Prototyping is the expression of a designer’s thoughts: a tangible, testable reification of a design idea. Effective prototyping follows some of the same principles of effective communication. First, at the core is a good idea; second, the best tool is often the one we feel comfort using; and third, the final product depends on what the audience wants to hear.
The prototyping process must start with an idea. Choosing a tool is secondary. Despite it serving as the ideas’ catalyst, the tool is invisible in the creative act. We don’t marvel at DaVinci’s paintbrush or Hemingway’s typewriter. In the end its the idea or the creation that the client, user or audience appreciates. This is why much of the work in design comes in ideation, before diving into the prototyping tools. Be true to the idea before choosing the tool. It is like figuring out what you want to say before how you want to say it.
After the idea is understood, its best to pick a tool that you’re familiar with. Features can distract from achieving goals; sometimes I prefer my toy camera over the dSLR, use notepad over Microsoft word. Pick the tool that gets the idea across with the least amount of trouble, then supplement it with your presentation and pitch. I got the summer to use Fireworks, but because of my inexperience using the software, I could only produce static mock-ups. These could express core ideas but could not stand on their own; I had to supplement the proposal with a design write-up and a few team presentations. Effective prototyping involves knowing the deliverable’s limitations, and sometimes that involves letting the design speak from your own lips.
In a recent UIE podcast, Todd Zaki Wafel performed research on prototyping practices and discovered that some people use Excel for prototyping, simply because they are familiar with the software. Comfort matters a great deal. A post on Konigi sees the same take-away:
One of the things I took away from this talk was that the best prototyping tool is the one that your most familiar with and know how to exploit to communicate the ideas.
I would add that besides comfort with the tool, another factor that will help you make your prototyping decisions is understanding what the audience expects. Communications 101: sometimes it doesn’t matter what you say, but how you say it. (yes, I know this contradicts an earlier statement) Consider who is going to consume it and what it will be used for; this will dictate what tools or strategies will best communicate your design. During the summer my audience was a UX team so the fidelity of the prototype was not important; they were as comfortable reading sketches as they were html prototypes. This decision changes once you know a prototype will be seen by end users.
When it comes to choosing a tool, there are a number of alternatives out on the market, and no two experts will pick the same software or methodology. One can get bogged down, as I do, comparing Axure versus Fireworks or choosing the best prototyping strategy. When this slowdown happens, its best to remember that prototyping is like communication.