Module 3: Interactive prototypes
The power of interaction
Practice Assignment
1. Why are interactive prototypes important in the design process? Choose the best answer.
- They replace the need for final development.
- They communicate design ideas and user flows more effectively.
- They are easier to create than static mockups.
- They eliminate the need for user feedback.
2. In which scenarios are interactive prototypes most valuable? Select all that apply.
- Testing complex user flows
- Showcasing interactive elements
- Finalizing visual design details
- Gathering feedback on user interactions
3. Jessica has a static mockup of a new mobile app. She wants to demonstrate the user interactions and transitions between screens. What should she create to achieve this? Choose the best answer.
- An interactive prototype
- A final code implementation
- A detailed design document
- A static wireframe
4. What are some common features of prototyping tools? Select all that apply.
- Integration with design software
- Real-time collaboration with marketing teams
- Ability to create interactive elements
- Support for user testing
5. Emilia is learning about different prototyping tools. Which feature should she look for if she wants to create prototypes that allow users to interact with the design elements? Choose the best answer.
- Code export functionality
- Interactive components and transitions
- Static image export
- High-resolution image rendering
Unveiling prototype tools
Practice Assignment
6. Lydia is evaluating different prototyping tools for her project. She wants a tool that allows her to easily create hotspots and define transitions. Which of the following tools should she consider? Choose the best answer.
- Illustrator
- Google Slides
- Photoshop
- Figma
7. Which features are common in popular prototyping tools like Figma, Adobe XD, and InVision? Select all that apply.
- Defining user flows
- Creating hotspots
- Advanced photo editing
- Animating transitions
8. Mark is working on a project that requires complex user interactions and transitions. Which prototyping tool should he choose based on its strength in handling complex interactions? Choose the best answer.
- Photos
- Adobe XD
- Sketch
- Google Chrome
9. When adding interactivity to a mockup, which steps should be followed to ensure a functional prototype? Select all that apply.
- Creating hotspots
- Writing detailed user manuals
- Animating transitions
- Defining user flows
10. Amelia is using Figma to build an interactive prototype. What is the first step she should take to start adding interactivity to her mockup? Choose the best answer.
- Exporting the design as a PDF
- Conducting a user survey
- Creating hotspots on the mockup
- Writing user stories
Case study: Iterative prototyping
Practice Assignment
The challenge: Lost and found, reinvented
Losing a pet is a nightmare for any owner. The team behind "Find-My-Furry-Friend" wanted to ease that pain, transforming the stressful search process with an app. Their aim: make reuniting lost pets and their owners as fast and simple as possible.
Round 1: Wireframes – The blueprint
The design process didn't start with fancy visuals. Simple wireframes were the foundation. These focused on the app's essential functions: reporting a lost pet, providing key details (description, photos, location), and searching for missing pets nearby.
User feedback: Reality check
The team put these early wireframes in front of potential users. The feedback was eye-opening. Here’s what users had to say:
"Typing a long description is too hard when I'm upset!"
"I need to see big pictures right away."
"Can I just search my neighborhood instead of a map?"
Round 2: Iteration – Making it better
The "Find-My-Furry-Friend" team embraced the feedback and got back to work. Here's how the design evolved:
Voice notes for descriptions: Less stress, more focus on the pet's unique details
Picture-first layout: Prioritizing quick visual searches
Neighborhood filters: Narrowing down the search for faster results
Round 3: Prototypes – The test drive
Now, it was time for a clickable prototype, allowing users to try the app. New insights emerged, leading to even more refinements.
The result: A lifeline for lost pets
After three rounds of prototyping and testing, the "Find-My-Furry-Friend" app was ready. Its user-centered design led to faster, more successful reunions between lost pets and their relieved owners.
11. Why was starting with simple wireframes crucial, especially in this case? Select the best answer.
- It helped generate excitement from users even at an early stage.
- It made it easier to collaborate with pet shelter organizations.
- It allowed the team to identify the basic functionality of the app without getting distracted by visual details.
- It allowed the team to get a headstart in attracting investors.
