The key steps in the prototyping phase of developing Natively Adaptive Interfaces include selecting ideas, determining prototype types, and iterating based on feedback.
- Select the ideas to prototype.
- Review outputs generated in the Define and prioritize phase: look back at the features generated.
- Identify promising features: choose one or a few ideas that seem most promising, feasible, and aligned with the insights gained from the Investigate phase and Define and prioritize phase. You don't need to prototype every single feature.
- Focus on key aspects: decide which specific functionalities or aspects of the features you want to test. You might prototype different parts of the same feature separately.
- Determine the type of prototype needed.
- Consider the goal: determine what you want to learn from this prototype. For example, write down the questions you'd want the prototype to answer.
- Choose the right fidelity to match your learning goals: prototypes can range from very low fidelity —quick and rough—to medium fidelity—more detailed but still not fully functional.
- Build just enough.
- Keep it straightforward and fast: the goal is speed and learning, not perfection. Avoid getting bogged down in details or aesthetics.
- Focus on functionality for testing: build only the elements necessary to test the specific aspects you've identified.
- Use available resources: utilize readily available materials and tools to keep costs and time investment low.
- Don't polish: resist the urge to make it look perfect. The rawness encourages honest feedback about the core concept.
Co-create these prototypes.
Co-design participants should be actively involved in refining and building prototypes, bringing their practical knowledge to the forefront. For these co-design participants, providing feedback on the features being developed is a practical extension of the co-design process itself. In addition to providing first-person input, they can also help interpret feedback from other participants and suggest improvements.
Simulate user interactions.
Test prototypes as your target users would, simulating any modality restrictions if necessary. For example, close your eyes to experience a video by listening to the automatic audio descriptions that describe the visual information in the video).
Iterate.
Using the feedback and insights you've gained, refine the design using as many cycles of prototyping and testing as you need.