financial aid, and the methods it teaches stay relevant whatever tools come and go (as of 2026).

Comparison · LBS

Compare alternatives for User Research and Design

Same topic, different options. We surface the trade-offs others hide so you can pick the course that actually fits your time, budget, and goals.
Coursera4.7(3,800)
User Research and Design
Price
Paid
Free to audit, paid certificate
Duration
12 hrs
Level
Intermediate
Certificate
University Certificate
Coursera
Web Design: Strategy and Information Architecture
Price
Free
Audit free · Certificate available
Duration
—
Level
Intermediate
Certificate
University Certificate
View course →
Udemy4.8(28,000)
CKAD: Certified Kubernetes Application Developer
Price
Paid
Paid, frequently discounted
Duration
14 hrs
Level
Intermediate
Certificate
Course Certificate
View course →
Udemy4.7(10,000)
Advanced Figma: UX Prototyping and Design Systems
Price
Paid
Paid, frequently discounted
Duration
15 hrs
Level
Intermediate
Certificate
Course Certificate
View course →
Prices & availability can change — confirm on the provider's site. We're not affiliated with any single provider.

About this course

User Research and Design from the University of Michigan covers the research methods that separate intentional UX decisions from guesswork: contextual inquiry, semi-structured interviews, diary studies, surveys, card sorting, and usability testing. Clifford Lampe grounds the methods in their underlying research logic rather than just walking through tool mechanics — you come away understanding not just how to run an interview but what an interview is actually good for versus a survey versus observation.

Browse all Design courses Browse all Coursera courses

Instructor

CL
Clifford Lampe
Coursera instructor
170K+ learners6 courses4.7 instructor rating

Taught by Clifford Lampe, Professor at the University of Michigan School of Information, whose research focuses on social computing and human-computer interaction.

Frequently asked questions

Nothing formal — it is a beginner-level program that assumes no prior UX, design, or research background, so it works as a genuine entry point into the field. What helps is a genuine interest in how people use products and a willingness to do the hands-on exercises, since UX is learned by practising the research and design process rather than only reading about it.

The full user-centred design cycle: the UX process and principles, qualitative research methods like user interviews and understanding needs, ideation and refinement, prototyping, and evaluating designs through usability testing. It integrates the research and the design sides, so you take a product idea from initial concept through research and testing to a prototype, which is the core loop UX professionals actually run.

Not really, and that is worth knowing before enrolling. The focus is on UX research and the design process — understanding users, prototyping, testing — rather than visual or UI craft like colour, typography, and polished interface aesthetics. If you specifically want visual design or Figma skills, pair this with a dedicated UI course; this one builds the research-and-process foundation instead.

For a solid, university-taught grounding in UX research and the design process, yes — it is well regarded and genuinely hands-on, and learners often note it is more demanding than they expected, which reflects real rigour. As with any course, it gives you fundamentals rather than a job on its own; you would build a portfolio of real UX projects on top of it to actually enter the field.

Yes, you can audit the courses on Coursera and watch the lectures at no cost. The graded assignments, peer-reviewed projects, and the certificate need a subscription, with financial aid available if you apply. Since much of the value is in doing the research and prototyping exercises and getting feedback, the paid track is worth considering if you want that applied practice.
Paid
Free to audit, paid certificate
Enroll now