Our conclusion of Rapid Digital Prototyping: It’s got the look and feel of pen and paper, but adds interactivity (making wireframes clickable) and enhances developing speed through re-usable elements and layers. Many (real-time) collaboration components enable interface designers to new ways to work with much better time allocation, leaving more time for the creative process that really counts.

Through prefab interface elements (e.g. radio buttons, links, navigation items, controls etc.) information architects can create clickable and animated web or software interfaces within minutes. Without any programming skills, interface designers can focus on the web concept and use cases, site structures and the overall layout of the site, instead of getting lost in details that only matter at a later stage of the project.

The ISO (International Organization for Standardization) 9241-XX tries to standardize the usability of designs for human computer interaction. In brief it says, that every user interface (such as websites, machine controls etc.) should follow best practices in effectiveness, efficiency and contextual user satisfaction.
On such an abstract level, almost everybody agrees, that this might be of help, keeping these aspects in mind when designing user interfaces (or at least it doesn’t ‘damage’ creativity). But do you think it is worth further narrowing the usability standards? And if so, to what extend? Isn’t usability and user experience in the eye of the beholder, depending on your target audience?

So do ISO norms on usability help you as an interaction or interface designer or do usability standards limit you? Does that mean that there is a best practice for a website, that there is the best website for every single purpose? What about innovative interface controls and usability design patterns? And does Apple follow usability standards or does Apple create them?

Personally I haven’t made up my mind whether there is a contradiction of norms and creativity (e.g. design) or not. So what do you think? What are your experiences with these ISO norms?

Through prefab website elements (e.g. radio buttons, links, navigation items, controls etc.) information architects can create clickable and animated web or software interfaces in no time. Without any programming skills, interface designers can focus on the web concept and use cases, site structures and the overall layout of the site, instead of getting lost in details that distract from the overall concept of the site.

Our conclusion of Rapid Digital Prototyping: It’s got the look and feel of Rapid Paper Prototyping, but adds interactivity (making wireframes animated) and enhances developing speed through re-usable elements and layers. Many (real-time) collaboration modules enable interface designers to new ways to work with much better time allocation, leaving more time for the creative process that really counts.