Psychology of Interaction Design: The Ultimate Guide
How This Course Will Help Your Career
What You’ll Learn
- A deep, cognitive understanding of the human behind the term “user,” including the user’s memory and decision-making and problem-solving skills
- How to understand what the user sees when confronted by your product
- How to identify potential pitfalls in your design before any of them become a problem for your users
- How to elevate your design above those of your competitors by creating user-centered products, virtually free from frustrating elements
- How to design products that provide satisfying user experience and, in turn, increase sales
A deep understanding of human psychology is essential for all designers when creating a user-centered product with great user experience. While many individual differences will never cease to exist between users, we are united by our shared psychology; the constraints and abilities of the human mind are much the same for all of us. Developing an understanding of these cognitive limitations and capabilities is the key to interaction design and a great user experience. Without an awareness of how we interact with things in the real and virtual worlds, you’ll find that your designs will fall short of their potential.
This course will equip you with the knowledge to relate to your users psychologically, thus allowing you to create stand-out products. Through learning about different aspects of human cognition—and how they relate to interaction design—you will find yourself much better equipped to put yourself in your users’ shoes, shifting their thoughts to the forefront and keeping a firm hold of them there when designing your next creation.
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Is This Course Right for You?
This is an advanced-level course; even so, it is recommended for both newcomers to design and seasoned professionals alike:
- ֱ, UI, and web designers keen on applying knowledge in psychology so as to create interactive designs that are satisfying to use
- Software engineers interested in gaining a deep understanding of human cognition and interaction design
- Entrepreneurs who want to ship products that are user-centered and free from flaws that might blight their competitors’ products
- Newcomers to design who are considering making a switch to ֱ or interaction 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
You'll join a global community and work together to improve your skills and career opportunities. Connect with helpful peers and make friends with like-minded individual as you push deeper into the exciting and booming industry of design.
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: 18 hours 12 mins spread over 10 weeks.
Lesson 0: Welcome and Introduction
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0.1: Welcome! (12 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: How To Earn Your Course Certificate (16 mins)
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0.5: Meet your peers online in our discussion forums (6 mins)
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0.6: Meet and learn from design professionals in your area (1 min)
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0.7: Gain Timeless Knowledge Through Courses From The Interaction Design Foundation (21 mins)
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0.8: Mandatory Vs. Optional Lesson Items (8 mins)
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0.9: A mix between video-based and text-based lesson content (8 mins)
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0.10: Sharing Ideas (6 mins)
Lesson 1: Interaction Design: An Introduction
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1.1: An Introduction to Interaction Design (40 mins)
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1.2: Human Cognition (31 mins)
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1.3: Human-Computer Interaction (7 mins)
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1.4: Personal Interactive Experience (6 mins)
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1.5: Sensory Perception (11 mins)
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1.6: Attention (11 mins)
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1.7: Learning and Memory (18 mins)
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1.8: Language - The Five Dimensions of IxD (11 mins)
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1.9: Problem-solving (11 mins)
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1.10: Decision-Making (12 mins)
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1.11: Reasoning (11 mins)
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1.12: Reflective Cognition (11 mins)
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1.13: Cognition and the Interactive Experience (9 mins)
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1.14: Bill Moggridge: Designing Interactions (2 hours 53 mins)
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1.15: Share your Ideas (6 mins)
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1.16: Perception (1 min)
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1.17: Gillian Crampton Smith Interview (8 mins)
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1.18: Interaction Design (6 mins)
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1.19: Discussion Forum (6 mins)
Lesson 2: The Psychology of Interaction Design: Cognitive Frameworks
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2.1: Conceptual Models (49 mins)
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2.2: 'Folk Theories' (9 mins)
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2.3: The Gulfs of Execution and Evaluation (14 mins)
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2.4: Humans as Information Processors (11 mins)
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2.5: The Human Processor Model (9 mins)
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2.6: External Cognition (8 mins)
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2.7: Distributed Cognition (10 mins)
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2.8: Embodied Interaction (15 mins)
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2.9: Share your Experience (6 mins)
Lesson 3: The Gestalt Laws and Interface Design
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3.1: A Valuable List of Gestalt Principles (11 mins)
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3.2: 'Law of Pragnanz' (9 mins)
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3.3: Applying the Laws (37 mins)
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3.4: 'Law of Similarity' (7 mins)
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3.5: 'Law of Proximity' (8 mins)
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3.6: Law of Familiarity/Meaningfulness (11 mins)
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3.7: 'Law of Common Fate' (7 mins)
