Effective Prototyping for Software Makers

0: Preface: Effective Prototyping, why this book?
1: Why Prototyping
2: The effective prototyping process
3: Verify prototype assumptions and requirements
4: Develop Task Flows and Scenarios
5: Define prototype content and fidelity
6: Determine Characteristics
7: Choose a Method
8: Choose a Prototyping Tool
9: Establish the design criteria
10: Create the Design
11: Review the Design: the internal review
12: Validate and iterate the prototype
13: Deploy the design
14: Card sorting
15: Wireframe prototyping
16: Storyboard prototyping
17: Paper prototyping
18: Digital interactive prototyping
19: Blank model prototyping
20: Video prototyping
21: Wizard of Oz prototyping
22: Coded prototyping
23: Prototyping with office suite applications
24: Prototyping with Visio
25: Prototyping with Acrobat
26: Prototyping with Photoshop

Nevin Berger is design director at Ziff Davis Media. Previously he was a senior interaction designer at Oracle Corporation and Peoplesoft, Inc., and has held creative director positions at World Savings and OFOTO, Inc.

There are many steps in the development of successful software projects, but one major key is prototyping: rapid, effective methods for testing and refining designs. Effective prototyping can be remarkably simple, yet provide powerful results without delaying the project. Indeed, effective prototyping is often the key to faster development. Up to now, there has been no single source for how it is done. But here, in this comprehensive book, Jonathan Arnowitz, Michael Arent, and Nevin Berger explain all in this essential guide to software prototyping. Everything you ever wanted to know, but had no idea who to ask. --Don Norman, Nielsen Norman Group & Northwestern University, Author of Emotional Design Artists sketch before they paint; writers produce outlines and drafts; architects make drawings and models; aircraft designers take models to their windtunnels-all these activities are forms of prototyping. Designing and building effective software requires deep understanding, and this requires effective prototyping, but most software designers and developers don't seem to know the full range of available tools, techniques, and processes. Effective Prototyping is written by steadfast and reliable guides who cover prototyping techniques in remarkable depth. This book is a thorough guide to prototyping for both newcomers and the experienced. It will take you step by step as well as explain the purpose of each step. This is the essential handbook of prototyping. --Richard P. Gabriel, author of Innovation Happens Elsewhere This is an ideal text for professional software engineers and designers who are new to prototyping as well as students in engineering, design, and human factors. The concepts and techniques presented in this volume should be considered part of the foundational knowledge for anyone in the software development field. I recommend this book to any software company that wants to improve their capability to build great products. --Jim Faris, The Management

There are many steps in the development of successful software projects, but one major key is prototyping: rapid, effective methods for testing and refining designs. Effective prototyping can be remarkably simple, yet provide powerful results without delaying the project. Indeed, effective prototyping is often the key to faster development. Up to now, there has been no single source for how it is done. But here, in this comprehensive book, Jonathan Arnowitz, Michael Arent, and Nevin Berger explain all in this essential guide to software prototyping.

Everything you ever wanted to know, but had no idea who to ask.
--Don Norman, Nielsen Norman Group & Northwestern University, Author of Emotional Design

Artists sketch before they paint; writers produce outlines and drafts; architects make drawings and models; aircraft designers take models to their windtunnels-all these activities are forms of prototyping. Designing and building effective software requires deep understanding, and this requires effective prototyping, but most software designers and developers don't seem to know the full range of available tools, techniques, and processes. Effective Prototyping is written by steadfast and reliable guides who cover prototyping techniques in remarkable depth. This book is a thorough guide to prototyping for both newcomers and the experienced. It will take you step by step as well as explain the purpose of each step.

This is the essential handbook of prototyping.
--Richard P. Gabriel, author of Innovation Happens Elsewhere

This is an ideal text for professional software engineers and designers who are new to prototyping as well as students in engineering, design, and human factors. The concepts and techniques presented in this volume should be considered part of the foundational knowledge for anyone in the software development field. I recommend this book to any software company that wants to improve their capability to build great products.
--Jim Faris,