Paper Prototyping: A How-To Training Video – Nielsen Norman Group

Nielsen Norman Group – Paper Prototyping: A How-To Training Video

Paper prototyping is a technique that allows you to create and test user interfaces quickly and cheaply. It’s easier to change a prototype than the final design.

This 40-minute training video (1080p HD format) demonstrates how to build paper prototypes and get usability feedback from real users early. It also makes a good educational video for Human Factors and Interaction Design students.

The demonstrations in the video feature web, applications, mobile devices, and hardware user interfaces.

Topics covered

• Introduction: What is paper prototyping and why you should use it
• Materials: What paper prototypes look like and how they’re created
• Representing widgets and interactions. Get tips on:
  • sketching screens
  • representing user interface widgets
  • simulating complex interactions such as drag & drop, scrolling, and multimedia
• Low fidelity prototype testing (hand sketches)
• Higher fidelity prototype testing (computer-created prototypes)
• Mobile device testing
• Hardware and kiosks tests
• Convince skeptical members of your team who do not believe that it is possible to test unpolished designs; showing beats telling.

Stills from the video

Low-fidelity paper prototypes just require paper and pen to simulate an interface:

High-fidelity paper prototypes are made via desktop publishing programs or design software such as Photoshop or Illustrator:

All manner of interfaces can be simulated using paper. For example, mobile applications: