Much as we hate to admit it, most prototyping practice lacks a sophisticated understanding of the broad concepts of prototyping-and its strategic position within the development process. Often we overwhelm with a high fidelity prototype that designs us into a corner. Or, we can underwhelm with a prototype with too much ambiguity and flexibility to be of much use in the software development process.

This book will help software makers-developers, designers, and architects-build effective prototypes every time: prototypes that convey enough information about the product at the appropriate time and thus set expectations appropriately.

This practical, informative book will help anyone-whether or not one has artistic talent, access to special tools, or programming ability-to use good prototyping style, methods, and tools to build prototypes and manage for effective prototyping.

Features

• A prototyping process with guidelines, templates, and worksheets;
• Overviews and step-by-step guides for 9 common prototyping techniques;
• An introduction with step-by-step guidelines to a variety of prototyping tools that do not require advanced artistic skills;
• Templates and other resources used in the book available on the Web for reuse;
• Clearly-explained concepts and guidelines;
• Full-color illustrations, and examples from a wide variety of prototyping processes, methods, and tools.

• Why Prototyping
• The effective prototyping process
• Verify prototype assumptions and requirements
• Develop Task Flows and Scenarios
• Define prototype content and fidelity
• Determine Characteristics
• Choose a Method
• Choose a Prototyping Tool
• Establish the design criteria
• Create the Design
• Review the Design: the internal review
• Validate and iterate the prototype
• Deploy the design
• Card sorting
• Wireframe prototyping
• Storyboard prototyping
• Paper prototyping
• Digital interactive prototyping
• Blank model prototyping
• Video prototyping
• Wizard of Oz prototyping
• Coded prototyping
• Prototyping with office suite applications
• Prototyping with Visio
• Prototyping with Acrobat
• Prototyping with Photoshop