Google UX Design study plan

Define user experience, user interface, and the difference between UX and UI in your own written words, then map each of the five elements of UX (strategy, scope, structure, skeleton, surface) to a real product you use daily.

Explain the responsibilities of a UX designer across product, research, and engineering teams, and list three collaboration artifacts (e.g., user flows, prototypes, research reports) each role hands off.

Identify the design thinking framework stages (empathize, define, ideate, prototype, test) and write one concrete activity for each stage using a hypothetical mobile app.

Describe the difference between user-centered design, human-centered design, and equity-focused design, and name one accessibility standard (WCAG) and two of its guidelines.

Distinguish common UX job titles (UX designer, UX researcher, interaction designer, visual designer, UX writer) and match each to one deliverable they typically own.

Write a project brief and a research plan for a self-chosen design problem, stating the target user, the problem statement, and the success criteria.

Draft five open-ended interview questions that avoid leading language and confirm each maps to a research goal.

Create one user persona from synthesized interview notes, including goals, frustrations, and one accessibility need.

Build a user journey map that identifies at least three pain points and one opportunity per pain point.

Distinguish primary vs. secondary research and explain when each is appropriate for a given project constraint.

Synthesize three or more interview transcripts into affinity groups and extract two or three defensible insights.

Convert insights into one problem statement and two 'How Might We' questions that are neither too broad nor too narrow.

Generate at least twenty ideas using Crazy Eights, then select three to develop further with a rationale for each.

Compare competitive products and document two strengths and two gaps relevant to your problem statement.

Explain the roles of empathy maps and how they differ from journey maps.

Sketch ten paper wireframes for a single screen, varying layout and hierarchy, and annotate the reasoning behind each.

Create a digital wireframe in Figma using a consistent layout grid and spacing scale, and name layers meaningfully.

Build a low-fidelity clickable prototype covering a three-screen flow and verify every hotspot works.

Apply de-cluttering and progressive disclosure to reduce cognitive load, and justify each removal in writing.

Explain the difference between wireframes, mockups, and prototypes and identify which to use at each project stage.

Write a usability test plan with five participants, three tasks, and a metric for each task.

Draft a moderator script that includes a warm-up, task prompts, and neutral follow-up probes, avoiding leading questions.

Run at least two moderated test sessions (or simulated sessions with peers) and record observations without interpreting them.

Compile findings into a prioritized list using severity ratings and link each finding to a design change.

Explain the difference between moderated and unmoderated testing and when each is appropriate.

Establish a visual design system in Figma with a color palette, type scale, spacing scale, and reusable components.

Apply accessibility checks to contrast ratios and text sizing, and document at least three fixes made as a result.

Build a high-fidelity mockup of the tested flow using components and variants rather than detached copies.

Create a high-fidelity interactive prototype with transitions and at least one micro-interaction, and test that all links work.

Explain how design systems improve consistency and handoff, and name two ways components differ from styles.

Explain responsive design principles including fluid grids, flexible images, breakpoints, and mobile-first thinking.

Redesign one screen for three breakpoints (mobile, tablet, desktop) in Adobe XD and justify each layout change.

Apply XD features such as repeat grid, responsive resize, and components to build a multi-device mockup.

Document how touch targets, navigation patterns, and content priority change across device sizes.

Compare fixed, adaptive, and responsive layouts and identify a scenario where each is the right choice.

Identify a social-good angle for your project and articulate who benefits and what harm could result from a poor design.

Assemble a portfolio case study that states the problem, process, decisions, and outcomes, with a clear before-and-after narrative.

Write a resume bullet and a two-sentence project pitch for the case study, then rehearse the pitch aloud twice.

Prepare answers to five common UX interview questions, including one on a design trade-off you made.

Audit your portfolio for accessibility and clarity, and list three specific edits to make before publishing.