Over the course of a project or product design small assumptions and poor decisions can accumulate. Smart teams invest time to research and plan early using rapid UI prototyping. Combined with usability studies and research, prototypes help teams move in an educated direction.

1. THE ART OF
PROTOTYPING

2. WHAT IS PROTOTYPING
WHAT ARE WE BUILDING TOGETHER?

3. THE TRUTH
DESIGNERS THINK THEY ARE THE USER

4. PICTURE OF SUCCESS
KNOW WHAT YOU’RE MAKING AND WHY

5. PERSONIFICATION
WHO IS THIS THING YOU’RE BUILDING

6. SOME EXAMPLES
• Apple Genius Bar
• Magician’s Assistant
• College Professor
• 24 Customer Support / Sales Dude
• Storyteller

7. TEMPER THE EXCITEMENT
DON’T BE BLINDED BY YOUR EMOTIONS

8. DOCUMENT THE
EXCITEMENT
EMOTIONS AREN’T BAD, JUST DISTRACTING

9. MARKET RESEARCH
LOOK AT WHO IS DOING IT WELL AND, WELL…

10. WHAT TO RESEARCH?
• Are there direct competitors?
• Has someone else developed one of your features?
• Is there an app that feels like your product?
• Who is making money?
• Who would want to use this?

11. CONDENSE THE VISION
HOW CAN YOU SHARE THE VISION WELL?

12. THE ELEVATOR PITCH
IT’S NOT JUST A MARKETING BUZZ WORD

13. DEFENSIBLE POV
KNOW THE HOLES IN THE STORY & STAND YOUR
GROUND

14. PICTURE OF SUCCESS
DEVELOPED AND READY TO SHARE

15. PROTOTYPING 101
WHAT SHOULD WE PROTOTYPE AND WHY

16. CONSIDERATION
THERE ARE NO DUMB IDEAS, KIND OF

17. WHAT TO INCLUDE
WHERE SHOULD WE SPEND THE TIME TELLING
THE STORY?

18. GOOD TO INCLUDE
• Key Features
• Differentiating Features
• Sexy Features
• Table-stakes Features
• Tip of the Hat Features

19. WHAT TO EXCLUDE
WHAT ELEMENTS ARE ALREADY LEARNED OR ADD
NOTHING TO THE STORY?

20. EXCLUDE OR DIE
• Common Elements
• Known Elements
• Difficult Features
• Broken Flows
• Deadends

21. JOBS TO BE DONE
DEFINE SIMPLE JOBS USERS NEED TO
ACCOMPLISH AS A START

22. THE POINT OF JTDB
• Define singular needs that can be solved
• Think in things a user is needing to accomplish
• Change your perspective fully to problem solving
• Keep things segmented well
• Keeps the focus on the user ( you are not the user )

23. MORE ON JTBD
• MailChimp - Aarron Walter
• Clay Christensen’s Milkshake Marketing
• Official JTBD Site
• Just Enough Research from A Book Apart
• The Google Machine

24. KISS
YOU HAD TO KNOW IT WAS COMING

25. Solve the problems that need to be solved. Attack
the things that matter first.

26. Start with how it flows or moves. Think about how
people will move through you app.

27. Start with sketching. You have more of an idea
than you think.

28. You are probably thinking that you can’t draw.
If a six year old can do it…

29. STEP BACK
DOES IT STILL MAKE SENSE?

30. COMMON MISTAKES
LEARN FROM THE FAILS OF THOSE BEFORE YOU

31. FAIL HAPPENS
• Global Navigation
• Brand New isn’t always good
• Follow Patterns
• Consistency
• Know what has been learned

32. BUILD THE PROTOTYPE
MEASURE SIXTY TIMES AND CUT ONCE

33. FINAL THOUGHTS
THINGS TO REMEMBER BEFORE DIVING IN

34. Get feedback early and often.
Socialize the design process.

35. Take all feedback seriously. People really care and
you can learn a lot from feedback.

36. Don’t lose the excitement.
You should never look like sad Kayne.

37. Remember the Picture of Success.
Step back and measure often.

38. BEN JORDAN
@benjordan
benjordan@invisionapp.com