User experience (UX) design is the practice of making websites, apps, and digital tools easier and more meaningful to use. UX is an emerging field experiencing explosive growth in the technology sector. This exciting new textbook introduces students to its central skill sets. User Experience Research and Design: A Quick Start Guide offers students and emerging professionals a practical, research-driven introduction to UX design, explaining how to research user needs, organize information clearly, design effective interfaces, and test products. Grounded in the principles of user-centered design, the authors walk readers through the full UX process. User Experience Research and Design is organized around the stages of the UX process, beginning with user research methods that help teams understand real people in real contexts. The authors go on to explore persona development, journey mapping, information architecture, content strategy, user flows, wireframing, and prototyping. The final chapter connects classroom learning to professional practice, outlining pathways into UX careers and portfolio development with hands-on practical examples. The authors advance a simple but powerful idea: technology should serve people. Readers will learn how to gather evidence, think iteratively, and design with intention to create digital experiences that are usable, inclusive, and meaningful.