“The materials in Essentials of Usability seminars are easy to use and easily incorporate with other topics I teach my colleagues. I refresh my knowledge using the video clips that accompanied the seminars and do lunchtime workshops that have become very popular here at APL.”

Ray Nosko

Web Developer

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory

Air. Water. UX. We all need the Essentials!

Build a culture of user-centric thinking by providing essential foundational and advanced knowledge to all of your stakeholders, from executives to developers, with this pre-packaged UX knowledge.

What are the HFI Essentials Courses?

Essentials of Usability and Essentials of UX are HFI knowledge courses designed to build a foundational level of knowledge about usability and advanced user experience (UX) practices within your organization.

To move toward a company culture of user-centricity, everyone must understand that a good user experience is essential. These courses allow your company to bring the basic knowledge of usability and UX design to a wide audience within the organization at minimal cost.

What’s the difference between the two courses?

Essentials of Usability is an overview of the fundamentals of user-centered design. This course will give everyone in your organization a heightened awareness of usability.

Essentials of User Experience is designed to teach more advanced skills that extend beyond the fundamental principles and techniques of usability. See the individual sections within this web page for more information.

Essentials of Usability Overview

The Essentials of Usability course is a self-paced overview of the fundamentals of User-Centered Design. It is an excellent way for a company to bring the basic knowledge of usability to a wide audience within the organization at minimal cost. This course will allow you to give everyone in your organization a heightened awareness of usability.

  • Introduction to user-centered analysis
  • Introduction to user-centered design
  • Structural design
  • Detailed design
  • Introduction to user validation
  • Overview of why usability is no longer enough (Intro to advanced concepts)

Download the Essentials of Usability brochure (PDF) >

Essentials of Usability
Essentials of UX Overview

Today, basic usability is no longer enough. Serious user-experience (UX) design operations must go beyond the basic requirements of making things easy, obvious, error resistant, and satisfying. Serious UX operations look at the big picture.

We need to motivate customers to convert, we need to ensure cross-channel compatibility, we need to innovate (not just be innovative, but to do serious innovation projects based on ecosystem models), and we need the UX team to operate in a mature, process-oriented fashion. That means that we don’t do UX work relying on the knowledge and skills of a few individuals. We have a UX team that works based on process, systems, and standards.

  • Intro to how to move beyond usability
  • Intro to UX strategy
  • Intro to innovation research
  • Intro to persuasion strategy and techniques
  • Intro to considerations for global design
  • Overview of mature UX best practices

Download the Essentials of UX brochure (PDF) >

Essentials of UX
Essentials Comparison

Table

 

The two Essentials packages are designed to work together to provide foundational knowledge of user experience design and more advanced practices.

  • Get the full suite of UX knowledge that is backed by HFI's 30 years in the business.

  • Save time and money by using a strong foundational knowledge platform rather than creating your own internal knowledge training.

  • Save 20% ($6,000) on the standard price of buying each Essentials course on its own.

FAQ

Do you have some questions about Essentials? Let's see if we can answer them here...

  1. Who are the HFI essentials courses for?
  2. What do I get?
  3. What do the Essentials packages cost?
  4. Are there any prerequisites for learning either course?
  5. Will HFI teach the courses on-site?
  6. How do I get more information?

  1. Who are the HFI essentials courses for?
    The Essentials courses are for people who work with and support the UX team, including designers, developers, marketers, strategy and innovation experts, product managers, and executives to give them a better understanding of UX design.

    These courses are NOT designed to teach UX professionals how to do UX work in a detailed manner. HFI has advanced and in-depth training for that task. You can get more information by visiting HFI's Certified Usability Analyst and Certified User Experience Analyst pages for more information.

  2. What do I get?
    Each Essentials package contains six multimedia modules delivered by HFI’s CEO Dr. Eric Schaffer on the fundamental principles, processes, and methods of usability and user experience design, plus slides for each of the modules. The modules are delivered on DVD. The Essentials of UX package is available in a SCORM compliant version for use in CBT delivery systems.

