UX basics study guide
Nielsen Norman Group · Beginner · Documentation
Free learning material; certificates and service usage are not included. Link checked 2026-10-02.
Open resource ↗BUILD A SKILL / ONE STEP AT A TIME
User Research
User research investigates needs and behavior.
Why is it useful?
It grounds design choices in evidence rather than preference.
Prerequisites
What should I learn?
- Research questions
- Interviews
- Consent
- Usability tests
- Synthesis
Practice milestone
Run a small consent-based usability study and summarize limitations.
A REALISTIC PRACTICE PLAN
25–55 focused hours
Beginner · approximately 2.5–5.5 weeks at 10 hours/week.
This is an editorial estimate for the listed foundations and exercises, not a promise of mastery. Familiarity comes earlier; practical confidence requires repeated projects. Strong proficiency often takes months or years of continued use.
At 1–2 hours/day, missed days and revisiting prerequisites extend calendar time. Skills can be studied together.
Your learning progress
Self-reported completion does not change your saved analysis or prove proficiency.
Curated learning resources
FREE LEARNING FIRSTCareer recommendations and learning timelines are educational guidance based on your resume and selected goals. They are not guarantees of employment or professional competency.