12. How did the design and features change between the first wireframes and the final prototype? Select the best answer.
- The color scheme of the app was changed to be more appealing to younger users.
- The search function was expanded to include multiple cities.
- The focus shifted from text descriptions of lost pets to relying more on images.
- The app became more focused on helping shelters find homes for adoptable pets.
13. If you could've been part of this design team, which part of the process would you have been most interested in, and why?
If I were part of this design team, I would have been most interested in the user feedback and iteration phase. This is where user-centered insights drive meaningful design changes. Understanding real user pain points and adapting the app’s features, like introducing voice notes and picture-first layouts, is crucial to building a product that truly serves its purpose. I enjoy the process of refining a design based on real-world feedback, ensuring that it addresses user needs effectively and enhances their experience.
Refining your prototype
Practice Assignment
14. Which of the following best practices is crucial when refining interactive prototypes? Choose the best answer.
- Focusing only on visual design
- Adding as many features as possible
- Iterating based on user feedback
- Skipping user testing to save time
15. What are some key design principles for creating user-friendly prototypes? Select all that apply.
- Include all of the client content
- Appropriate time delays for animations
- Intuitive navigation
- Clear labeling
16. What is one major challenge that user testing can help address? Choose the best answer.
- Identifying issues early
- Reducing the overall project budget
- Finalizing the visual design
- Increasing the number of features
17. When transforming static mockups into an interactive prototype, which steps should be included to ensure the prototype is engaging and informative? Select all that apply.
- Testing and iterating based on feedback
- Creating a user manual
- Ensuring clarity in navigation
- Creating interactive elements
18. Ana is designing an interactive prototype for the grocery shopping app "Grocery Genie." What is her primary goal for creating this prototype? Choose the best answer.
- Finalizing the app’s release strategy
- Writing the final code for the app
- Visualizing and communicating design concepts
- Gathering detailed user demographics
Project: Interactive prototype for the grocery shopping app
Practice Assignment
Project scenario
Welcome to the next part of your capstone project! In this phase, you'll take the foundations you've laid in previous modules and create an engaging and informative prototype ready for critique and testing. Your task is to redesign the grocery shopping experience for your users with the grocery shopping app. You'll continue to use the user persona card, wireframes, Information Architecture (IA), and style guide that you've been developing throughout the course.
Objective
The purpose of this project is to transform static wireframes for your grocery shopping app into an interactive prototype that addresses the needs of your user personas.
Instructions
Before you begin, open the The Grocery Shopping App Template PowerPoint file that you’ve saved previously to a location that is easily accessible. If you have not yet downloaded the PowerPoint file, do so now. You will continue to add to this PowerPoint file throughout the certificate and at the end, this will be your completed portfolio. There is guidance on what to include in the beginning slides and template slides towards the bottom of the PowerPoint deck. Use the completed portfolio to showcase your work and share with potential employers, demonstrating your skills and experience in UX/UI design.
Step 1: Revisit user needs
The first step in revisiting user needs is to review the user persona card below and dive into the specific needs identified in the needs assessment. Consider how interactive features can effectively address these pain points and meet the user's needs. This will help ensure that your prototype is tailored to the specific requirements of your target audience.
If you haven’t done so already, download the user persona cards and save the PDF somewhere where it is easily accessible. You will continue to use the user persona cards throughout the certificate.
Summary of user needs
Reduced time commitment: Users want to streamline the grocery shopping process to save time in busy schedules.
Meal planning support: Users struggle to plan healthy meals throughout the week and need tools or resources to simplify this task.
Recipe inspiration: Users desire easy-to-follow, delicious, and healthy recipe options that fit their dietary preferences.
Efficient shopping: Users seek a way to avoid impulse purchases and make efficient grocery shopping decisions based on a pre-defined plan.
Budget-conscious options: Users want to find affordable and healthy meal options that fit their budget.
Seamless purchasing: Users need a way to seamlessly purchase groceries directly within the app, eliminating the need for a separate shopping trip.
