Level Up Your UX: Essential Study Guides, Rapid Design Validation & Live NN/g Events

Get to Grips with Top UX Study Guides

If you’re keen on brushing up your UX fundamentals, I’ve got some great news from the Nielsen Norman Group’s latest email update. They’ve rolled out the “Top 10 UX Study Guides and Glossaries: 2025 Edition” – a handy resource that covers everything from UI Elements Glossary (yes, even the buttons, menus, and confusing links) to comprehensive UX Basics and Information Architecture guides.

These guides are designed by some of the top minds at NN/g (click here to see their experts). Whether you’re an experienced designer or just stepping into the UX world, these resources are a perfect refresher. I particularly appreciate how they break down complex topics into digestible concepts – making it easier for design professionals like us to continuously learn and innovate.

For those of us juggling multiple projects, having a quick reference with clear definitions and practical examples can make all the difference. It’s all about building a solid foundation before diving into those more advanced design challenges.

Validate Your Visual Design in 5 Minutes

Another interesting piece from NN/g is a short video titled “Validate Your Visual Design: 6 Methods”. This 5-minute guide by Megan Brown is perfect for when you need a rapid yet thorough review of your design’s impact.

The video covers various methods such as the 5-second test, first-click test, and even modern techniques like eyetracking and A/B testing (which might involve some nifty AI tools under the hood). Although the email didn’t delve deeply into AI applications, it’s worth noting that many of these methodologies are increasingly incorporating AI to refine feedback and improve testing accuracy. If you haven’t looked into AI-driven design validation yet, this might be a good nudge to explore further.

These quick tests offer actionable insights you can immediately apply to ensure your digital products not only look good but work flawlessly. The blend of traditional and tech-advanced testing gives a comprehensive edge to your projects.

Upcoming NN/g Live Online Learning Events

Lastly, if you’re a fan of live online training (or simply enjoy learning with industry peers), NN/g has scheduled a series of half-day courses over the next few weeks. With sessions tailored for audiences in the Americas, EU, Asia, and Australia, there’s something for everyone.

The courses are set to run at convenient times (for example, the Americas & EU sessions kick off on January 20-29 and again February 4-12). These sessions can be a brilliant opportunity to not only dive deeper into UX and digital product design trends but also to network with fellow professionals. Simply explore the full list of upcoming courses here.

As we navigate through evolving design paradigms and the exciting integration of AI tools in our field, ongoing training and reliable resources remain our best allies. Happy designing, and don’t forget to keep learning!