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Introduction to UX and Accessible Design

Explore the world of user interfaces and accessible design, and discover how you can start a career as a UX designer.

18,560 enrolled on this course

Introduction to UX and Accessible Design

18,560 enrolled on this course

  • 2 weeks

  • 2 hours per week

  • Digital certificate when eligible

  • Introductory level

Find out more about how to join this course

Learn how to design more accessible user interfaces

User interfaces are the part of technology that connect you to your devices, humans to algorithms – allowing people to take their ideas and turn them into products.

Interfaces are vital to modern technology. But how can we ensure they’re accessible for all users? On this course, you’ll learn from disabled user experience (UX) experts about the issues facing disabled users.

You’ll get to grips with the guidance and regulations covering user interfaces, and learn to master CSS and JavaScript to make easier-to-use interfaces, taking your first steps to becoming a UX designer.

Featured in the UK government’s The Skills Toolkit collection.

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Syllabus

  • Week 1

    Inclusive interfaces

    • Welcome to the course

      These steps will introduce you to the course and give you an idea of what you will be learning.

    • What is it like to be a user?

      These steps explore user experience and what accessibility means in context. They also specifically ask what we mean when we describe ‘good’ and ‘bad’ interfaces.

    • Designing for accessibility

      These steps will further explore issues related to accessibility, how accessibility features in interface design and how this impacts on our experience.

    • Designing interfaces for accessibility

      In these steps, learners will hear from experts working in accessible design and find out about making their first steps in a career in the field.

    • What impact can accessible interfaces have?

      In these steps, you will hear more from our experts on the importance of accessible interfaces, the impact they can have, and how they see this developing in the future.

    • Summary

      These steps wrap up the first week of the course, and highlight some of the topics to be discussed in Week 2.

  • Week 2

    Applying accessibility

    • Welcome back

      In these steps you will find out what you will be learning in the first week of the course.

    • Accessible websites

      In these steps, you will explore accessibility guidelines and learn how to work with them. You will also hear from expert Marcus Inniss, who will outline how he implemented the guidelines in his work on BBC iPlayer.

    • The accessible design cycle

      In these steps, you will look at the stages of the accessible design cycle and explore how to identify which areas of your website or product need to be improved.

    • Facing the future: careers in this area

      In these steps, you will look to the future and explore how to carve out a role in accessible interface design. You’ll hear from experts on their journey, and see what steps you might take next in your career or studies.

    • Summary

      In these steps, we wrap up the course, summarising what has been covered and providing opportunities to think about what to do next.

When would you like to start?

Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.

  • Available now

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Explain the role of user experience (UX) and interfaces in design.
  • Describe the main features of accessible digital UX design.
  • Compare different types of digital UX design problems.
  • Describe principles behind accessible website UX.
  • Explore the accessible design approach.
  • Explore approaches and stages of accessible design.
  • Identify the roles and skills needed in the field of accessible interface design.

Who is the course for?

This course is aimed at early-career creative technologists, established technologists looking to extend their skills, as well as professionals from wider fields looking to understand more about accessible design, and the importance and opportunities that user interfaces and creative technologies present.

You might also be interested in the other courses in the Essential Creative Technologies collection from UAL Creative Computing Institute, Lancaster University and the Institute of Coding.

Who will you learn with?

Mick Grierson is Professor of Creative Computing at UAL Creative Computing Institute.

Who developed the course?

UAL Creative Computing Institute

The UAL Creative Computing Institute (CCI) offers innovative new courses, research opportunities and a public platform to explore computer science and creative practice.

Institute of Coding

The Institute of Coding is a family of learners, businesses and educators creating a new way to develop the digital skills needed at work and beyond.

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Ways to learn

Choose the best way to learn for you!

Subscribe & save

$27.99

For the first two months. Automatically renews

Develop skills to further your career

  • Access to this course
  • Access to 1,000+ courses
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Digital certificate when you're eligible

Cancel for free anytime

Buy this course

$109/one-off payment

Fulfill your current learning need

  • Access to this course
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Printed and digital certificate when you’re eligible

Limited access

Free

Sample the course materials

  • Access expires 11 Apr 2024

Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)

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  • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
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  • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
  • Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

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