Step 2: Build the interactive prototype
Now it’s time to build! You’ll use Figma and your style guide to develop the interactive Grocery Shopping App prototype. You should implement the planned interactive features while maintaining a consistent and user-friendly visual language. As you build the prototype, it's okay if you feel the need to refine your IA—this is common and normal! Make sure to review the outline of your app and ensure it is feasible with Figma; if not, it should be updated. In addition, you should pay close attention to special interactive features and update them if you decide they are not the best based on the user's pain points. It's important to note that this doesn’t have to be a 100% clickable prototype to be successful. The focus should be on illustrating the flow, paths, and action points, bringing key interaction points to life to support the prototype.
For more detailed instructions and help, refer to the
Figma documentation
Step 3: Update your Figma share settings
To update your Figma share settings for your prototype, follow these steps.
1. Open your Figma file containing the prototype you want to share.
2. Select the "Share" button in the top right corner of the Figma interface.
3. In the sharing settings, ensure that the link sharing option is enabled. You can set the permissions to "View" or "Edit" depending on who you want to be able to access the prototype.
4. Copy the shareable link and save it. This link can now be shared with stakeholders, potential employers, and peers for viewing and collaboration.
4. Copy the shareable link and save it. This link can now be shared with stakeholders, potential employers, and peers for viewing and collaboration.
For more detailed instructions and help, please refer to the
Figma documentation
Don’t skip this step! In the next, module-ending capstone project, you’ll complete a peer review of other interactive prototypes and your peers will need to view your interactive prototype as well.
Step 4: Add your prototype to your portfolio
Finally, add your updated interactive prototype to your portfolio. Include screenshots and GIFs of key interaction moments to showcase the functionality of your app. Briefly explain how the chosen interactive features address the user needs identified in the persona and needs assessment. Ensure you provide a link to your prototype since it's now clickable, allowing viewers to experience the app's functionality firsthand.
Once you’ve completed the project, answer the questions below.
19. Why is it important to revisit the user personas and dive into the specific needs identified in the needs assessment when creating an interactive prototype? Select the best answer.
- To focus solely on aesthetics rather than functionality
- To ensure the prototype includes all the latest design trends.
- To minimize the number of interactive elements in the prototype
- To consider how interactive features can effectively address pain points and meet user needs
20. When building the interactive prototype for the Grocery Shopping App, which of the following is necessary? Select all that apply.
- Paying attention to special interactive features and updating them as needed
- Making every single element clickable
- Ignoring user needs and focusing solely on visual design
- Refining the Information Architecture (IA)
21. When building an interactive prototype, why is it important to focus on key interaction points? Select the best answer.
- To make the prototype visually appealing
- To reduce the overall complexity of the prototype
- To bring key features to life and support the prototype’s purpose
- To ensure the prototype is clickable everywhere
Interactive prototypes
Graded Assignment
22. Which of the following is a common feature found in most prototyping tools? Choose the best answer.
- Ability to create custom code snippets
- Automatic generation of user personas
- Integration with project management software
- Support for real-time collaboration
23. Fill in the blank: Some prototyping tools offer _____________ capabilities, allowing designers to create animations and transitions between screens.
- storyboarding
- motion design
- microinteraction
- user journey mapping
24. Which of the following statements accurately describe the benefits of using prototyping tools? Select all that apply.
- Prototyping tools always result in a faster development process.
- Prototyping tools can improve communication and collaboration between designers and stakeholders.
- Prototyping tools can help designers validate their design decisions before development begins.
- Prototyping tools can help identify potential usability issues early in the design process.
25. Fill in the blank: In interactive prototypes, ____________ are used to define the relationships and transitions between different screens or states.
- layers
- animations
- hotspots
- connections
26. Which of the following is a benefit of adding microinteractions to your design mockups? Choose the best answer.
- They provide immediate feedback to users, making the interface feel more responsive.
- They increase the file size of the mockup, making it more comprehensive.
- They simplify the user interface by removing unnecessary elements.
- They eliminate the need for user testing by simulating real-world interactions.
