Activity 3: Design a Paper Prototype

Objective: The objective of this activity is to create a low-fidelity paper prototype of a digital product or application.

Materials Needed:

Paper (preferably blank sheets or grid paper)

Pens, pencils, markers

Sticky notes (optional)

Scissors (optional)

Instructions:

1.       Choose a Product/Application: Select a digital product or application to prototype. It could be a mobile app, website, or any digital interface you're interested in designing.

2.       Define User Goals: Determine the primary goals or tasks that users should be able to accomplish using your product. This will guide the design of your prototype.

3.       Sketch the Screens: Start by sketching out the main screens or pages of your product on separate sheets of paper. Use simple shapes and lines to represent interface elements such as buttons, text fields, and images.

4.       Add Interaction Elements: Consider how users will navigate between screens and interact with the interface. Use arrows or annotations to indicate the flow of interaction.

5.       Create User Inputs: If your product involves user input (e.g., filling out forms, selecting options), design simple input fields on your screens. You can use sticky notes for this purpose if you want to make them easily movable.

6.       Iterate and Refine: Review your paper prototype and iterate on it as needed. Make adjustments to improve usability and clarity.

7.       Test Your Prototype: Once you're satisfied with your paper prototype, enlist the help of a friend or colleague to test it. Ask them to perform the tasks you've outlined and observe how they interact with the prototype. Take note of any areas where users encounter confusion or difficulty.

8.       Gather Feedback: After testing, gather feedback from your testers. Ask them what they found intuitive or challenging about the prototype, and use their feedback to inform further iterations.

9.       Iterate and Test Again: Based on the feedback you receive, make any necessary revisions to your prototype and conduct additional testing as needed. The goal is to refine your design and improve usability with each iteration.

10.    Reflect and Document: Take some time to reflect on the prototyping process and document key learnings. Consider how you can apply these insights to future design projects.

This activity will not only give you hands-on experience with prototyping but also help you gain a deeper understanding of user needs and preferences in interface design.

At the end of the activity, you are to submit the processes in visual form to Moodle (link provided)