This document outlines a workshop on paper prototyping user interfaces. It will cover creating paper prototypes, conducting usability testing with paper prototypes, and a discussion. Attendees will have time to create their own paper prototype and test it. The document provides details on the benefits of paper prototyping, such as getting early feedback with minimal effort. It also explains how to create various elements of a paper prototype like screens, movable elements, and interactions. Guidelines for testing paper prototypes are also included, such as creating tasks and having different people take on the roles of participant and facilitator/computer.

1. Paper Prototyping
Jim Ross
Senior UX Architect, Infragistics
jross@infragistics.com
@anotheruxguy
Flickr: CannedTuna
Paper Prototyping

2. Paper Prototyping
Jim Ross
Senior UX Architect, Infragistics
jross@infragistics.com
@anotheruxguy

3. An introduction to: (45 minutes)
• Creating paper prototypes
• Conducting usability testing with paper prototypes
Exercise
• Create your own paper prototype (30 minutes)
• Usability testing of your paper prototype (30 minutes)
• Discussion (10 minutes)
What We’ll Do in this Workshop
June 11, 2015 3

4. We won’t get into the details of:
• Usability testing in depth
• Analyzing the data
What We’ll Do in this Workshop
June 11, 2015 4

5. How many people have…
• Designed a user interface?
• Created a paper prototype?
• Conducted usability testing?
About You
June 11, 2015 5

6. z
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Why Prototype?
June 11, 2015 6

7. Prototyping is the link between design and development.
Why Prototype?
June 11, 2015 7
Flickr: CannedTuna Flickr: Yandle

8. Prototyping allows you to validate the design before building it, with:
• The project team
• Clients and stakeholders
• Users
Why Prototype?
June 11, 2015 8

9. You get the best feedback from designs that people can try out.
Why Prototype?
June 11, 2015 9
Flickr: Samuel Mann

10. Prototypes provide something concrete to interact with and react to.
Why Prototype?
June 11, 2015 10
Flickr: Samuel Mann

11. You can focus on observing behavior instead of opinions.
Why Prototype?
June 11, 2015 11
Flickr: Samuel Mann

12. z
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Why Paper Prototype?
June 11, 2015 12

13. “Someone once asked me what the paper prototyping bumper sticker would say, and my
answer was, ‘Maximum feedback for minimum effort.’” - Carolyn Snyder
Why Paper Prototype?
June 11, 2015 13
Snyder, Carolyn. Paper Prototyping: The Fast and Easy Way to Design and Refine User Interfaces. San Diego, CA: Morgan Kaufmann Pub., 2003. Print.

14. Paper
prototypes
Spectrum of prototypes
Why Paper Prototype?
June 11, 2015 14
Fully coded
prototypes
Low-fidelity High-fidelity
Flickr: Andy Bardill
Interactive
prototypes
Static wireframes
linked together

15. Because they are quick and easy to create:
• You don’t waste time trying to make them look perfect.
Why Paper Prototype?
June 11, 2015 15
Flickr: Samuel Mann

16. Because they are quick and easy to create:
• You can get feedback early in the design process.
Why Paper Prototype?
June 11, 2015 16Flickr: Samuel Mann

17. Usability testing participants feel more comfortable being critical with a low-fidelity design.
Why Paper Prototype?
June 11, 2015 17
Flickr: Kevin Pelrine

18. You can easily make changes to the prototype during usability testing.
Why Paper Prototype?
June 11, 2015 18
Flickr: Samuel Mann

19. Paper prototyping can be a way for more people to contribute to the design.
Why Paper Prototype?
June 11, 2015 19
Flickr: Samuel Mann

20. Disadvantages of Paper Prototypes
• They’re less realistic than higher-fidelity prototypes
Why Paper Prototype?
June 11, 2015 20
Flickr: Rosenfeld Media

21. Disadvantages of Paper Prototypes
• You can’t do the testing remotely.
Why Paper Prototype?
June 11, 2015 21
Flickr: yooperann

22. z
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Creating Paper Prototypes
June 11, 2015 22

23. z
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Creating Paper Prototypes
Design First, Then Prototype
June 11, 2015 23