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3.8: 'New' Grouping Laws (7 mins)
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3.9: Research (10 mins)
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3.10: The Law Of Element Connectedness (7 mins)
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3.11: 'Law of Synchrony' (7 mins)
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3.12: 'Law of Common Region' and The Origin of The Gestalt Laws (10 mins)
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3.13: Figure/Ground Organisation (10 mins)
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3.14: 'Figure/Ground' (8 mins)
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3.15: An example of Figure/Ground (6 mins)
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3.16: Perceptual Segregation: Design Considerations (8 mins)
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3.17: Gestalt Principles of Perceptual Organisation (7 mins)
Lesson 4: Visual Perception and Colour Vision
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4.1: Understanding Human Vision (12 mins)
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4.2: Anatomy and Function of the Eye (9 mins)
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4.3: The Fovea and Design (8 mins)
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4.4: Colour Vision (10 mins)
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4.5: Vision and Design: Using Colour (39 mins)
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4.6: Theories of Human Colour Perception (7 mins)
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4.7: Colour Blindness (14 mins)
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4.8: Photoreceptors fovea (30 mins)
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4.9: Object Perception (15 mins)
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4.10: Vision and Design (13 mins)
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4.11: Context and Other Influences (14 mins)
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4.12: Using Images (10 mins)
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4.13: Vision and Attention (20 mins)
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4.14: Vision and Design: Visual Perception (10 mins)
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4.15: Vanishing Head Illusion (6 mins)
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4.16: Simplicity and Bold Vibrant Colours (1 min)
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4.17: Color Vision 1: Color Basics (31 mins)
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4.18: Visual Design Experience: Positive or Negative (6 mins)
Lesson 5: Human Cognition and the Interactive Experience
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5.1: Models of Perception: Complex User Interfaces (10 mins)
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5.2: User Specificity: Complex User Interfaces (39 mins)
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5.3: Cognitive Overload: Complex User Interfaces (16 mins)
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5.4: Designing for Recognition: Complex User Interfaces (8 mins)
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5.5: 'Radio Kabul': Complex User Interfaces (12 mins)
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5.6: User Interfaces (16 mins)
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5.7: Visual Working Memory (10 mins)
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5.8: Virtual Reality (9 mins)
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5.9: Complex User Interfaces (13 mins)
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5.10: The Power Law of Practice: Complex User Interfaces (15 mins)
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5.11: Deliberate Practice: Complex User Interfaces (10 mins)
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5.12: Helping The User (10 mins)
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5.13: User Interface Example (6 mins)
Lesson 6: User Error: Who is to blame?
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6.1: British Midlands Flight 92 (14 mins)
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6.2: Who is to blame?: User Error (40 mins)
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6.3: The USS Vincennes (13 mins)
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6.4: The Air Inter Flight 148 Crash (8 mins)
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6.5: The Space Shuttle Columbia (9 mins)
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6.6: The Herald of Free Enterprise (7 mins)
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6.7: The Three Mile Island Nuclear Disaster (7 mins)
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6.8: Air France Flight 447 (12 mins)
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6.9: User Error: Your Turn (6 mins)
Lesson 7: Tangible User Interface Design and the Psychology of Touch
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7.1: Designing Controls (38 mins)
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7.2: Specificity Vs. Generality (8 mins)
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7.3: Design Considerations (14 mins)
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7.4: One-to-One Couplings (8 mins)
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7.5: The Paradox of Modern Technology (12 mins)
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7.6: Physical Controls Vs. Touchscreens (17 mins)
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7.7: Touchscreens: Tangible User Interfaces (7 mins)
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7.8: Big Briar 331 Touch Plate (7 mins)
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7.9: Physical Controls (20 mins)
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7.10: Design Heuristics: Tangible User Interfaces (7 mins)
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7.11: Physical Controls Vs. Touchscreens: Tangible User Interfaces (5 mins)
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7.12: Discussion Forum (6 mins)
Lesson 8: Comparing User Interfaces
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8.1: Game Console Controllers: Applying the Information (2 mins)
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8.2: Car Control Panels: Applying the Information (3 mins)
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8.3: Heating Controls: Applying the Information (3 mins)
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8.4: Communication Devices: Applying the Information (2 mins)
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8.5: Wheelchair Control Panels: Applying the Information (2 mins)
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8.6: Discussion Forum (6 mins)
