Paper Prototyping

Paper Prototyping

Paper prototyping is a simple and cheap method of testing a GUI (Graphical User Interface) before any actual code has been written. It involves writing or representing with pictures the actual storyboard/layout for a GUI on paper, usually during brainstorming sessions. This process is an easy and cost efficient way to iron out early problems and enables many early design iterations without time consuming and costly re-working of an already existing system. Basically, it is idea gathering and using pieces of paper to represent the various screens of a proposed GUI be it for a website or otherwise to structure a system before it is coded and put to early production testing.

Web 2.0, Interactive design and Information design

Web 2.0

Web 2.0 has various definitions depending on who you speak to, where you research and when the definition was given. Of the definitions I've encounted the one I am most comfortable with is this: Web 1.0 was largely 'read only' content, Web 2.0 is more interactive and therefore 'read and write' where the user is involved in creating or 'adding value' to the web application. Earlier definitions included things like 'the name of a series of conferences in 2004' where the web, after the dotcom bust was starting to make a resurgence in the business community and sparking a renaissance in the web development sector.

Examples of Web 2.0 would be things like Facebook, Myspace, Wikipedia, Twitter and Ebay

Interactive Design:

Interactive design can also be seen in a number of ways. It is at the same time a discipline of 'defining the behaviour of products and systems that a user can interact with', and more simply, it is essentially 'story-creating and telling' where the user has input.

Some good web design examples include:

D3 Studio

Michel Rijk Creative

Hollo

Information/Instructional Design:

A simple definition of Information design is transforming, organising and presenting data in a way that gives it meaning and creates knowledge, rather than a huge load of disorganised facts and uninspiring rhetoric.

Examples of information design include:

The Vietnam War Memorial in Washingtom DC

Street Directories

Dictionaries

There are a few themes to be covered in this blog, and as the class progresses I'll be adding content and information as required. The first of these posts covers Web 2.0, Interactive design and Information design.

first blog

Hi, my name is Craig Healey and I am a 3rd year Industrial Design student at the University of Western Sydney. I have started this blog for a class I'm taking called Interactive Design 1, which as far as I can tell revolves around web design interactive media. I have not attempted any classes like this as yet so I'm hoping it will be informative and interesting as well as compliment my skills as a student of Industrial Design. I'm just getting used to the layout and format of blogging so it's all a learning process for me. I hope this blog proves an enjoyable experience and I hope to improve my skills in the coming weeks and months.