This 2015 workshop at SXSW covered: - Current state of UX, limitations of common deliverables (e.g. wireframes) - POV on prototyping and why it's important in user experience design - Available tools (Invision, Justinmind, etc) - Case study: using the Tech Summit app as an example - What about the spec? Key Takeaways - Wireframes are near obsolete - Why prototype - Available methods - Learn about available tools, pros and cons - Documenting detailed functionality (annotating the prototype)

1. Shredding the Wireframe
Intro to Rapid UX Prototyping
Kyle Outlaw / Group Experience Director @Razorfish
Photo source: Musician Buzz

2. To Shred */SHred/*
2
• Tear or cut into shreds."shredded documents”
• Play a very fast, intricate style of rock lead guitar. ”We want to hear
everything from country and western to blisteringly fast guitar shredding"
As defined by Google

3. Agenda
• Part 1: Intro – the death of wires, the rise of prototyping
• Part 2: Challenge question and sketching
• Short Break
• Part 3: Invision app tutorial
• Part 4: Usability testing
• Part 5: Show and tell, Q&A
3

4. Who the f*&# are we?
4
Kyle Outlaw
GXD at Razorfish
Clients: Mercedes-Benz, Smart Car, Motorola,
UNIQLO, AXE
Specialties: responsive design, digital commerce
Twitter: @koutlaw
Rachel Lovinger
*Special Guest/timecop*
XD at Razorfish
Clients: Mercedes, EMC, The Hollywood
Reporter, Travel Channel, MetLife, American Red
Cross
Specialties: content strategy, content modeling
Twitter: @rlovinger

5. Some Questions for You!

6. Part 1
The Death of Wireframes and the Rise of the Prototype
6

7. We <3 wireframes, but they are quickly
becoming obsolete!

8. But why?

9. Wireframes Have Several Limitations
• What you see is often not what you get
• Insufficient when describing nuanced interaction
• Approvals can never be final until the result is seen in
code
• It’s difficult to test wireframes
• Many clients have difficulty providing feedback on
wireframes
• Laborious, time intensive
• Inefficient for detailing responsive design
• Others??
9

10. But what will replace them?

11. 11
Enter the Prototype.

12. What do we mean when we say prototype?
A prototype is an early sample, model, or
release of a product built to test a concept or
process or to act as a thing to be replicated or
learned from.
12
Source: Wikipedia

13. Advantages to Prototyping the UX
13
• Get early buy-in from business stakeholders
• Enables testing early and often with users
• Encourages multi-disciplinary collaboration
• Plays well with the agile methodology
• Shows not just what it will look like but how it will work
• Kills fewer trees

14. There are several categories
• Proof-of-Concept Prototype
• Form Study Prototype
• User Experience Prototype
• Visual Prototype
• Functional Prototype (a.k.a Working Prototype)
14
Source: Wikipedia

15. Who is the audience?
• Full internal team (UX, visual designers, tech)
• Third party vendors
• The client and other stakeholders
• Real users
15

16. The Spectrum of Fidelity
16
Medium High
Low
Sketches on paper. Cool/wow
factor is low. Wireframes or sketches, the
prototype is ‘clickable’ but not much
more interactivity than that.
Fully functional, but usually a
subset of features, the most
complex functionality. Also $$$

17. 17
Caution: Set Expectations on Fidelity!

18. Some popular tools

19. 19
Low-Fi

20. 20
Medium-Fi

21. 21
High-Fi

22. 22
High-Fi

23. 23
AI??

24. And many more…

25. How do they stack up?

26. 26
Emily Schwartzman’s Awesome Evaluation
kpcb.com/design/prototyping-tools-as-analyzed-by-emily-schwartzman

27. But there is no substitute for trying these
yourselves and picking the best one for
your project.

28. Anyway, who should own the prototype?

29. • It's often cost prohibitive to get a technologist just for prototyping
• You don't need to know code to do it!
• It's a better simulation of the end product!
• Clients will get that it's not the final product!*
• UX is the glue for product design – the focal point
• We still need a deliverable!
UX designers should own it!

30. The prototype shows how it will work.
“Design is not just what it
looks like or feels like.
Design is how it works.”
–Steve Jobs, Patron Saint of
User Experience Practitioners

31. Any questions so far?

32. Part 2
Okay let’s do this!
32

33. Product Brief and Sketching
33
• In this part of the workshop we're going to solve a quasi-real world
problem. There are two challenges, each table has a product brief A
or B).
• Just to keep things simple we're going to pick a single form factor -
smart phone. Can be an app or mobile web, up to you.
• Introduce yourselves to your team mates.
• Take a look at your (intentionally vague) product brief!

34. The Teams*
34
• Slayer
• System of a Down
• Anthrax
• Metallica
• Pantera
• Megadeth
* Yes you may change your team name. Just let us know!

35. Product Brief 1
35
Create a Smartphone app that does the following:
We’ve all been on road trips where one individual (often unintentionally) monopolizes the
music selection. It can make for a tense ride. This app allows drivers to create a listening
room. Each passenger would be able to help build the playlist from their smartphone, with
an equal number of picks and vetoes given to each, depending on the length of the drive
and number of passengers. Picks would rotate as the ride progresses. Each listener
would be able to veto a pick, but the song would only be skipped if over half of the voters
gave it a thumbs down. To prevent trolling, any song vetoed by all passengers would not
count towards anyone’s veto count. The game would take on a strategic element when
conserving your vetoes and picks, ensuring you’ll keep playing over the length of the ride.
(Matt Burton via Evolver.fm).

36. Product Brief 2
36
Create a Smartphone app that does the following:
This quick image-to-sound generator would use pictures from your smartphone’s camera.
Take a picture, and the image’s properties would be converted into control data for a sound
generator. Say, for example, the amount of blue in a picture would determine the frequency
of a particular oscillator. The synth could also “play back” the pictures from top to bottom or
left to right so that the sound evolves over time. If you had a picture of a blue sky over green
grass, you’d get a clip that starts with a lot of high frequency sound that moves lower over
time. Every kind of data about the picture could also be translated into sound in this same
manner for nice, complex results. This would just be a quick, fun way to create sounds.
There could also be a social aspect, with an Instagram-style feed of all of your friends
pictures and sounds. (Andy Cush via Evolver.fm)

37. Product Brief and Sketching (cont.)
37
• Spend 15 minutes discussing how to approach this request.
• Sketch out some key screens (15 min).
• We’re shooting for low fidelity prototypes here.

38. Remember: it’s not an art contest!
38

39. Any questions before we start?

40. Clock’s ticking…
40

41. Time’s up!
41

42. Now…
42
• Designate one person on your team (whoever has the best
smartphone camera!) to take a picture of your sketches.
• Designate someone from your team to be the prototype owner.
Email the photo to them so that they can have it on their desktop.
• If you need help taking pictures of your sketches we can help you
during break.

43. Now…
43
• Designate one person on your team (whoever has the best smartphone
camera!) to take a picture of your sketches. If you need help taking pictures
of your sketches we can help you during break.
• Designate someone from your team to be the prototype owner. Email the
photo to them so that they can have it on their desktop.
• If you need help taking pictures of your sketches we can help you during
break.
Break Time

44. Part 3
Quick prototyping tutorial using Invision App
44

45. Why Invision App?
• Easy to learn (not just UX, creative, client)
• Well designed! (Great UX)
• Using it currently for various Razorfish clients
• Again, encourage testing other tools first,
depends on the project
45

46. 46
Getting Started
• Go to invisionapp.com
• Username: kyle.outlaw [at] razorfish.com
• Password: SXSW2015
• Or give us your email and we will add you to
the project!*

47. 47
Step 2: Find Your Project Folder (A-E)

48. 48
Step 3: Upload a picture of your sketch

49. 49
Step 4: Check Resolutions

50. 50
Step 5: Arrange your screens

51. 51
Step 5: Set hotspots

52. 52
Step 5: Set hotspots

53. Test the flow with your team, make any
revisions

54. Other cool stuff you can do

55. 55
Step 5: Set hotspots

56. 56
Step 5: Set hotspots

57. 57
Step 5: Set hotspots

58. 58
Step 5: Set hotspots

59. 59
Step 5: Set hotspots

60. 60
Step 5: Set hotspots

61. 61
Step 5: Set hotspots

62. 62
Step 5: Set hotspots

63. 63
Step 5: Set hotspots

64. Part 4
Guerrilla-style Usability Testing
64

65. Prototyping on the fly
65
From formal and guerilla usability testing

66. Goals for usability testing
66
• Evaluate your product (easy, fast, satisfying?)
• See how real people use it, in their environment
• Test any assumptions or hypotheses you have about the design

67. Designate one person from your table to
go to another table (different challenge)
and take them through your app.

68. Document the feedback. Bonus points,
add comments to the project.

69. Part 5
Show and tell
69

70. Call for volunteers!
70
• What was your challenge?
• How did you solve it?
• How was your overall experience?
• Is this something you could see using in your design process?

71. 71
Q+A

72. Epilogue: Some House-cleaning
72
• Please take our survey!
• If you have questions after this class, contact me
at kyle.outlaw [at] razorfish.com

73. Official Playlist for this Workshop
73
http://spoti.fi/1GOKavN

74. Thanks!!

75. Appendectomy
75

76. Product Brief for Team Pantera
Create a Smartphone app that does the following:
Democratize Playlists for Long Car Rides with Friends: We’ve all been on road trips where
one individual (often unintentionally) monopolizes the music selection. It can make for a tense
ride. The Echo Nest Q/A intern Matt Burton conceived of an app that allows drivers to create a
listening room. Each passenger would be able to help build the playlist from their
smartphone, with an equal number of picks and vetoes given to each, depending on the
length of the drive and number of passengers. Picks would rotate as the ride progresses. Each
listener would be able to veto a pick, but the song would only be skipped if over half of the
voters gave it a thumbs down. To prevent trolling, any song vetoed by all passengers would
not count towards anyone’s veto count. The game would take on a strategic element when
conserving your vetoes and picks, ensuring you’ll keep playing over the length of the ride.
(Matt Burton via Evolver.fm).
http://evolver.fm/2012/10/18/the-most-wanted-untapped-music-apps-round-three/

