Programs | One Year Immersive | Quarter 2 | IDSE 201

Prototyping & Testing

IDSE 201
Prototyping & Testing

Course Overview

In design, the act of making an idea tangible is a catalyst for knowledge creation and problem solving. In this course, you will rapidly make your ideas tangible with prototypes in order to test them in the world and measure outcomes to validate assumptions, expose risks and understand the potential to scale.

Outcomes and Competencies

The following outcome statements articulate the competencies, abilities, and skills a student will have as a result of completing this class. Upon completing this course, students will be able to:

  • Define and narrow in on a problem area, identifying test metrics to measure success

  • Conduct a competitive and comparative analysis to understand the existing landscape for the problem area

  • Create rapid prototypes using pen and paper

  • Identify and address any potential deviations or tangents in prototype designs that may arise, while still maintaining a focus on desired "happy path" scenarios

  • Ideate and create digital prototypes using Figma and Figjam

  • Craft a usability testing script to evaluate the ease of use and overall satisfaction of prototypes

  • Conduct moderated and unmoderated user testing, leveraging both in-person interviews and a digital tool Maze

  • Iterate on prototypes based on user feedback

  • Create a portfolio-ready case study presentation to showcase the creation and iteration process and final outcomes

Course Schedule

Class 1

In Class

Introduction to Creating Prototypes

  • Introduction to course and goals

  • Presentation: How to paper prototype, simple drawing and communication techniques

Activities

  • Discuss hopes and fears

  • Crazy 8s (paper and pen)

Out of Class

Homework 1: Draw, Draw, Draw!

  • Identify 3-5 different UI flows (2-5 screens each) in the Doggy Dating app

  • Visually distill them down to the bare essentials to communicate text, imagery, and interactive elements

  • Format: draw on 8.5x11 (printer) paper with a permanent marker or thick pen

  • Take pictures and upload to shared Figjam

Read

  • [Excerpt] Prototyping for Designers: The Process of Prototyping

Class 2

In Class

Paper Prototype Pin-up Session & Refinement

⏰ Homework 1 Due

Discussion

  • [Excerpt] Prototyping for Designers: The Process of Prototyping

Activities

  • Present/critique: Review work and provide feedback on what is working well and what needs improvement.

  • Quickly re-sketch based on feedback and present again, reflecting on what changed

Out of Class

Homework 2: Opportunity Areas, Competitive/Comparative Analysis

  • Consider problem area selection in IDSE202 and ideate possible tasks and flows

  • Explore what exists today in a competitive and comparative analysis. Organize your findings in Figjam

Class 3

In Class

Identify Improvement Opportunities

⏰ Homework 2 Due

Discussion

  • Presentation: Understanding the Happy Path and Design Briefs

Activities

  • In-class refinement: Discuss CA findings and distill down identified opportunities

Out of Class

Homework 3: Design Brief & Opportunity Identification

  • Based on your problem area selection in IDSE202, complete Assignment 1 for this new focus. Identify 3-5 different UI flows (2-5 screens each) and visually distill them down to the bare essentials to communicate text, imagery, and interactive elements. Identify opportunities for improvement

  • Write a design brief of the problem you have identified that you would like to solve. Define the opportunities as tasks (aka the happy path flow), desired outcomes, and identify metrics of success.

Class 4

In Class

Visualize & Share Early Ideas/Concepts for Opportunity

Activities

  • Review work and provide feedback on what is working well and what needs improvement.

  • In-class refinement: Select one opportunity to move forward with based on group feedback, focusing on a testable concept

Out of Class

Homework 4: Happy Path Workflow on Paper

  • Organize and share findings from Assignments 3 & 4 in rough presentation (format: Google Slides, Apple Keynote, Powerpoint), 10 mins

Class 5

In Class

Idea Refinement: The Happy Path

⏰ Presentation Due

Discussion

  • Design Brief & Concept Presentations, 10 mins per student

  • Presentation: Usability Testing Overview

Activities

  • In-class refinement: Reflect on the opportunity and the prototype. Identify any tangents/alternative states that occur. Refine as needed, incorporating feedback for a more effective testing experience.