27. Fill in the blank: The purpose of adding interactivity to a mockup is to _____________.
- replace the need for user testing
- simulate the user experience and gather feedback
- finalize the visual design of the product
- automate the generation of design documentation
28. You are designing a prototype for a new mobile app. What is the purpose of creating a high-fidelity prototype at this stage of the design process? Choose the best answer.
- To generate marketing materials for the app’s launch campaign
- To test the technical feasibility of the app’s features
- To gather detailed feedback on the app’s user experience and interactions
- To finalize the app’s visual design and branding elements
29. Which of the following are benefits of using interactive prototypes in the design process? Select all that apply.
- Interactive prototypes facilitate communication and collaboration between designers and stakeholders.
- Interactive prototypes help to establish the information architecture of a product.
- Interactive prototypes are the final deliverable in the design process.
- Interactive prototypes allow for early testing of user interactions and flows.
30. Which of the following factors should be considered when deciding on the fidelity level of a prototype? Select all that apply.
- The stage of the design process
- The number of features to be included in the prototype
- The available time and resources for prototyping
- The target audience for the prototype
31. You are tasked with choosing between creating a wireframe or a prototype for a new product design. Which factor would heavily influence your decision? Choose the best answer.
- The number of stakeholders involved in the project
- The timeline for completing the design phase
- The project budget
- The desired level of interactivity and detail
32. Fill in the blank: The process of adding interactivity to static mockups, creating clickable hotspots and transitions, is known as ____________.
- wireframing
- prototyping
- user testing
- mockup annotation
33. Which of the following interactive elements can be used to enhance a mockup of an e-commerce product page? Select all that apply.
- A static display of the product’s price
- An animated “Add to Cart” button that changes color on hover
- A drop-down menu for selecting product variations (size, color, etc.)
- Clickable product images that open a detailed view
34. Which of the following are effective ways to communicate design concepts using interactive prototypes? Select all that apply.
- Conducting usability tests with the prototype to gather feedback
- Sending a static PDF of the prototype to users for review
- Taking a screenshot of the prototype to share with team members
- Presenting a live demo of the prototype to stakeholders
35. You are working on a design project where the primary focus is to test and validate the user flow and functionality of a new mobile app feature. Which type of prototype should you use? Select the best answer.
- Low-fidelity prototype
- Paper prototype
- Static mockup
- High-fidelity prototype
36. Fill in the blank: In the context of UX design, a(n) ____________ is a visual representation of a user interface that focuses on the layout, structure, and interactive features of elements, closely simulating the final product experience.
- wireframe
- storyboard
- mood board
- interactive prototype
37. Which of the following features are typically found in prototyping tools? Select all that apply.
- Generation of detailed project timelines and budgets
- Integration with version control systems
- Ability to create interactive hotspots and links
- Built-in user testing and feedback collection
38. Which of the following techniques can be used to add interactivity to a design mockup? Select all that apply.
- Defining hover states and visual feedback
- Creating clickable hotspots or buttons
- Embedding videos or audio files
- Adding animations and transitions between screens
39. You are adding interactivity to a mockup for a mobile app. Which of the following interactive elements would best demonstrate how the app provides visual feedback to the user? Choose the best answer.
- A text field for entering a phone number
- A clickable button that changes color when tapped
- A static image of the app’s logo
- A progress bar indicating loading time
40. Fill in the blank: Interactive prototypes are primarily used to _____________.
- outline the structure and layout of a user interface
- create high-fidelity representations of the final product
- define the visual style and aesthetics of an interface
- capture detailed user interactions and feedback
41. You're working on a design project with a tight deadline. Which prototyping fidelity level would be the most appropriate for quickly communicating the core user flow and layout of a new feature? Choose the best answer.
- Interactive mockup
- Clickable wireframe
- High-fidelity prototype
- Low-fidelity prototype
42. Which of the following scenarios would be suited for using an interactive prototype rather than a static wireframe? Select all that apply.
- Communicating the visual style and branding of the product
- Presenting the initial design concept to stakeholders for feedback
- Gathering feedback on microinteractions and animations
- Testing the user flow and navigation of a complex app
