Salesforce Designers User-Experience-Designer Question # 44 Topic 5 Discussion

An interactive prototype is a simulation of the final product that allows users to interact with it and test its functionality and usability. An interactive prototype can be created using tools such as Figma or Invision, and can be shared with stakeholders and users for feedback and validation. An interactive prototype can have several benefits for a UX designer, especially when planning to roll out a refreshed version of a mobile app with some new functionality for customers. Two of these benefits are12:

To avoid added long-term cost from oversight-driven rework. An interactive prototype can help the UX designer to identify and fix any errors, bugs, or gaps in the design before the development stage. This can save time and money that would otherwise be spent on reworking the product after it is developed. An interactive prototype can also help the UX designer to ensure that the new functionality is aligned with the customer needs and expectations, and that it does not compromise the existing functionality or performance of the app.

To enable iterative feedback from the users. An interactive prototype can provide a realistic and engaging user experience, and allow the users to explore the app and provide their opinions and suggestions. The UX designer can use the user feedback to iterate and improve the design, and to validate the assumptions and hypotheses. An interactive prototype can also help the UX designer to measure the user satisfaction and loyalty, and to test the app’s usability and accessibility.

The following two reasons are not valid for using an interactive prototype in this situation:

To increase the speed of design compared to paper prototyping. An interactive prototype is not necessarily faster than a paper prototype, as it requires more time and effort to create and refine. A paper prototype is a low-fidelity prototype that uses sketches or drawings to represent the app’s layout and functionality. A paper prototype can be useful for generating and testing ideas quickly and cheaply, and for involving the users in the co-design process3.

To eliminate the need for journey mapping during discovery. An interactive prototype is not a substitute for journey mapping, but a complement. Journey mapping is a UX research method that visualizes the user’s journey across the app, and identifies the touchpoints, actions, emotions, and pain points. Journey mapping can help the UX designer to understand the user’s context, goals, and needs, and to discover the opportunities for improvement. An interactive prototype can help the UX designer to test and validate the journey map, and to communicate the design vision to the stakeholders and users4. References: Interactive Prototypes Without Coding - Studio by UXPin, What is Interactive Prototypes? — updated 2023 | IxDF, Paper Prototyping as a Usability Testing Technique, Journey Mapping 101 | Nielsen Norman Group