24. Focus on designing first.
Design First, Then Prototype
June 11, 2015 24Flickr: Johan Larsson

25. Focus on designing first.
Design First, Then Prototype
June 11, 2015 25Flickr: Canned Tuna

26. Then create a prototype to show how the design works.
Design First, Then Prototype
June 11, 2015 26Flickr: Rosenfeld Media

27. Determine what you want to test, and create the prototype elements to test those things.
Design First, Then Prototype
June 11, 2015 27Flickr: Christian_Campos

28. Things you might want to test:
• Can people accomplish their tasks?
• Findability – navigation, organization, and labeling of content or functions
• Understanding of icons, terminology, instructions, etc.
• Expectations
Design First, Then Prototype
June 11, 2015 28

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Creating Paper Prototypes
Examples of Paper Prototypes
June 11, 2015 29

30. Examples of interactions you can create with paper prototypes:
Examples of Paper Prototypes
June 11, 2015 30Example 2Example 1

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Creating Paper Prototypes
Gather the Materials
June 11, 2015 31

32. For screens
• Paper
• Cardboard/card stock
Gather the Materials
June 11, 2015 32

33. Cutting tools
• Scissors
• X-Acto knife
Gather the Materials
June 11, 2015 33
Flickr: Hsin-Cheng Lin

34. For elements that lay on top of screens
• Index cards
Gather the Materials
June 11, 2015 34
Warfel, Todd Zaki. Prototyping: A Practitioner's Guide. Brooklyn, NY: Rosenfeld Media, 2009. Print.

35. For elements that lay on top of screens
• Post-it notes
Gather the Materials
June 11, 2015 35
Flickr: Samuel Mann

36. For elements that lay on top of screens
• Transparencies
Gather the Materials
June 11, 2015 36
Snyder, Carolyn. Paper Prototyping: The Fast and Easy Way to Design and Refine User Interfaces. San Diego, CA: Morgan Kaufmann Pub., 2003. Print.
Flickr: Rosenfeld Media

37. Adhesives
• Tape
• Glue sticks
• Restickable glue
Gather the Materials
June 11, 2015 37
Snyder, Carolyn. Paper Prototyping: The Fast and Easy Way to Design and Refine User Interfaces. San Diego, CA: Morgan Kaufmann Pub., 2003. Print.

38. To make quick changes
• Correction fluid/White Out
Gather the Materials
June 11, 2015 38
Snyder, Carolyn. Paper Prototyping: The Fast and Easy Way to Design and Refine User Interfaces. San Diego, CA: Morgan Kaufmann Pub., 2003. Print.

39. Writing instruments
• Pencil
• Pens and markers – black, blue, red, and green
• Transparency markers for data entry
Gather the Materials
June 11, 2015 39
Warfel, Todd Zaki. Prototyping: A Practitioner's Guide. Brooklyn, NY: Rosenfeld Media, 2009. Print.
Flickr: Canned Tuna

40. Container for the prototype
• To keep all the elements from getting lost
• Paper clips to keep small elements together
Gather the Materials
June 11, 2015 40

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Creating Paper Prototypes
Create the Prototype
June 11, 2015 41

42. Determine how you’ll create your paper prototype.
• Drawn
• Electronic design printed out
• Combination of both drawn and printed elements
Create the Prototype
June 11, 2015 42

43. Determine how you’ll create your paper prototype.
• Drawn
• Electronic design printed out
• Combination of both drawn and printed elements
Create the Prototype
June 11, 2015 43

44. Determine how you’ll create your paper prototype.
• Drawn
• Electronic design printed out
• Combination of both drawn and printed elements
Create the Prototype
June 11, 2015 44
Flickr: Yandle

45. Prototyping element kit
Create the Prototype
June 11, 2015 45http://www.userfocus.co.uk/resources/prototype.html

46. The three main types of elements that make up a paper prototype:
• Background
• Screens
• States
Create the Prototype
June 11, 2015 46

47. Create a background.
Create the Prototype
June 11, 2015 47Snyder, Carolyn. Paper Prototyping: The Fast and Easy Way to Design and Refine User Interfaces. San Diego, CA:
Morgan Kaufmann Pub., 2003. Print.
Flickr: Samuel Mann Flickr: d_jan

48. Create screens.
Create the Prototype
June 11, 2015 48Flickr: Toms Baugis

49. Create states.
Create the Prototype
June 11, 2015 49Flickr: d_jan

50. Menus
Create the Prototype
June 11, 2015 50
Flickr: Samuel Mann

51. Dropdown lists
Create the Prototype
June 11, 2015 51
Snyder, Carolyn. Paper Prototyping: The Fast and Easy Way to Design and Refine User Interfaces. San Diego, CA: Morgan Kaufmann Pub., 2003. Print.

