Effective Prototyping Methods

The following are notes from the Interaction08 session - Effective Prototyping Methods, presented by Jonathan Arnowitz of SAP Labs.

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• Sketching v.s Prototyping: not a dichotomy but a continuum
• Start 90% sketching, end 90% prototyping
• Everyone can prototype, prototyping is not always design, it's communication
• Transparency of the design process
• Don't start knowing exactly where you want to go, it's about making errors and fixing them quickly
• Exercise: define prototype = we all had different definitions
• Prototype = model of a design that is complete or incomplete, but is specific
• Most important design artifact in a software project
• Need to determine right level of specificity (phase of the project, audience, etc.)
• Everyone can prototype, as long as 1 person is in the driver seat
• Use the tool you know best
• Exercise: quick prototype of 1 screen of a contact system; we all made assumptions about the product
• Process: Understand users > Design UIs > Prototype > Ensure Usability
• Helps to verify requirements
• Select design criteria: ex. users should feel in control, speak the user's language, minimize user's memory load
• "Squishy", need to use your gut
• After prototype is done, set an expiration date on it and plan for that, communicate to stakeholders