rapid prototyping

Building CustomWeb Apps

Right and Fast:Why User Research and

Sketchflow are Keys to SuccessJohn Whalen, PhD @johnwhalen

e.magination @emagination

John Whalen

PhD Cognitive Science

Cognitive Neuroscience

Vision Science LinguisticsPhD:

Math in Brain

Professor in PsychologyDirector, User Experience& Design @ e.magination

Post Doc at UCLAduring Dot.Com boom

Usability/Accessibility

OnlineStrategy

UserExperience

InformationArchitecture

e.magination

DevelopmentWeb Sites

CMS

Design

Usability/Accessibility

OnlineStrategy

InteractionDesign

InformationArchitecture

Discovery

StakeholderResearch

User Research

VisualDesign

MicrosoftSharePoint

CustomApps

eCommerce

Online Facebook

iPhone

Intranets

Delivery

Support

CustomApps

ContentCreation

About

Since 1992

Baltimore’sLargest

SampleClients

FDA

USDA

CareFirst

DOJ

AARP

Ad.com

.NET

SystemIntegration

Comcast

CommerceServer

Competition

Agenda

• Why prototype?• Introduce Challenge• Prototype w/ Microsoft Expression Blend + Sketchflow• Resources

Why Prototype

• #1 Reason for project failure – cost/time over run because of scope changes

• Better communicate interaction ideas

Why Prototype

• #1 Reason for project failure – cost/time over run because of scope changes

• Better communicate interaction ideas

What tools are there to prototype with

• Paper…

• Balsamiq• Axure• iRise• Sketchflow

Also often used:• Illustrator• InDesign• Photoshop• PowerPoint• HTML/CSS/JavaScript

Problem: It can feel too final

Why SketchFlow

• Fast to create• Easy to get feedback• Nice output• Works in Firefox, IE,

Safari on PC/Mac/Linux• Imports Photoshop /

Illustrator files• .NET programmers could

use this for front-end development

• Nice ‘sketchy’ layout

Why NOT SketchFlow

• Learning curve• Documentation• A bit tricky for clients

(but new version is better)• Creation is PC only

Today’s Challenge

Today’s Challenge

Today’s Challenge

Today’s Challenge

Today’s Challenge

Why Prototype

• Conceptual Prototyping - make it:– Fast– Inexpensive– Disposable– Iterative

• #1 Reason for project failure – cost/time over run because of scope changes

• Prototype better communicates interaction ideas and requirements

Resources

Microsoft Sitehttp://expression.microsoft.com

(click learn, click tutorial)

Dzone Tutorial

http://bit.ly/c7yiju

Thank You

John Whalen

john.whalen@emagination.com

@johnwhalen

240-281-0764

Rapid Prototyping slideshare.net/emagination

e.maginationemagination.com

@emagination