Introduction to Behavioral Design

Ever wonder why users don't interact with your product as you intended? Understanding the hidden drivers of human behavior is the key to creating more intuitive, engaging, and effective experiences. This course provides a foundational understanding of behavioral design. You will move beyond surface-level user preferences to explore the psychological principles that shape decision-making. By the end, you'll be equipped with a framework to analyze user behavior, identify cognitive biases, and design interventions that gently guide users toward positive outcomes. What you'll learn: - Understand the core psychological theories that influence human choice and action. - Identify common cognitive biases and heuristics that affect user decision-making. - Apply frameworks like the COM-B model to diagnose behavioral challenges and plan interventions. - Learn to structure choice architecture to make user experiences simpler and more effective. - Design subtle 'nudges' to encourage desired behaviors within a product or service. - Practice applying behavioral principles ethically to avoid creating manipulative experiences. The course starts with the fundamental concepts of behavioral science before progressing to practical frameworks and application exercises. You'll build your knowledge step-by-step through written material and practical thought problems. This course is designed for complete beginners. No prior experience in psychology, economics, or design is required to get started. Begin your journey to designing for how people really think and act.