  3. What do the Essentials packages cost?
    Each Essentials course package costs $15,000, which gives your organization full and perpetual license to the materials for its internal usage. Organizations will save 20% by purchasing both Essentials of Usability and Essentials of User Experience for $24,000 (a savings of $6,000).

    For companies that do not want to purchase an ongoing license for the materials but would like a one-time on-site training, the cost is $4,500 per Essentials Course series, plus travel.

  4. Are there any prerequisites for learning either course?
    No, however HFI recommends that purchasing companies have at least one skilled user experience or usability practitioner available if they plan on teaching the course internally.

  5. Will HFI teach the courses on-site?
    HFI's expert UX practitioners can teach the materials on-site (about 6 hours of classroom time per Essentials course). The cost is $2,500 per Essentials Course series, plus travel, for companies that purchase the materials. Companies who would not like to own the materials can schedule a one-time presentation at a cost of $4,500 + travel per Essentials Course series.

  6. How do I get more information?
    Request more information from HFI and your regional representative will contact you to explore how the Essentials courses would work for your organization.
Comprehensive UX Training and Certification

HFI's Essentials training courses are designed to bring a basic understanding of user experience (UX) and usability best practices to all members of your company. If you want to become an expert then you should consider HFI's more comprehensive training and certification programs. They are offered in locations around the world and can also be brought onsite to your company.

Certified Usability Analyst (CUA)
This 4-course, 10-day program teaches research-based principles of designing interfaces from the perspective of the end user. Learn how to perform data gathering, task analysis, and usability testing. Pinpoint the usability problems and offer design solutions. The usability analyst brings the critical success factor to bear throughout the development life cycle.

Certified User Experience Analyst (CXA)
HFI's advanced CXA certification track trains user experience specialists in persuasion engineering, strategy, and innovation. CXA-certified practitioners can help organizations design for desired outcomes.

Specialty Courses
We know there are unique challenges that face every domain and technology. HFI's courses on Designing the Mobile User Experience, Writing for the Web, and Designing Usable Products help you get ahead of the competition.

Learn more and register at www.humanfactors.com/training

CUA Courses

  • User Experience Foundations
  • User-Centered Analysis and Conceptual Design
  • Web and Application Design
  • Practical Usability Testing

CXA Courses

  • How to Design for Persuasion, Emotion and Trust
  • The PET Architect
  • Omni-Channel UX Strategy and Innovation
  • Support Institutionalization of a Mature UX Practice

Specialty Courses

  • Designing the Mobile User Experience
  • Product Design

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Privacy policy

Reviewed: 18 Mar 2014

This Privacy Policy governs the manner in which Human Factors International, Inc., an Iowa corporation ("HFI") collects, uses, maintains and discloses information collected from users (each, a "User") of its humanfactors.com website and any derivative or affiliated websites on which this Privacy Policy is posted (collectively, the "Website"). HFI reserves the right, at its discretion, to change, modify, add or remove portions of this Privacy Policy at any time by posting such changes to this page. You understand that you have the affirmative obligation to check this Privacy Policy periodically for changes, and you hereby agree to periodically review this Privacy Policy for such changes. The continued use of the Website following the posting of changes to this Privacy Policy constitutes an acceptance of those changes.

Cookies

HFI may use "cookies" or "web beacons" to track how Users use the Website. A cookie is a piece of software that a web server can store on Users’ PCs and use to identify Users should they visit the Website again. Users may adjust their web browser software if they do not wish to accept cookies. To withdraw your consent after accepting a cookie, delete the cookie from your computer.

Privacy

HFI believes that every User should know how it utilizes the information collected from Users. The Website is not directed at children under 13 years of age, and HFI does not knowingly collect personally identifiable information from children under 13 years of age online. Please note that the Website may contain links to other websites. These linked sites may not be operated or controlled by HFI. HFI is not responsible for the privacy practices of these or any other websites, and you access these websites entirely at your own risk. HFI recommends that you review the privacy practices of any other websites that you choose to visit.