Lesson 9: Interaction Design Approaches
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9.1: An Overview: Interaction Design Approaches (11 mins)
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9.2: User-Centred Design: Interaction Design Approaches (44 mins)
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9.3: Activity-Centred Design: Interaction Design Approaches (15 mins)
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9.4: Systems Design: Interaction Design Approaches (9 mins)
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9.5: Genius Design: Interaction Design Approaches (11 mins)
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9.6: Discussion Forum (6 mins)
Lesson 10: Interaction Design Methods
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10.1: An Overview: Interaction Design (18 mins)
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10.2: Usability Testing: Interaction Design (8 mins)
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10.3: User Testing Methods: Interaction Design (11 mins)
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10.4: Testing Designs: Usability Inspection Methods (18 mins)
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10.5: Cognitive Walkthrough: Usability Inspection Methods (43 mins)
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10.6: Prototyping: Interaction Design (11 mins)
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10.7: Scenarios: Interaction Design (13 mins)
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10.8: Field Studies: Interaction Design (16 mins)
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10.9: Combining Methods: Interaction Design (9 mins)
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10.10: Questionnaires: Interaction Design (18 mins)
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10.11: Discussion Forum (6 mins)
Lesson 11: Interaction Design: The Process
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11.1: Practical Issues: User-Centred Design (44 mins)
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11.2: What are the user's needs? (11 mins)
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11.3: What are the alternative designs? (12 mins)
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11.4: How do I choose an alternative design? (13 mins)
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11.5: Integrating UCD and Other Life-Cycle Models (28 mins)
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11.6: Discussion Forum (6 mins)
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11.7: Usability Testing: What to Test (1 min)
Lesson 12: Course Certificate, Final Networking, and Course Wrap-up
Learning Paths
This course is part of 1 learning path:
How Others Have Benefited
Vasanth Kumar Talla, India
“Lot of information which is valid and good to use in real time environment and projects.”
Theo Braden, United States
“I appreciated how the theory drives considerations for interaction design. It made the information much more digestible and intentional.”
How It Works
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Take lessons by industry experts
Lessons are self-paced so you’ll never be late for class or miss a deadline.
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Get a Course Certificate
Your answers are graded by experts, not machines. Get an industry-recognized Course Certificate to prove your skills.
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Advance your career
Use your new skills in your existing job or to get a new job in ֱ design. Tap into our community to help you.
Frequently Asked Questions
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When I finish the course, do I have to pay extra to get the certificate?No. When you pay for a membership you get access to all of the courses, with no extra charges or limits. That also means that you will get a certificate for every successfully finished course, at no extra cost.
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Can I take more than one course at a time?Yes, you can take as many courses as you would like. For example, if there are 30 active courses, you can enroll in all 30 courses at the same time and move from one to the other as you please.There are no further charges once you have paid for your membership.
Please note: If you have a student membership, you can take a maximum of two courses at the same time. As a student, you can thus still take as many courses as you would like – free of extra charges – just as long as you finish them (or drop them) so that you don’t have more than two ongoing courses at the same time. Please note that if you drop a course, progress is not transferable between cycles. So, you'll have to redo the lessons and answers you already completed in the current cycle. -
I missed the enrollment date and now the course is closed. Will I have any opportunity to take the course in the future?
Don't worry if you missed the course. We will re-run it shortly. One of the reasons we continually open and close courses is to be able to control the classroom size.
Networking is a large part of our value proposition, so we want just the right number of people inside the courses. That is also why we display the "XX % percent booked" on our course icons.
We’ll re-schedule the course and make it available for sign-up on /courses in only about a week (or perhaps a little bit longer). The actual start date of the course will be a few weeks after sign-ups begin too. We’ve found that this is the best way to maximize flexibility and convenience for everyone, especially you as you put your course program together.
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Do I have to be online at an exact time to study?
No. You can set your own study schedule. There are no "live sessions" or "webinars" since our members are from all timezones around the world. We are a truly global community – with members in every single corner of the world.
Thus, once you are enrolled, you can take all the time you want to complete a given course. Every "classroom" in each course will never close, so you’ll have permanent access to your classmates and your course material (as well as your own answers).
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Will I receive a Course Certificate?
Yes. You will get a digital industry-recognized Course Certificate every time you complete a course. Certificates never expire and can be saved as a .jpg file so that you can easily share your accomplishment. In addition, certificates can be shared on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn directly from from our site.
Also, there is no limit to how many Course Certificates you can earn during your membership. We will also make sure you receive a 3-step guide on how to include your Course Certificate on LinkedIn and in your résumé/CV.
You can see an example of a Course Certificate at the bottom of the Course Catalogue.
