Prototyping

What is prototyping?

The iterative process of creating and testing design concepts for new services or solutions using a combination of low fidelity models (e.g. diagrams and visual representations) through to developing interactive solutions that can be used to understand how a new service or solution might operate.

Prototyping is a critical element of user or customer centric design as it enables a collaborative approach that ensures that the final product or service best meets customer / user expectations and needs.

Knowledge

• Understanding of customer and user centric design principles.
• Understanding prototyping methods (e.g. evolutionary prototyping, throwaway prototyping) and knowledge of how best to apply them.
• Knowledge of visual design techniques and tools including wireframing and mock up tools.
• Knowledge of user research and testing.
• Understanding of accessible design standards.
• Knowledge of coding and/or configuration to create high fidelity prototypes (optional).

Skills

Able to:

• Apply customer / user centred design practice: To ensure user centricity in the development of, or changes to, services and solutions.
• Create visual designs and prototypes: That are accessible and easy to understand and use, to enable feedback to be gathered, and that consider design constraints. This might sketch, wireframes and mock ups, and / or at later stages interactive prototypes that enable functionality to be tested.
• Plan and conduct user research and usability testing: To plan and elicit structured feedback on the prototypes, enabling feedback to be considered and prioritised in future iterations.
• Collaborate and communicate: With users and as part of multi-disciplinary teams to convey design concepts and to facilitate the process of iterative, user centric development, ensuring diverse perspectives are considered within the design process.
• Think critically and make or facilitate decisions: Analysing and synthesising user / customer feedback to make evidence-based adjustments to designs, working collaboratively where needed to facilitate decision making.
• Prioritise: User feedback to ensure that changes are made in a logical way and focus on the end outcomes.
• Manage time: To meet project deadlines and milestones.
• Work iteratively: Being open to changes based on user feedback.
• Apply accessible design standards: Apply accessibility standards to designs to ensure inclusive design.
• Solve problems: To identify and resolve issues.
• that are identified during the iterative design process, devising creating solutions that consider user needs and known constraints.
• Manage risk: Identity, assess and manage the risks associated with prototyping.