HFI is based, and this website is hosted, in the United States of America. If User is from the European Union or other regions of the world with laws governing data collection and use that may differ from U.S. law and User is registering an account on the Website, visiting the Website, purchasing products or services from HFI or the Website, or otherwise using the Website, please note that any personally identifiable information that User provides to HFI will be transferred to the United States. Any such personally identifiable information provided will be processed and stored in the United States by HFI or a service provider acting on its behalf. By providing your personally identifiable information, User hereby specifically and expressly consents to such transfer and processing and the uses and disclosures set forth herein.

In the course of its business, HFI may perform expert reviews, usability testing, and other consulting work where personal privacy is a concern. HFI believes in the importance of protecting personal information, and may use measures to provide this protection, including, but not limited to, using consent forms for participants or "dummy" test data.

The Information HFI Collects

Users browsing the Website without registering an account or affirmatively providing personally identifiable information to HFI do so anonymously. Otherwise, HFI may collect personally identifiable information from Users in a variety of ways. Personally identifiable information may include, without limitation, (i)contact data (such as a User’s name, mailing and e-mail addresses, and phone number); (ii)demographic data (such as a User’s zip code, age and income); (iii) financial information collected to process purchases made from HFI via the Website or otherwise (such as credit card, debit card or other payment information); (iv) other information requested during the account registration process; and (v) other information requested by our service vendors in order to provide their services. If a User communicates with HFI by e-mail or otherwise, posts messages to any forums, completes online forms, surveys or entries or otherwise interacts with or uses the features on the Website, any information provided in such communications may be collected by HFI. HFI may also collect information about how Users use the Website, for example, by tracking the number of unique views received by the pages of the Website, or the domains and IP addresses from which Users originate. While not all of the information that HFI collects from Users is personally identifiable, it may be associated with personally identifiable information that Users provide HFI through the Website or otherwise. HFI may provide ways that the User can opt out of receiving certain information from HFI. If the User opts out of certain services, User information may still be collected for those services to which the User elects to subscribe. For those elected services, this Privacy Policy will apply.

How HFI Uses Information

HFI may use personally identifiable information collected through the Website for the specific purposes for which the information was collected, to process purchases and sales of products or services offered via the Website if any, to contact Users regarding products and services offered by HFI, its parent, subsidiary and other related companies in order to otherwise to enhance Users’ experience with HFI. HFI may also use information collected through the Website for research regarding the effectiveness of the Website and the business planning, marketing, advertising and sales efforts of HFI. HFI does not sell any User information under any circumstances.

Disclosure of Information

HFI may disclose personally identifiable information collected from Users to its parent, subsidiary and other related companies to use the information for the purposes outlined above, as necessary to provide the services offered by HFI and to provide the Website itself, and for the specific purposes for which the information was collected. HFI may disclose personally identifiable information at the request of law enforcement or governmental agencies or in response to subpoenas, court orders or other legal process, to establish, protect or exercise HFI’s legal or other rights or to defend against a legal claim or as otherwise required or allowed by law. HFI may disclose personally identifiable information in order to protect the rights, property or safety of a User or any other person. HFI may disclose personally identifiable information to investigate or prevent a violation by User of any contractual or other relationship with HFI or the perpetration of any illegal or harmful activity. HFI may also disclose aggregate, anonymous data based on information collected from Users to investors and potential partners. Finally, HFI may disclose or transfer personally identifiable information collected from Users in connection with or in contemplation of a sale of its assets or business or a merger, consolidation or other reorganization of its business.