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I have answered questions in a lesson; when will they be marked/graded?We do the marking/grading in so-called "sprints" – where we sit down and do all the marking/grading in one go. Your answers will be graded approximately two weeks after you submit your work.We do this because it is much more efficient than doing one little step every day. It's part of our lean/agile work philosophy, and that approach to efficiency is one of the factors that keeps our membership prices so incredibly low.We are doing it to save you money and as part of our mission to lower the cost of high-quality design education.
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I have updated my name, but my course certificate is not updated — how can I change it?Once you change your name, the certificate will be updated automatically in the next hour.
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I have started the course/lesson later than the specified date, are my answers still going to be marked?
We will be marking answers for as long as there are active members. Therefore, even if you are the only person taking a lesson at that particular time, your answers will still be marked.
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How are courses graded?Open-ended questions are graded by our experts and course instructors – not by machines.That's one of the reasons that our Course Certificates are credible and recognized by industry leaders.
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I started a course after the official start date; for how long will I have access to the course materials?
Regardless of when you have enrolled on a course, you will have access to the course materials for the entire duration of your membership. So, if you pay for a one-year membership, you will have access for one year, renewing your membership for a second year means you will have access for two years, and so on.
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New lessons are starting before I have had the chance to complete all aspects of the previous lesson(s); am I going to be locked out of these unfinished lessons?
No, you will not be locked out of any lesson or course. You will have access to all course materials throughout your membership, so there is no pressure to keep at the same pace as the specified lesson release dates.
All we recommend is that you try to stick to the same schedule as other participants. The reason is they may have moved on to other lessons, thereby meaning you could miss out on the social aspects of the course(s). However, we anticipate that there will be a constant flow of participants working through different lessons and courses, so overall you are unlikely to miss out. We will also be running all courses again — so there really is no rush.
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Are course certificates awarded on a specific date?
No; you can generate your certificate as soon as you attain at least 70% of the total course points.
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When will I receive my Course Certificate?
Course certificates will be given to participants when they have scored more than 70% or more of the total course points. For example, if a course contains ten lessons each with ten questions, you will receive a course certificate when the instructor has awarded you at least 70 points (70% of the total course points).
There is no specified time that certificates will be awarded — instead, they are given to participants as and when they have answered all questions, even if this is long after the official end date.
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How do I add my Course Certificate to my LinkedIn profile?Below is a step-by-step guide on how to add your Interaction Design Foundation course(s) to your LinkedIn profile:
- Log in to your LinkedIn account, then go to your profile.
- On the right, in the Add profile section dropdown, choose Background and then select the + next to Licenses & Certifications.
3. In the following fields add:- Name – Course name
- Issuing organization – The Interaction Design Foundation
- Check the field “This credential does not expire”
- Issue date - Input the date written on your certificate (e.g., May 2019)
- Credential ID – Your membership ID number (it's written on your certificate)
- Credential URL: Input the certificate URL provided on your course page
4. Click on the save button.
Congratulate yourself!
You’ve made a great accomplishment by earning your course certificate, and now the world knows about it! -
How do I add the Interaction Design Foundation Membership Certificate to my LinkedIn Profile?Below is a step-by-step guide on how to add your Interaction Design Foundation course(s) to your LinkedIn profile:
- Log in to your LinkedIn account, then go to your profile.
- On the right, in the Add profile section dropdown, choose Background and then select the + next to Licenses & Certifications.
3. In the following fields add:- Name – Membership Certificate
- Issuing organization – The Interaction Design Foundation
- Check the field “This credential does not expire”
- Issue date - Input the date when you joined our community (e.g., May 2019)
- Credential ID – Your membership ID number (it's written on your certificate)
- Credential URL: Input the certificate URL provided on your profile page
4. Click on the save button.
It is as simple as that. Now, anyone who visits your profile can see your certificate! -
How much will I have to pay for the courses?
As a member, you can take as many courses as you want with no additional costs. This means you only have to pay our membership fee to take an unlimited number of courses. There will be no further charges on top of the membership fee, no matter how many courses you decide to take.
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Do you provide mostly beginners' or more advanced courses?We provide courses for all levels of mastery and across the full spectrum. If you’re new to design, you can start from our beginner courses and progress all the way up to our advanced ones. If you’re an established designer, on the other hand, you will find some of our lower-level courses provide a good refresher—and the advanced ones, a bit of a challenge.
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How long does it take to complete a course?
You will need approximately 5-8 hours to complete one lesson. Each course has between 3 and 16 lessons.
Once enrolled in a course, you will gain access to a new lesson each week, which you are free to complete without any deadlines and no end date, either.