Prototyping
The user experience (UX) is vital to any successful software product. We synthesize the data that we have collected in the research phase to create something concrete.
We begin by creating basic wireframe sets that include the high-level visual attributes and key content elements. Creating this low fidelity prototype of our design concept is a quick and easy way to translate our idea into a tangible artifact that we can use to gather input from the very beginning of our process.
As our decisions move from abstract to more concrete, we refine and add more detail to the prototypes, including interactivity. At each iteration, we test with real users. By integrating this feedback before we develop the functional product, we ensure the best possible chance of success in the most economical and efficient way.
For CFPB, My Money Calendar, we iterated many times, adding increasing levels of refinement until we were satisfied with the look and feel, the navigation and the functionality of our MVP. Here are a few of the wireframes in our progression.
- We had opportunities to evaluate different design concepts
- We could address screen layout and navigation issues
- We can iterate and get feedback quickly
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We moved to more complete functionality
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Major design decisions have already been made.
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There was a focus on the details of the app, including font sizes, colors, spacing, etc.
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It served as the living specification of the app, suitable for a developer to work from.
