However, the world is not just brilliant with digital interface prototyping. Although the prototypes are available in a digital format, theoretically allowing to share and interact on the concepts, many wireframing tools lack useful collaboration features. But given the fact that life in an agency circles around projects with different internal and freelance team members and sometimes several locations, (online) collaboration becomes more and more important.

Also the fast and steady technical invention of new web and interface controls (just imagine how Apple’s iPhone has influenced user behavior in the web), make it hard for the interface design tool providers to keep pace with development of the latest controls and a natural lag until these controls find its way into the wireframing applications is imminent.

But imagining the funny fact that these new and behavior breaking controls also have been developed and tested with interface design tools like the ones described here, the future looks bright for digital interface prototyping.

So we only can recommend testing these interface design tools since they all offer free trial periods of some kind. As a good example of what’s state of the art in the field, we have listed a completely web-based wireframing software with many interesting real-time collaboration features in the resources box.

When you are into interface design, Rapid Paper Prototyping is an old hat! But ever considered doing interface design on screen?

With pidoco’s web-based screen design software, interaction designers and screen developers can save valuable time, optimize communication within the team and build better interfaces for the internet.

Rapid Paper Prototyping has already been established as THE way to get a GUI started. Rapid Paper Prototyping is about sketching ideas with pen an paper to be shared and iterated within the team. This concept will then go through an ongoing, sometimes collaborative, design process by implementing feedback from different stake holders. This paper-built prototype will finally act as a roadmap for the whole project – from beginning to the end (but is there a real end?). Some screen-designers even use these basic sketches for running usability tests. Revealing usability issues before programming can save a lot of money, since later alterations in the so called ‘finished’ web app are minimized.

However, there are problems with Rapid Paper Prototyping.  Sketches on paper are only scanned to add to the project documentation and also difficult to collaborate on in larger teams. Transforming paper sketches into interactive, digital documents for getting the grip on how workflows are reproduced in the design is also a time consuming task as we all know!
That is why many companies create their wireframes directly in MS PowerPoint or InDesign and have them send to the relevant sources. True, that way one can share the data more effectively but it is not really more interactive than making copies of a piece of paper handing it to the team. The Visio-type static wireframes still do not show the real functionality:  links, dynamic menus and combo-boxes etc. cannot be reproduced effectively and need to be explained individually in long paragraphs. Again, more time and effort has to be invested to get the message across.

pidoco° has noticed this problem and made it their duty to tackle it by providing a fast web-based interface design software.

Through prefab stencils (e.g. radio buttons, links, navigation items, controls etc.) interface designers 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 will later be overhauled anyway.

For the people who are into interface design, Rapid Paper Prototyping is old school! But ever considered doing screen design on screen?

With pidoco’s web-based interface design software, interaction designers and screen developers can save valuable time, enhance the creative process and build better interfaces for the internet.

Rapid Paper Prototyping has already been known to be the solution to get a web-application started. The basic concepts of the layout will be put on paper and tossed around in the team. This prototype will then go through an iterative design process by integrating feedback from colleagues or even clients. This paper prototype will eventually act as a rough guide for the whole project – from start to finish. Some screen-designers even use these basic sketches for performing usability tests. Revealing usability issues in the prototyping phase can save a lot of money, since later alterations in the so called ‘finished’ web project are minimized.

However, there are some drawbacks to Rapid Paper Prototyping.  Prototypes are only scanned to add to the document servers and also difficult to collaborate on in larger teams. Transforming paper prototypes into clickable wireframes for testing use cases is also a time consuming task as we all know!

That is why many companies create their concepts directly in MS PowerPoint or InDesign and have them distributed to the relevant sources. True, that way one can share the data more effectively but it is not really more dynamic than making copies of a piece of paper handing it to the team. The Visio-type static wireframes still do not show the real capabilities for test user excitement:  links, dynamic menus and combo-boxes etc. cannot be reproduced effectively and need to be explained individually in long text. Again, more time and effort has to be invested to get the message across.

But even if screen designs have already been made in some hi-fi graphics software (e.g. InDesign, pidoco° can add value to the design process by bringing interactivity to static screens. Adding ‘click areas’ to the finished screenshots enhance the collaboration and interaction capabilities of a former static screenshot. Colleagues, clients and test users can now easily be integrated in the feedback process and online discussions can be held. Just like web conferencing, but with real-time editing never seen before!

The pidoco° screens design software consists of three main modules which complement each other perfectly. Together, they enhance the interface design process and optimize the general workflow in all stages of collaborative web design.

Digital prototypes are quickly sketched with the Prototype Creator (just by drag&drop) and can later easily be shared and reviewed by colleagues, test users or clients. If there is need for even more in-depth feedback on individual aspects of the web concept, just use the clickable wireframes to perform a easy to set up remote usability test where moderator and test user are connected remotely by a shared screen and an integrated phone. All modules are aimed to increase productivity of the interface design process and ease communication within the team.

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?

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.