52. Dialog windows, tooltips, etc.
Create the Prototype
June 11, 2015 52
Flickr: Rob Enslin

53. Flickr: Squidsoup.org
Movable elements
Create the Prototype
June 11, 2015 53Flickr: Yandle

54. Tabs
Create the Prototype
June 11, 2015 54Snyder, Carolyn. Paper Prototyping: The Fast and Easy Way to Design and Refine User Interfaces. San Diego, CA: Morgan
Kaufmann Pub., 2003. Print.
Flickr: Squidsoup.org

55. Expanding/collapsing sections
Create the Prototype
June 11, 2015 55
Warfel, Todd Zaki. Prototyping: A Practitioner's Guide. Brooklyn, NY: Rosenfeld Media, 2009. Print.
Flickr: Rosenfeld Media
Flickr: Rosenfeld Media
Fold in paper Unfolded

56. Highlighting an item
Create the Prototype
June 11, 2015 56
Snyder, Carolyn. Paper Prototyping: The Fast and Easy Way to Design and Refine User Interfaces. San Diego, CA: Morgan Kaufmann Pub., 2003. Print.
Flickr: Rosenfeld Media

57. Disabled elements
Create the Prototype
June 11, 2015 57Snyder, Carolyn. Paper Prototyping: The Fast and Easy Way to Design and Refine User Interfaces. San Diego, CA: Morgan
Kaufmann Pub., 2003. Print.

58. Disabled elements
Create the Prototype
June 11, 2015 58Snyder, Carolyn. Paper Prototyping: The Fast and Easy Way to Design and Refine User Interfaces. San Diego, CA: Morgan
Kaufmann Pub., 2003. Print.

59. Text field input
• Post-it Notes
Create the Prototype
June 11, 2015 59
Snyder, Carolyn. Paper Prototyping: The Fast and Easy Way to Design and Refine User Interfaces. San Diego, CA: Morgan Kaufmann Pub., 2003. Print.
Flickr: Samuel Mann

60. Text field input
• Post-it Notes
• Transparencies
Create the Prototype
June 11, 2015 60
Snyder, Carolyn. Paper Prototyping: The Fast and Easy Way to Design and Refine User Interfaces. San Diego, CA: Morgan Kaufmann Pub., 2003. Print.

61. Checkboxes and radio buttons
Create the Prototype
June 11, 2015 61
Warfel, Todd Zaki. Prototyping: A Practitioner's Guide. Brooklyn, NY: Rosenfeld Media, 2009. Print.
Flickr: Rosenfeld Media Flickr: Rosenfeld Media

62. Tip: Create handlebars on elements
Create the Prototype
June 11, 2015 62
Warfel, Todd Zaki. Prototyping: A Practitioner's Guide. Brooklyn, NY: Rosenfeld Media, 2009. Print.
Flickr: Rosenfeld Media

63. Scrolling
Create the Prototype
June 11, 2015 63
Snyder, Carolyn. Paper Prototyping: The Fast and Easy Way to Design and Refine User Interfaces. San Diego, CA: Morgan Kaufmann Pub., 2003. Print.
Flickr: Rosenfeld Media

64. Scrolling
Create the Prototype
June 11, 2015 64
Flickr: Liza Berseneva

65. Scrolling
Create the Prototype
June 11, 2015 65
Flickr: Samuel Mann

66. Carousels
Create the Prototype
June 11, 2015 66

67. Side scrolling menus
Create the Prototype
June 11, 2015 67Flickr: Rob Enslin

68. Slider
Create the Prototype
June 11, 2015 68
Flickr: Samuel Mann

69. Updating value
Create the Prototype
June 11, 2015 69
Flickr: Samuel Mann

70. Do what works for you.
• Feel free to invent new ways of doing these things.
• Balance interactivity with the ease or difficulty of testing.
Create the Prototype
June 11, 2015 70

71. You can test many things without any interaction.
• Navigation
• Expectations
• Labeling
• Icons
Create the Prototype
June 11, 2015 71

