Here's a short tutorial on how you can create an interactive prototype using InDesign. The screens are created as pages, linked together and the whole thing is exported as an interactive Flash movie.

Links:

• Lightweight Prototyping with Adobe InDesign 

Henrik Olsen - January 26, 2010

See also: Tools (104) 

Here's a great example of how you can present your paper prototype to others by making a stop-motion of how the design might be used.

Links:

• Paper prototype animation 

Henrik Olsen - January 24, 2010 - via Wireframes Magazine

Here's a great example of an envisionment made for the media company Bonnier. It shows the tangible results of a research project exploring the experience of reading magazines on handheld digital devices.

Links:

• Digital Magazines: Bonnier Mag+ Prototype 

Henrik Olsen - January 02, 2010

See also: Audio and video (48) 

David Travis has written a booklet that, in a narrative style, tells the fable of a young man's journey as he discovers the secrets of user-centered design.

From the designers that our bright young man meets on his journey, he learns what user-centered design is and how early and continual focus on users and their task, empirical measurement of user behavior and iterative design are the corner stones of user-centered design.

Great for reading aloud for your kids.

Links:

• Download the booklet 

Henrik Olsen - December 25, 2009 - via Putting people first

See also: Usability testing (68)  User research (23)  Personas (19)  The design process (23)  Primers (14) 

According to Andy Rutledge, using schematic or sketchy wireframe layouts as first-step deliverables for clients is often a bad move.

His main points are that:

- A wireframe layout is inarticulate and doesn't give clients sufficient context to make informed decisions
- The dull and dubious representation of the design can erode client confidence and lead them to question the creativity of the designers
- Revisions of wireframes are likely since what seems sound and logical in a wireframe may be trite and malformed when the visual design is applied.

Andy suggest that instead of wireframes, our first deliverable should be one or more fully realized designs. Though wireframes aren't perfect, I doubt that many teams are ready to go back to that approach.

Links:

• Where Wireframes Are Concerned 

Henrik Olsen - December 18, 2009

Over at Jonny Holland, you'll find an interview with Todd Zaki Warfel about his new book on prototyping. He talks about his motivation for writing the book, why prototyping isn't as widespread as it should, how prototypes are great communication vehicles, and what tools to use.

Links:

• The Power of Prototyping - An Interview With Todd Zaki Warfel 

Henrik Olsen - November 25, 2009

See also: Interviews (31) 

Todd Zaki Warfel has outpaced me in my long-standing attempt to write a book on user interface prototyping. His book Prototyping - A Practitioner's Guide to Prototyping is now on sale. I haven't had the chance to read it yet (don't forget you promised me a copy, Todd), but I'll bet it's worth its price. Go get it!

Links:

• Prototyping - A Practitioner's Guide to Prototyping 

Henrik Olsen - November 25, 2009

See also: Books (47) 

Here's a great video of usability test of an iPhone application from one of my prototyping workshops. Besides showing how fun paper prototyping is, it shows how paper, pen, scissor and glue stick are the tools of choice when you want to mimic advanced interactions.

Thanks to Hannu Vangsgaard who acted user during the test while filming the session on his (real) iPhone.

Links:

• Video of iPhone paper prototype usability test 

Henrik Olsen - November 17, 2009

See also: Audio and video (48) 

Kevin Wick has released a sketchy widget set for the prototyping tool Axure. Thanks Keven. I've been longing for that.

Links:

• Kevin Wick's Sketchy Axure Widget Library 
• Demo prototype 
• The prototyping tool Axure 

Henrik Olsen - November 02, 2009

See also: Tools (104) 

Harry Brignull has taken a look at Pidoco°, a prototyping tool with a build-in remote usability testing tool. With the tool, you can create your prototype, invite test participants by e-mail, run your tests, and get it all on tape.

Links:

• Pidoco° – prototying and remote, moderated user testing – combined! 
• Pidoco° website 

Henrik Olsen - October 20, 2009

See also: Tools (104)