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Prototyping

Methodology

How we do it: paper prototyping

  1. First, we get a copy of the user requirements. This is a document that minimally outlines:
    • Who the typical user will be
    • What user needs this product is to satisfy
    • To satisfy these needs, what tasks the user is expected to do, and in what order
    • The user interface/software functions required to support these user tasks
    • A product delivery schedule
    • What design guidelines, if any, are to be used.
  2. Next, we gather simple office supplies, such as a flip-chart, felt pens, construction paper, and acetate (overhead) plastic. This will be used to construct the prototype.
  3. The next step is to meet with the design team. We make sure every attendee at this meeting has a copy of the user requirements
  4. Serving as moderator/facilitator, we ask the team to select the 1-3 most essential user tasks, and their order in relation to each other.
  5. We next ask if anyone on the team has an idea about how the first screen of the user interface should look, to satisfy the most essential task. Someone always has an idea!
  6. With the flip-chart resting on a table, we ask the respondent to prototype their idea on the flip chart using the office supplies
    • Alternatively, we may be the prototyper and interpret what the members of the design team are suggesting. The choice depends on whether the team works well together (they do the prototyping), or whether one or two members dominate the discussion (in which case, we are the prototyper and actively elicit ideas from the other design team members, so that all remain involved).
  7. As the respondent draws his/her idea, we encourage all members of the design team to discuss the idea and make changes to the screen.
  8. At this point, the process generally runs on its own, with design team members making additions and deletions. Our job is to gently keep the group focused on the user task they are currently prototyping, while not interfering with free-flowing ideas.
  9. After the team agrees on a solution for a task, we repeat steps five through eight for the remaining tasks.

Usability testing with paper prototypes

We try to use the standard usability testing procedure as much as possible for paper prototypes.

The user still works through a set of tasks, thinking aloud while they do them. A questionnaire and post-test interview may still be administered. However, there are four major differences with a standard usability test:

  1. The user is told they will be using a paper mockup, and they should point to an option they would select or say aloud what they would type.
  2. A person (preferably a member of the design team) acts as the computer. When a user does something that would elicit a computer response, the 'computer person' (CP) responds instead.
  3. If available, the CP's response is to present the screen the selected option would display.
  4. If the appropriate screen is not available, the CP may respond by:
    • Telling the user that the option is not yet implemented and they should select something else
    • Asking the user why they selected that option
    • Doing nothing

We usually do both (a) and (b).