Personal Information as Provided by User

If a User includes such User’s personally identifiable information as part of the User posting to the Website, such information may be made available to any parties using the Website. HFI does not edit or otherwise remove such information from User information before it is posted on the Website. If a User does not wish to have such User’s personally identifiable information made available in this manner, such User must remove any such information before posting. HFI is not liable for any damages caused or incurred due to personally identifiable information made available in the foregoing manners. For example, a User posts on an HFI-administered forum would be considered Personal Information as provided by User and subject to the terms of this section.

Security of Information

Information about Users that is maintained on HFI’s systems or those of its service providers is protected using industry standard security measures. However, no security measures are perfect or impenetrable, and HFI cannot guarantee that the information submitted to, maintained on or transmitted from its systems will be completely secure. HFI is not responsible for the circumvention of any privacy settings or security measures relating to the Website by any Users or third parties.

Correcting, Updating, Accessing or Removing Personal Information

If a User’s personally identifiable information changes, or if a User no longer desires to receive non-account specific information from HFI, HFI will endeavor to provide a way to correct, update and/or remove that User’s previously-provided personal data. This can be done by emailing a request to HFI at hfi@humanfactors.com. Additionally, you may request access to the personally identifiable information as collected by HFI by sending a request to HFI as set forth above. Please note that in certain circumstances, HFI may not be able to completely remove a User’s information from its systems. For example, HFI may retain a User’s personal information for legitimate business purposes, if it may be necessary to prevent fraud or future abuse, for account recovery purposes, if required by law or as retained in HFI’s data backup systems or cached or archived pages. All retained personally identifiable information will continue to be subject to the terms of the Privacy Policy to which the User has previously agreed.

Contacting HFI

If you have any questions or comments about this Privacy Policy, you may contact HFI via any of the following methods:
Human Factors International, Inc.
PO Box 2020
1680 highway 1, STE 3600
Fairfield IA 52556
hfi@humanfactors.com
(800) 242-4480

Terms and Conditions for Public Training Courses

Reviewed: 18 Mar 2014

Cancellation of Course by HFI

HFI reserves the right to cancel any course up to 14 (fourteen) days prior to the first day of the course. Registrants will be promptly notified and will receive a full refund or be transferred to the equivalent class of their choice within a 12-month period. HFI is not responsible for travel expenses or any costs that may be incurred as a result of cancellations.

Cancellation of Course by Participants (All regions except India)

$100 processing fee if cancelling within two weeks of course start date.

Cancellation / Transfer by Participants (India)

4 Pack + Exam registration: Rs. 10,000 per participant processing fee (to be paid by the participant) if cancelling or transferring the course (4 Pack-CUA/CXA) registration before three weeks from the course start date. No refund or carry forward of the course fees if cancelling or transferring the course registration within three weeks before the course start date.

Cancellation / Transfer by Participants (Online Courses)

$100 processing fee if cancelling within two weeks of course start date. No cancellations or refunds less than two weeks prior to the first course start date.

Individual Modules: Rs. 3,000 per participant ‘per module’ processing fee (to be paid by the participant) if cancelling or transferring the course (any Individual HFI course) registration before three weeks from the course start date. No refund or carry forward of the course fees if cancelling or transferring the course registration within three weeks before the course start date.

Exam: Rs. 3,000 per participant processing fee (to be paid by the participant) if cancelling or transferring the pre agreed CUA/CXA exam date before three weeks from the examination date. No refund or carry forward of the exam fees if requesting/cancelling or transferring the CUA/CXA exam within three weeks before the examination date.

No Recording Permitted

There will be no audio or video recording allowed in class. Students who have any disability that might affect their performance in this class are encouraged to speak with the instructor at the beginning of the class.

Course Materials Copyright

The course and training materials and all other handouts provided by HFI during the course are published, copyrighted works proprietary and owned exclusively by HFI. The course participant does not acquire title nor ownership rights in any of these materials. Further the course participant agrees not to reproduce, modify, and/or convert to electronic format (i.e., softcopy) any of the materials received from or provided by HFI. The materials provided in the class are for the sole use of the class participant. HFI does not provide the materials in electronic format to the participants in public or onsite courses.