In the first two articles we discussed why you should consider creating prototypes and whether that prototype should have a role just in the design phase as a “Throwaway Prototype” versus an “Evolutionary Prototype” that may evolve into the final product.

While functional prototypes always involve development tools (and associated skills), there are, essentially, four classes of tool for creating user interface prototypes:

1. Pen and Paper

It doesn’t get any more low tech than this, which is great because it means that absolutely anyone can take part in the design process. User interface designs can be hand drawn or pre-prepared stocks of user interface elements can be laid out on a page.

Paper sketches can be produced very quickly but making alterations to a design can be somewhat difficult leading to repeated effort if a design needs to be restarted from scratch. It’s often best to spend more time thinking before committing pen to paper.

In test and review situations, (more…)

In the first part of this article we discussed the difference between functional and user interface prototypes.  In this one we’ll discuss whether your prototype should have a role beyond the discovery and design phase.

People often talk about “Throwaway Prototypes” versus “Evolutionary Prototypes” and it’s very important to understand the difference and exactly what type you are creating before you begin.

Throwaway Prototypes

A Throwaway Prototype, as the name suggests, forms no part of the final application. Its purpose is to prove (or disprove) a design and get approval for actual implementation.

It can be produced using any quick and dirty technique and the quality can even be quite poor, so long as it satisfies the requirements of identifying what’s right about a design, what’s wrong and what’s missing.

Because of the speed at which Throwaway Prototypes can be put together and changed (usually on-the-fly), they encourage feedback and continual revision until the design is about right.

Because the effort required to produce them is relatively small, (more…)

In just about every field of manufacturing, from soap dispensers to performance cars, prototypes are used to validate and test an idea or design.

Prototyping in the software industry is not so common but the benefits are just as compelling.

There are two main types of software prototype: functional prototypes and user interface prototypes.

Functional Prototypes

Functional prototypes are nearly always technical in nature and their purpose is to (more…)