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, Read the rest of this entry »
Reading Bill Buxton’s “Sketching User Experiences: Getting the Design Right and the Right Design” feels like leafing through a designer’s sketchbook, a sketchbook of a lifetime of contributing to designing high tech products. Ideas come at you from all angles and then drill down into incredible detail before spinning off in another direction.
GUI Design work involves a lot of mouse activity. Be more productive and reduce the strain by using keyboard alternatives where possible.
Until now, Tree elements have come with just a couple of basic sets of icons and the only way to change individual item icons was to place other icons on top.
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.