prototyping - a conversation about your assumptions

A Conversation About Your Assumptions

presented at olin college

prototyping

ross beyelerFounder of Growth Spark

Babson College AlumBusinessWeek Top 25

agenda

IntroductionScoping ActivitiesTesting for ContentTesting for Context

Testing for CapabilitiesPrototype Testing

& FeedbackQ&A

Introduction

introduction

We use prototyping to facilitate a conversation between us

and our users.

introduction

These conversations focus on testing a set of assumptions as we

continue to define the product.

introduction

We use the quickest, and most effective methods of prototyping

to start these conversations.

introduction

Determining what method to use depends on the type of assumptions you are testing.

introductionThere are three types of assumptions

you should be testing while prototyping.

Content.

Context

Capabilities

123

Scoping Activities

scoping activities

Before we can begin prototyping, we need to define a baseline driven

by assumptions. The following activities inform our assumptions.

audience personasWho is using your product?

photo via mailchimp.com

problem definitionWhat problem are you trying to solve?

chalkboard

how will you helpHow will your product solve their problem?

photo via caryarts.net

define successWhat does success look like for your users?

Testing for Content

testing for content

Testing for content is about defining what elements need

to be included in your product.

testing for content

We need to visually communicate the elements of our product that

meet our user’s goals.

low-fi wireframesWhiteboard Sketches

mid-fi wireframesBalsamiq

hi-fi wireframesUX Pin

Testing for Context

paper prototypes

photo via medialab.hva.nl

pdf prototypesInvision App

photo via wireframes.linowski.ca

html prototypesBootstrap

photo via getboostrap.com

mobile prototypesFlinto

photo via flinto.com

cms-based prototypesWordpress

photo via wordpress.org

Testing for Capabilities

scriptsCodepen

photo via codepen.com

scaffoldingRuby Tutorial

photo via railstutorial.org

data-scrapingKimono App

photo via kimono.com

mock-dataMocky.io

photo via mocky.io

crud dataFirebase

photo via firebase.com

api integrationsZapier

photo via zapier.com

rapid infrastructureHeroku

photo via heroku.com

Prototype Testing & Feedback

prototype testing &feedback

If we built our prototype to test our assumptions, then we must

test our prototype.

prototype testing &feedback

Getting your prototype in the hands of your users is key to collecting feedback that will

improve your product.

in-person demos

photo via tishadiplomaproject.blogspot.com

qualitative surveysQualaroo

photo via heroku.com

usability testingUserTesting

photo via usertesting.com

visual trackingMouseflow

photo via mouseflow.com

Thank you!ross@growthspark.com / @growthspark

any questions?

the end!