Paper Prototypes and Beyond

Abstract

Although approaches to User Centered Software Development have existed for almost twenty years a rift still exists between theory and practice. In practice, many software projects are designed at the code level to the detriment of the end-users. Good Usability Engineering combines complex back-end functionalities with attractive, effective and efficient user interfaces. Successful interfaces minimize cognitive load and help users to achieve their goals. Goals can be defined in terms of intended outcomes that act as benchmarks for developing and testing functionality through prototypes. Paper-based prototyping bypasses the time and effort required to create a working, coded user interface. Instead, it relies on very simple tools like paper, scissors and stickers. However, to be a reliable guide, paper mock-ups need to model accurately the site's functionality and convey the right information. This paper describes the challenges presented by a complex online information design project, an online research resource of over 45,000 records based on the catalogs of Exhibitions of the Royal Photographic Society 1870-1915. It describes how paper prototyping (used successfully previously) was used to address these challenges and reflects on the problems that came close to derailing the project this time and their impact on the design and the design process. It concludes by considering a digital alternative to paper prototyping that offers similar ease of use and low cost, combined with the ability to quickly generate interactive mock-ups that overcome some of the limitations of paper prototypes.