Out of Class

Homework 5: Refine Happy Path Workflow

  • Sketch additional states (format: pen/paper)

  • Break out screens into one screen per page (cut down to size), using provided template if desired

  • Begin building testing script, identifying testing audience

Read

  • [Excerpt] Prototyping for Designers: Testing Prototypes with Users

  • AC4D - Think Aloud User Testing

Class 6

In Class

Idea Refinement: The Happy Path

⏰ Homework 5 Due

Discussion

  • Critique: Break into two groups and pilot testing script

Activities

  • In-class refinement: Continue to refine into a final test-ready set of prototypes

Out of Class

Homework 6: Research Operations

  • Set up synthesis framework based on script (format: Figjam)

  • Recruit and schedule 6-8 participants

Class 7

In Class

Paper Proto Testing Day!

🧠 Open Studio/Office Hours

This is your testing and synthesis time. You can use this time to test, to come in and synthesize, or to get feedback from the instructor.

Out of Class

Homework 7: Synthesis Presentation

  • Compile learnings based on your prototype testing and synthesis. Identify gaps and patterns.

  • Reflect on and list improvement opportunities (either UI functionality or prototype build) that would enhance future testing experiences. (format: presentation)

Class 8

In Class

Paper Prototype Test Presentations

⏰ Presentation Due

Discussion

  • Presentation time! Synthesis presentations, 10 mins per student

  • Feedback session with guests

Out of Class

Activities

  • Take a deep breath, you’ve earned it!

Class 9

In Class

Digital Prototyping Foundations

Activities

  • Introduction to Figma

  • Prototyping in Figma tutorial

Out of Class

Homework 8: Digital Prototype Building I

  • Build the first digital pass of your initial task flow (format: Figma)

  • Identify the 3-5 flows you will be digitally prototyping

Class 10

In Class

Digital Prototype Working Session

⏰ Homework 8 Due

Activities

  • 1:1 time with instructor to optimize and increase quality of digital prototype (15-20m per student)

Out of Class

Homework 9: Digital Prototype Building II

  • Refine the second pass of the digital prototype

  • Build your first pass of the 3-5 targeted flows

  • Update testing script to include new flows

Class 11

In Class

Rapid Iteration and Critique

⏰ Homework 9 Due

Discussion

  • Demo of Maze (testing platform)

Activities

  • Critique session with class, round 1

  • Iterate prototype based on critique

  • Critique session with class, round 2

Out of Class

Homework 10: Digital Prototype Building III

  • Continue to refine into a final test-ready set of prototypes. We don’t want any hiccups during tests!

  • Update testing script

  • Create Maze account and build first pass of test

Class 12

In Class

Pilot Prototype with Classmates

⏰ Homework 10 Due

Activities

  • Pilot testing script with 3 classmates, iterate in class based on feedback

Out of Class

Homework 11: Research Operations

  • Set up synthesis framework based on script (format: Figjam)

  • Recruit 12-20 test participants

Class 13

In Class

🧠 Open Studio/Office Hours

This is your testing and synthesis time. You can use this time to test, to come in and synthesize, or to get feedback from the instructor.

Out of Class

Homework 12: Testing Results Presentation

  • Compile learnings based on your prototype testing and synthesis. Identify gaps and patterns.

  • Reflect on and list improvement opportunities (either UI functionality or prototype build) that would enhance future testing experiences. (format: presentation)

Class 14

In Class

⏰ Presentation Due

Digital Prototype Test Presentations

Discussion

  • Presentation time! 10 mins per student

  • Feedback session with guests

  • Group reflection

Out of Class

Final Presentation: Case Study

  • Compile the experience of the last 8 weeks into a packaged portfolio presentation/case study

  • Include the phases of the projects, what you did at each phase, learnings from the prototype, and the journey of building and testing prototypes

Class 15

In Class

Final Presentation Working Session

Activities

  • Presentation feedback session

  • Feedback session with guests

  • In-class working session

Out of Class

Activities

  • Continue working on final presentation

Class 16

In Class

⏰ Final Assignment Due: Final presentations & critique

  • Presenting jointly with 201 Prototyping & Testing class

  • Feedback session with guests

Out of Class

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