Introduction - Paper Prototyping: The Fast and Easy Way to Define and Refine User Interfaces - page 12

Audience for This Topic
So let's talk about you. You're probably involved in the design, implementation, or support of user
interfaces in some way. In other words, you might be any of the following:
Software or Web site developer
Project manager
Interface/interaction designer
Usability specialist
Technical writer
Graphic designer
Information architect
Marketing professional
Quality assurance/test engineer
Training specialist
Technical/customer support representative
Manager of any of these
Following are some assumptions I've made about your background.
Programming
You don't need to have technical skills to create and test a paper prototype, although presumably (if
there's any intention of implementing what you're prototyping) you'll be working with someone who
does. Unlike software-based prototyping tools, for paper prototyping you need only those cutting,
pasting, and drawing talents you perfected as a child. So although many of you might be programmers,
I don't assume any technical knowledge about software development.
Interface Design
Strictly speaking, you don't need to be an interface designer to create a paper prototype any more than
you need to be an artist to glop paint on a canvas. Of course, to be a good artist you need some
combination of talent, training, and practice. The same is true of interface design. Strictly speaking, this
topic won't teach you to be a good designer, but if you have the enthusiasm to learn, paper prototyping
will give you a means to practice and thus refine whatever talent you may have.
Usability Testing
It was hard to decide how much material to include about usability testing. Usability specialists who
read this topic certainly don't need me to tell them how to conduct tests. But for every usability
specialist, there are probably 100 designers, developers, and writers who wouldn't mind knowing a little
more about usability. There are already some good topics about usability testing, and I don't want to
reinvent the wheel. However, discussing paper prototyping without talking about usability testing is like
trying to gossip without using pronouns. [ 2 ]
My compromise is to give you a sense of how usability testing works, including some of the concepts
and tips I found most helpful when I first started, but I leave most of the details to other topics. I've
concentrated most of the general usability testing information into a couple of chapters so that it's easy
to skip for those who already know it.
[ 2 ] The next time you throw a party, ask your guests to sing "Let Me Call You Sweetheart" sans