What is a prototype?
- “Mock-up” or “simulation”
- The original/model on which something is based on
- For stakeholders to explore usability
- Will only ever show part of the product
What is the purpose of a prototype?
- To problem-solve — easier with something concrete on hand
- To communicate — same as above
- To fail quick and cheap — commit as few resources as possible
- To test possibilities
- To manage the solution-building process
What forms can prototypes take?
- Series of sketches
- Storyboard
- Slideshow
- Video simulating use of a system
- Hardware in any material (e.g. wood and Styrofoam)
What are some pitfalls in prototyping?
- Diving into the first good idea
- Spending too much time and effort on prototypes
- Wasting time explaining and pitching
- Prototyping without a purpose
What are sketches?
- Type of prototype
- Visual medium for design to communicate ideas
- “To put things on paper”
What is the purpose of sketches?
- Innovation
- Inviting inputs
- Making suggestions
- Exploring possibilities
- Asking questions
What are some characteristics of sketches?
- Large in quantity
- Inexpensive and abundant
- Simple to produce
- Sketchy
What forms can sketches take?
- Storyboards –Sequence of frames describing overall flow
- Wireframes – Simple line structures showing general layout of components
What is fidelity?
- Amount of functionality, details, and performance relative to product
- Low, medium, or high
What stages should different levels of fidelity prototypes belong in?
- LFPs: early design for brainstorming and rough interface
- MFPs: fine tune interface or design, or re-design
- HFPs: evaluation and testing
What is meant by breadth (horizontal) prototypes?
Broad features but limited functionalities
What is meant by depth (vertical) prototypes?
Deep functionalities but limited features
What are the pros and cons of LFPs?
Pros:
- Communicate high-level concepts
- Easy to generate
- Easy to change
Cons:
- Hard to envision dynamics
- Can give an unfinished impressions
- Doesn’t actually work
What are the pros and cons of HFPs?
Pros
- Realistic
- Detailed evaluation and feedback
- Can be used for pitching
Cons
- Time and effort
- Time-consuming changes
- Other parties may think product is done
