On Wed, 9 Jan 2008 14:54:26, Matthew Nolker <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > I've personally tried many the intermediary steps like the Adobe > products or modeling tools like Caretta or iRise, but eventually > concluded that there wasn't enough spare time to execute 100% throw > away prototypes on Agile projects.
While I haven't had the chance yet to do UCD as part of an Agile process, I have always imagined that a rapid prototype would exist alongside but separate from the production code. This prototype would be maybe one or two iterations ahead of the production code, but otherwise would still follow the same cycle as the code (e.g., one-month iterations... I actually talked with some folks last night who work this way). This prototype would be maintained by the UCD person/staff and used exclusively to test interactions before they went into development. This situation necessitates the use of some sort of rapid prototyping tool. I've used Axure for a couple of years now, and while it grows more complex with every release, it is still simple enough that a non-coding UCD person can make effective prototypes that yield accurate data in testing. The rapidity of a tool like this is what makes a throwaway prototype in an Agile environment possible. Developing a wireframe in Axure doesn't take any more time than doing so in Visio... the only thing that requires more time is making the wireframe interactive. Personally, I strongly believe that prototypes should be throwaway due to the cost savings of avoiding re-work after code has already been written. This leaves the designers free to experiment with different interactions with impunity. Changing design is quick, easy and cheap. If I find a novel interaction doesn't work, no big deal. I can quickly come up with, prototype and test a different idea... one that integrates what I've learned from the previous failure. If I had to work with a developer in order to actually code this (or, horror of horrors, code it myself) it would take much longer and be more expensive. Not only would it take my time, but a developer's as well. - Fred ________________________________________________________________ *Come to IxDA Interaction08 | Savannah* February 8-10, 2008 in Savannah, GA, USA Register today: http://interaction08.ixda.org/ ________________________________________________________________ Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ....... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe ................ http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines ............ http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .................. http://www.ixda.org/help
