Design Interfaces That Feel Natural to People
Move beyond guesswork and discover how to create experiences rooted in understanding what users actually need and how they think.
Return HomeA Foundation That Changes How You See Design
This course provides you with systematic methods for understanding users and their needs. You'll develop the ability to approach design challenges from a human-centered perspective, making decisions based on research rather than assumptions.
By the end of these 10 weeks, you'll have practical skills in user research, persona development, and journey mapping—tools that help you create interfaces people find intuitive and satisfying to use.
◆ Confidence in Your Decisions
Replace uncertainty with evidence-based choices. You'll learn to validate your design thinking through structured research, giving you the confidence to explain and defend your work to stakeholders.
◆ Empathy-Driven Perspective
Develop genuine understanding of user contexts and needs. This shift in perspective influences every aspect of your design work, helping you create solutions that truly serve the people who use them.
◆ Portfolio-Ready Projects
Complete research projects that demonstrate your capabilities to potential employers or clients. These aren't theoretical exercises—they mirror real-world design challenges you'll encounter in practice.
◆ Practical Methodology
Gain repeatable processes you can apply to any design project. These methods become part of your professional toolkit, helping you consistently deliver thoughtful, user-centered work.
When Your Designs Look Good But Feel Wrong
Perhaps you've experienced this disconnect—creating interfaces that appear polished yet somehow fail to connect with users. You invest time perfecting visual details, only to watch people struggle with navigation or express confusion about basic tasks.
The frustration often stems from approaching design primarily through an aesthetic lens. While visual appeal matters, it represents only one dimension of effective interface design. Without understanding user mental models, contexts, and actual needs, even beautiful designs can leave people feeling lost or frustrated.
The Missing Piece
Many designers reach a plateau where they recognize something fundamental is missing from their work. They can replicate design patterns and use professional tools, yet their solutions feel somewhat arbitrary—based more on personal preference or industry trends than genuine user understanding.
This gap between visual proficiency and user understanding affects both your confidence and your career growth. You might hesitate to call yourself a UX designer, uncertain whether your work truly serves user needs or simply reflects your own assumptions about what people want.
Relying on Assumptions
Making design decisions based on what seems right rather than what users actually need creates a shaky foundation for your work.
Lacking Research Skills
Without systematic methods for understanding users, you're left guessing about their contexts, motivations, and pain points.
Struggling to Justify Work
When stakeholders question your choices, you find it difficult to articulate the reasoning behind design decisions.
Feeling Incomplete
Despite developing visual skills, something fundamental feels missing from your understanding of what makes good design work.
Building Understanding Through Systematic Research
UX Design Foundations addresses this gap by teaching you the research methodologies that form the basis of user-centered design. Rather than jumping directly to solutions, you'll learn to first understand the people you're designing for—their contexts, goals, challenges, and mental models.
Course Structure
Research Fundamentals
Learn the principles of user research, including how to plan studies, formulate research questions, and select appropriate methods for different situations. Understand ethical considerations and how to approach participants with respect.
Interview Techniques
Develop skills in conducting user interviews that reveal genuine insights. Practice asking open-ended questions, active listening, and recognizing when to probe deeper into participant responses without leading or biasing answers.
Persona Development
Create personas based on actual research data rather than assumptions. Learn to identify meaningful patterns in user behaviors and needs, then synthesize these into representative models that guide design decisions.
Journey Mapping
Map user experiences across touchpoints and time. Identify pain points, opportunities, and emotional responses throughout interactions. Learn to visualize these journeys in ways that communicate insights to team members and stakeholders.
Information Architecture
Understand how to organize content and features in ways that match user mental models. Learn card sorting techniques, hierarchy principles, and navigation patterns that help people find what they need without confusion.
Our teaching approach emphasizes hands-on practice. You'll conduct actual research throughout the course, working with real participants and creating deliverables that demonstrate your growing capabilities. This practical experience builds both skills and confidence in ways that theoretical learning alone cannot achieve.
What Working Together Looks Like
Over 10 weeks, you'll participate in a structured program that balances instruction, practice, and feedback. Classes meet in the evening to accommodate working schedules, with additional weekend sessions for collaborative work and presentations.
Weekly Sessions
Each week introduces new concepts and methods through a combination of instruction -on activities. You'll work on exercises during class time, receiving immediate guidance from instructors as you apply new skills. These sessions create space for questions108 Kamishiro, 4-chome, Meito-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, 465-0025and collaborative problem-solving with fellow participants.
Research Projects
Throughout the course, you'll complete research projects that mirror real-world scenarios. These include conducting user interviews, analyzing findings, creating personas, and mapping user journeys. Projects build progressively, with each incorporating skills from previous weeks while introducing new dimensions of research practice.
Feedback and Iteration
Regular feedback sessions help you refine your approach and understanding. Instructors review your work, offering constructive guidance on research methods, analysis techniques, and communication of findings. Peer review sessions provide additional perspectives and help you develop skills in giving and receiving professional critique.
Community Learning
Connect with other professionals developing their UX skills. The cohort model creates opportunities for collaboration, and mutual support. Many participants find value in these relationships beyond the course duration, maintaining connections as they continue their professional development.
Schedule Flexibility
Weekday Sessions
Tuesday and Thursday evenings, 7:00-9:30 PM, allowing you to maintain work commitments while developing new skills.
Weekend Workshops
Saturday sessions twice monthly for collaborative projects and extended practice with research methods.
// Sessions recorded for participants who need flexibility
Understanding the Investment
UX Design Foundations
10-week comprehensive program
What's Included
Beyond Technical Skills
This investment develops capabilities that influence your entire design career. User research skills apply across different roles, industries, and project types. The systematic thinking you develop becomes part of how you approach all design challenges, affecting the quality and confidence of your professional work.
Professional Development
Many participants find that UX research skills open new career opportunities or strengthen their position in current roles. Understanding users systematically differentiates you from designers who rely primarily on visual skills, making your contributions more valuable to teams and organizations.
Payment Flexibility
We understand that investing in education requires consideration of personal financial situations. Full payment is due before course start, though we're open to discussing payment arrangements for participants who need them.
// Contact us to discuss your specific situation
How We Measure Progress
Our curriculum builds on established research methodologies used by UX practitioners across industries. The skills taught in this course reflect current professional practice, giving you capabilities that transfer directly to real-world design work.
Practical Assessment
Progress is evaluated through your research project work rather than theoretical tests. You demonstrate understanding by successfully applying methods to real scenarios, conducting research, and communicating findings effectively.
Skill Development Timeline
Most participants notice shifts in their thinking within the first three weeks as research concepts begin connecting to their design work. By mid-course, the systematic approach feels more natural. Upon completion, you'll have concrete evidence of your capabilities through portfolio-ready projects.
// Weeks 1-3: Foundation building · Weeks 4-7: Method application · Weeks 8-10: Project completion
Realistic Expectations
Ten weeks provides solid foundation in UX research methods, though mastery develops over time through continued practice. You'll leave with working knowledge of key techniques and confidence to apply them independently, while recognizing that professional growth continues beyond formal instruction.
Our instructors bring professional experience in conducting user research for products and services across various industries. The course content reflects current practice, giving you relevant skills rather than outdated or overly academic approaches to UX research.
Supporting Your Learning Journey
What We Promise
We're committed to providing quality instruction, meaningful feedback, and practical learning experiences. If you engage with the coursework and actively participate in sessions, you'll develop capabilities in user research that enhance your design practice.
Experienced instructors with professional UX research backgrounds
Structured curriculum covering essential research methodologies
Individual attention to your project work and development
Practical applications relevant to contemporary design practice
Initial Consultation
Before enrolling, connect with us for a conversation about your background, goals, and questions about the course. This helps ensure the program aligns with your current situation and development needs. There's no pressure to decide immediately—take time to consider whether this fits your learning goals.
Ongoing Support
Throughout the course, instructors remain available to address questions and provide guidance beyond formal class time. If you encounter challenges with concepts or methods, we work with you to strengthen understanding rather than leaving you to struggle independently.
Post-Course Resources
After completion, you maintain access to course materials and templates that support continued practice. While formal instruction ends, the methods you've learned become tools you can continue refining through professional application and self-directed study.
Alumni Connection
Join a network of professionals who have completed our programs. This community provides opportunities for continued learning, professional connections, and mutual support as you apply UX skills in your work and career development.
Your Path Forward
Taking the first step involves reaching out for a conversation about your situation and goals. We'll discuss your background, what you hope to gain from the course, and whether this program aligns with your current needs.
Connect With Us
Complete the contact form or email info@iriswhisperdesign.com to start a conversation about the course.
Initial Discussion
We'll schedule a conversation to understand your goals and explain course details, answering any questions you have.
Consider Your Decision
Take time to think about whether the course fits your current situation. We're here to answer follow-up questions.
Enroll and Begin
Once you decide to proceed, we handle enrollment details and provide pre-course materials to help you prepare.
Upcoming Session
Our next UX Design Foundations cohort begins early November 2025. We limit enrollment to maintain quality of instruction and ensure everyone receives appropriate attention during the learning process.
// Limited to 15 participants per cohort
Ready to Develop Your UX Research Skills?
Connect with us to discuss how UX Design Foundations can support your professional development. We're here to answer questions and help you determine if this course aligns with your goals.
Start a Conversation108 Kamishiro, 4-chome, Meito-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, 465-0025 · +81 3-5785-9146 · info@iriswhisperdesign.com
Explore Additional Courses
Depending on your focus and experience level, you might consider these complementary programs.
UI Design and Prototyping
Transform research insights into visual interface designs. Learn prototyping tools, design systems, and interaction patterns while maintaining accessibility standards.
UX Research and Testing
Develop advanced research capabilities through systematic methodologies. Master interview techniques, usability testing, and ethical approaches to gathering user insights.