72. z
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Testing Paper Prototypes
June 11, 2015 72

73. Examples of testing paper prototypes:
Testing Paper Prototypes
June 11, 2015 73Example 1

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Testing Paper Prototypes
Create the Tasks
June 11, 2015 74

75. Phrase tasks as a simple, realistic scenario.
• “Show me what you’d do if you wanted to look at men’s running shoes.”
• “You want to book a hotel room in Sofia near the center of the city. Show me how
you’d do that.”
Create the Tasks
June 11, 2015 75

76. “Show me” reminds participants to take an action.
• Bad: “What would you’d do if you wanted to find a hotel in Sofia?”
• “I’d search on Sofia.”
• Good: “Show me what you’d do if you wanted to find a hotel in Sofia.”
• Clicks Hotels and types “Sofia” in the search field.
Create the Tasks
June 11, 2015 76

77. Avoid words that “give away” the task.
• Bad:
• “Show me what you’d do if you wanted to add those shoes to your shopping cart.”
• Good:
• “Show me what you’d do if you decided you wanted to buy these shoes.”
Create the Tasks
June 11, 2015 77

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Testing Paper Prototypes
The People Involved in Testing
June 11, 2015 78

79. The participant
The People Involved in Testing
June 11, 2015 79
The participant

80. The participant
The People Involved in Testing
June 11, 2015 80
The facilitator

81. The participant
The People Involved in Testing
June 11, 2015 81
The computer

82. Playing both the role of the computer and the facilitator is nearly impossible.
The People Involved in Testing
June 11, 2015 82
Flickr: Samuel Mann

83. Get someone else to play the role of the computer.
• Knowledge of the design
• Organizational skills
• Attention to detail
The People Involved in Testing
June 11, 2015 83
Flickr: Samuel Mann

84. When you create the prototype, try to keep it simple.
The People Involved in Testing
June 11, 2015 84Flickr: Samuel Mann

85. Conduct several pilot tests.
The People Involved in Testing
June 11, 2015 85Flickr: Samuel Mann
Flickr: Samuel Mann

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Testing Paper Prototypes
Conducting the Test
June 11, 2015 86

87. Introduce the prototype.
• “This is just a crude, initial prototype. Don’t focus on how it looks.”
Conducting the Test
June 11, 2015 87
Flickr: Samuel Mann

88. Introduce the prototype.
• “Not every screen or interaction will be shown.”
Conducting the Test
June 11, 2015 88
Flickr: Samuel Mann

89. Introduce the testing process.
• “Use your finger to tap on what you would click on.”
• “Bear with us as the computer reacts to show you
what happens next.”
Conducting the Test
June 11, 2015 89
Flickr: Samuel Mann

90. Introduce the testing process.
• “Think out loud.”
Conducting the Test
June 11, 2015 90
Flickr: Samuel Mann

91. During the testing:
• Facilitator reads the tasks.
• Participant performs the tasks, while thinking aloud.
• Computer responds to the participant’s actions.
• Facilitator notes success, errors, problems, reactions, etc.
• Facilitator asks questions.
Conducting the Test
June 11, 2015 91
Flickr: Samuel Mann

92. If the participant runs into a dead end…
• “We don’t have that created in the prototype, but what would
you expect to happen?”
Conducting the Test
June 11, 2015 92
Flickr: Samuel Mann

93. If the participant runs into a dead end…
• “Let’s say you clicked on that, and you realized it wasn’t
where you wanted to go. What would you do next?”
Conducting the Test
June 11, 2015 93
Flickr: Samuel Mann

94. Examples of testing paper prototypes:
Testing Paper Prototypes
June 11, 2015 94Example 2

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Exercise:
Creating and Testing a Paper Prototype
Introduction
June 11, 2015 95

96. What we’ll do
• Divide into groups of two people each.
• Create a simple paper prototype. (30 minutes)
• Test the prototype with people from other teams. (30 minutes)
• Discussion (10 minutes)
Introduction
June 11, 2015 96

97. Divide into groups of two people.
Introduction
June 11, 2015 97

98. Create a simple prototype.
• Keep it simple. It doesn’t need to include every detail.
• Plan and sketch it out first.
• Decide which tasks you want to test.
• Create screens and states for those tasks.
Introduction
June 11, 2015 98

