Subjects

User Research Methods

Covers the NN/g qualitative/quantitative × attitudinal/behavioral 2x2 for placing research methods, generative vs evaluative research mapped onto the Double Diamond, the core method toolkit (interviews, contextual inquiry, diary studies, surveys, card sorting/tree testing, analytics, A/B testing) with what each answers and its failure mode, a decision framework for choosing the right method under real constraints, sample-size reasoning for qualitative usability testing vs statistical significance, the classic research biases interviewers probe for, and synthesizing raw notes into actionable insight via affinity mapping.

UX vs UI and the Design Process

Covers what the UX/UI split really means beyond 'research vs visuals', the Double Diamond and Design Thinking process models and how they differ, ISO 9241-210 human-centered design, Lean/Agile UX vs waterfall handoff, how design job titles blur in practice, and the classic interview trap of reciting a process instead of adapting it to real constraints.

Wireframing and Prototyping

Covers the low/mid/high fidelity spectrum and what question each level is built to answer, why higher fidelity is a tradeoff rather than a quality ladder, the cost-of-change curve that justifies validating structure before polish, fidelity vs. interactivity as two separate axes, how to choose a fidelity/interactivity combination for a given situation, the prototyping tools landscape framed for interview judgment rather than tool trivia, the risk of designing directly in code or a high-fidelity tool, and how to run the classic whiteboard sketching exercise.

Personas, Journey Maps, and Jobs-to-be-Done

Covers proto-personas vs. research-based personas and the 'persona theater' trap, the Says/Thinks/Does/Feels empathy map, journey map structure with a worked e-commerce example, Jobs-to-be-Done and the Christensen/Moesta milkshake study with its functional/emotional/social dimensions, service blueprints and the frontstage/backstage/support-process distinction, and a decision framework for picking the right synthesis tool.