The Prototyping Process

Through these past few weeks I have learned some of the most important skills when it comes to prototyping and the overall process. I learned that prototyping is all about testing new things continuously in order to get a better understanding of what people are looking for in your app or whatever you are designing. I think prototyping in my eyes is one of the most important steps in the design process because you are essentially shaping and creating your product. 

In one of the articles I read titled Test Your Prototypes: How to Gather Feedback and Maximize Learning it talks about the importance of seeking feedback appropriately. Essentially the article talks about the user and how the product functions based on the user. I have learned through prototyping that the user serves as the foundation of your product. Without the user you do not have a product, so it is important to meet the users needs. In the article one of the most important steps in my eyes was adapting to while testing. I thought that this step stood out to me the most because it allowed me to realize that sometimes you need to shift and change your ideas because even though you may think they're great, they may not meet the needs of your stakeholders.  

While working on my app I took this into consideration and tried to focus on the many different types of users that may be using my app. I focused on the needs of teachers, students, and parents who are all actively involved in the education process. I thought about ways of communication between the teachers and parents. I also thought of a rewards system to help keep the young students working towards a goal. One thing that I think I could have worked on in my app is making it a little simpler, neater, and easier to understand. I think that Overall my app could still use many tweaks and that if someone were to use my app they may have some concerns. However these concerns and suggestions are part of the prototyping process. I enjoyed using marvel and creating something unique. I thought that it was difficult, but I was able to generate some cool ideas.

The next article I chose to look at was titled How to Test UX Design Early On In Your Process. This article talked about some of the different strategies in order to prototype fast and efficiently. One of the things that I learned about prototyping is that it is never a final product. There is always work to be done and things too improve. This is why prototyping is so critically important. One of the most important things that I took away from this article was that you need to have a set goal before you start testing. You need to know what exactly you are trying to accomplish and how you will go about doing so. Without setting a goal you will be all over the place and will have so many scattered ideas. It can be difficult to stay organized without setting a goal and knowing exactly what you are trying to accomplish. One of the most important things that you do not want to lose in this process is time.

This brings me to the next article I read which was titled UX Testing Methodologies That Will Save You Time. When reading this I learned a lot about time management and how to save time when prototyping. Time is extremely valuable throughout the entirety of the design process. In the article it mentions saving time by spending less time on the wrong things. I think that this is something that is something to consider in the design process and also anything you are trying to accomplish. When it comes to time management I often find myself working on something that does not even help me when I finally accomplish my goal. I think that realizing that something is not worth your time or even just working on it briefly can save you a significant amount of time. 

Overall through this process of creating a demo app and coming up with some ideas I have learned a lot about prototyping and the key things needed when going through this process. I think that by reading the articles and by discussing in the zoom meetings I have been able to understand and grasp this step to the design process.