99. Choose one of these prototypes to create (website or mobile app)
Introduction
June 11, 2015 99
Wish list on an ecommerce site Weather site or app Store Locator (on a physical store’s
website or app)
Possible
tasks to test
Start on the home page and find
your wish list
Check the current weather in Sofia Find the nearest stores to this
location
Remove an item from your wish
list
See what the weather is going to
be like tonight in Sofia
Check the store’s hours to see how
late they are open tonight
Add a comment about an item Check the weather for Monday in
Sofia
Get driving directions to the store
Mark one of the items high
priority and another low priority
Check the current weather for
Paris
Change the order of the items in
the list

100. Wish list on an ecommerce site
Introduction
June 11, 2015 100

101. Weather site or app
Introduction
June 11, 2015 101

102. Store Locator
Introduction
June 11, 2015 102

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Exercise:
Creating and Testing a Paper Prototype
Create the Paper Prototype
June 11, 2015 103

104. Choose one of these prototypes to create (website or mobile app)
Create the Paper Prototype (30 minutes)
June 11, 2015 104
Wish list on an ecommerce site Weather site or app Store Locator (on a physical store’s
website or app)
Possible
tasks to test
Start on the home page and find
your wish list
Check the current weather in Sofia Find the nearest stores to this
location
Remove an item from your wish
list
See what the weather is going to
be like tonight in Sofia
Check the store’s hours to see how
late they are open tonight
Add a comment about an item Check the weather for Monday in
Sofia
Get driving directions to the store
Mark one of the items high
priority and another low priority
Check the current weather for
Paris
Change the order of the items in
the list

105. z
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Exercise:
Creating and Testing a Paper Prototype
Testing the Paper Prototype
June 11, 2015 105

106. Join with another group.
Testing the Paper Prototype (30 minutes)
June 11, 2015 106
Group 1 Group 2

107. Conduct four tests, rotating roles so that each person plays each role once.
Testing the Paper Prototype (30 minutes)
June 11, 2015 107
Facilitator
Computer
Participant 1
Group 1 Group 2
Participant 2Round 1
Sits Out
About 5 minutes per participant

108. Conduct four tests, rotating roles so that each person plays each role once.
Testing the Paper Prototype (30 minutes)
June 11, 2015 108
Computer
Facilitator
Participant 1
Group 1 Group 2
Participant 2Round 2
Sits Out
About 5 minutes per participant

109. Conduct four tests, rotating roles so that each person plays each role once.
Testing the Paper Prototype (30 minutes)
June 11, 2015 109
Facilitator
Computer
Participant 1
Group 2 Group 1
Participant 2Round 3
Sits Out
About 5 minutes per participant

110. Conduct four tests, rotating roles so that each person plays each role once.
Testing the Paper Prototype (30 minutes)
June 11, 2015 110
Computer
Facilitator
Participant 1
Group 2 Group 1
Participant 2Round 4
Sits Out
About 5 minutes per participant

111. z
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Exercise:
Creating and Testing a Paper Prototype
Discussion
June 11, 2015 111

112. Creating the paper prototype
• How did you feel about creating the prototype?
• Was it easier or harder than you expected?
• What would you do if you had more time?
Discussion
June 11, 2015 112

113. Testing the paper prototype
• What did you find from the testing?
• What was it like playing the computer? Being the facilitator? The participant?
• Which one was the most difficult?
• What would you do differently next time?
Discussion
June 11, 2015 113

114. Questions or other comments?
• Any other questions for me?
• Comments?
Discussion
June 11, 2015 114

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Resources for Paper Prototyping
June 11, 2015 115

116. Paper prototyping
• Paper Prototyping: The Fast and Easy Way to Design and Refine User Interfaces,
Carolyn Snyder
• Prototyping: A Practitioner’s Guide, Todd Zaki Warfel
Paper Prototyping Elements
• Paper Prototyping Helper Kit from User Focus
Resources for Paper Prototyping
June 11, 2015 116

117. Usability Testing
• Rocket Surgery Made Easy: Steve Krug
• Handbook of Usability Testing: How to Plan, Design, and Conduct Effective Tests:
Jeffrey Rubin and Data Chisnell
Resources for Paper Prototyping
June 11, 2015 117

118. June 11, 2015 118
Thank You