77. Product Brief for Team Slayer
Create a Smartphone app that does the following:
Democratize Playlists for Long Car Rides with Friends: We’ve all been on road trips where
one individual (often unintentionally) monopolizes the music selection. It can make for a tense
ride. The Echo Nest Q/A intern Matt Burton conceived of an app that allows drivers to create a
listening room. Each passenger would be able to help build the playlist from their
smartphone, with an equal number of picks and vetoes given to each, depending on the
length of the drive and number of passengers. Picks would rotate as the ride progresses. Each
listener would be able to veto a pick, but the song would only be skipped if over half of the
voters gave it a thumbs down. To prevent trolling, any song vetoed by all passengers would
not count towards anyone’s veto count. The game would take on a strategic element when
conserving your vetoes and picks, ensuring you’ll keep playing over the length of the ride.
(Matt Burton via Evolver.fm).
http://evolver.fm/2012/10/18/the-most-wanted-untapped-music-apps-round-three/

78. Product Brief for Team System of a
Down
Create a Smartphone app that does the following:
Democratize Playlists for Long Car Rides with Friends: We’ve all been on road trips where
one individual (often unintentionally) monopolizes the music selection. It can make for a tense
ride. The Echo Nest Q/A intern Matt Burton conceived of an app that allows drivers to create a
listening room. Each passenger would be able to help build the playlist from their
smartphone, with an equal number of picks and vetoes given to each, depending on the
length of the drive and number of passengers. Picks would rotate as the ride progresses. Each
listener would be able to veto a pick, but the song would only be skipped if over half of the
voters gave it a thumbs down. To prevent trolling, any song vetoed by all passengers would
not count towards anyone’s veto count. The game would take on a strategic element when
conserving your vetoes and picks, ensuring you’ll keep playing over the length of the ride.
(Matt Burton via Evolver.fm).
http://evolver.fm/2012/10/18/the-most-wanted-untapped-music-apps-round-three/

79. Product Brief for Team Metallica
Create a Smartphone app that does the following:
Spectrum: This quick image-to-sound generator would use pictures from your smartphone’s
camera. Take a picture, and the image’s properties would be converted into control data for a
sound generator. Say, for example, the amount of blue in a picture would determine the
frequency of a particular oscillator. The synth could also “play back” the pictures from top to
bottom or left to right so that the sound evolves over time. If you had a picture of a blue sky
over green grass, you’d get a clip that starts with a lot of high frequency sound that moves
lower over time. Every kind of data about the picture could also be translated into sound in
this same manner for nice, complex results. This would just be a quick, fun way to create
sounds. There could also be a social aspect, with an Instagram-style feed of all of your friends
pictures and sounds. (Andy Cush)
http://evolver.fm/2012/10/18/the-most-wanted-untapped-music-apps-round-three/

80. Product Brief for Team Anthrax
Create a Smartphone app that does the following:
Spectrum: This quick image-to-sound generator would use pictures from your smartphone’s
camera. Take a picture, and the image’s properties would be converted into control data for a
sound generator. Say, for example, the amount of blue in a picture would determine the
frequency of a particular oscillator. The synth could also “play back” the pictures from top to
bottom or left to right so that the sound evolves over time. If you had a picture of a blue sky
over green grass, you’d get a clip that starts with a lot of high frequency sound that moves
lower over time. Every kind of data about the picture could also be translated into sound in
this same manner for nice, complex results. This would just be a quick, fun way to create
sounds. There could also be a social aspect, with an Instagram-style feed of all of your friends
pictures and sounds. (Andy Cush)
http://evolver.fm/2012/10/18/the-most-wanted-untapped-music-apps-round-three/

81. Product Brief for Team Megadeth
Create a Smartphone app that does the following:
Spectrum: This quick image-to-sound generator would use pictures from your smartphone’s
camera. Take a picture, and the image’s properties would be converted into control data for a
sound generator. Say, for example, the amount of blue in a picture would determine the
frequency of a particular oscillator. The synth could also “play back” the pictures from top to
bottom or left to right so that the sound evolves over time. If you had a picture of a blue sky
over green grass, you’d get a clip that starts with a lot of high frequency sound that moves
lower over time. Every kind of data about the picture could also be translated into sound in
this same manner for nice, complex results. This would just be a quick, fun way to create
sounds. There could also be a social aspect, with an Instagram-style feed of all of your friends
pictures and sounds. (Andy Cush)
http://evolver.fm/2012/10/18/the-most-wanted-untapped-music-apps-round-three/