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Week 2: Creating Wireframes and Low-Fidelity Prototypes
Introduction to Detection and Incident Response
In this segment of the course, you will apply all the knowledge acquired regarding the user problem to establish the foundation of your dedicated mobile application. The process commences with the creation of paper wireframes, enabling you to brainstorm and generate various ideas efficiently. You will then refine these concepts by combining the most effective elements into digital wireframes utilizing tools such as Figma or Adobe XD.
Subsequently, you will convert your digital wireframes into a low-fidelity prototype, which serves as a basis for user testing. You will strategically plan and execute a usability study to collect valuable feedback on your prototype. Ultimately, you will analyze the insights gathered from the study and incorporate them to enhance your design.
Learning Objectives
- Understand the benefits of creating paper wireframes.
- Create paper wireframes for a mobile application.
- Design digital wireframes for a mobile application using Figma or Adobe XD.
- Develop a low-fidelity prototype for a mobile application.
- Plan and conduct a usability study focusing on the low-fidelity prototype.
- Assess and synthesize findings from a usability study to refine the design.
TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE ON PAPER WIREFRAMES
1. Fill in the blank: A wireframe is a(n) ____ of a product or a screen.
- outline or sketch (CORRECT)
- analysis or interpretation
- illustration
- explanation or critique
Correct: A wireframe is an outline or sketch of a product or a screen.
2. Imagine you’ve recently started a new design project and you’re in the midst of wireframing. You’ve decided to use an inexpensive method that will allow you to iterate and explore ideas quickly. Which method is this?
- Paper wireframes (CORRECT)
- Digital low-fidelity wireframes
- High-fidelity wireframes
Correct: Paper is one of the two primary methods designers use to create wireframes. This approach enables designers to quickly and cost-effectively generate multiple ideas, helping them focus on and refine the most promising concepts.
TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE ON PLANNING USABILITY STUDIES
1. Why is it important to create a research plan before conducting a usability study? Select all that apply.
- It helps the UX team understand how easy it is for participants to complete tasks
- It outlines research goals for participants to see
- It outlines each part of a usability study from start to finish (CORRECT)
- It is more likely to yield valuable information (CORRECT)
A comprehensive research plan empowers the UX team to systematically structure and articulate every facet of a usability study, thereby ensuring the extraction of more valuable insights to inform the design process.
An expertly developed research plan lays the foundation for a usability study, delineating key milestones and objectives. This method significantly enhances the likelihood of garnering constructive feedback for refining the design and offers clear direction throughout the course of the study.
2. Imagine you’re preparing to conduct a usability study. Which part of the research plan considers critical measures of progress toward an end goal?
- Methodology
- Key performance indicators (CORRECT)
- Research goals
- Detailed research questions
Correct: Key performance indicators (KPIs) are one of the seven essential elements of a research plan. They serve as vital metrics for assessing progress toward specific goals, including measures like drop-off rates, user error rates, the system usability scale, and others.
3. When planning a usability study, what question should you ask when determining key performance indicators (KPIs)?
- What questions should I ask the participants?
- What’s a sign that we are making progress toward our ultimate goal? (CORRECT)
- How will I collect and analyze data?
- Why are we conducting this research?
Correct: KPIs measure the progress toward an end goal, so this should be a consideration when you determine KPIs for a study.
4. Imagine you are planning a usability study for a local drop-in daycare center’s app. You need to find study participants who would provide the best metrics for the project. Which participant would be the best candidate for the study?
- Casey is a parent of twin toddlers and lives near the center. They work from home but sometimes the twins’ childcare provider is unavailable when they need help during the day. (CORRECT)
- Ronnie is a parent who lives 40 miles away from the center and does not travel very far from their home.
- Ingrid lives in the same area of the center and does not have any children, but they plan to adopt a child within the next three years.
Correct: Casey would make an excellent participant for the study, as their circumstances suggest they may have a genuine interest in the app.
TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE ON CONDUCTING USABILITY STUDIES
1. Nua is outlining a usability study. The team wants to interview as many people as they can within a two month timespan. Since the product is a new version of one they’ve already created, they’re more concerned about keeping costs low by recording participants. What type of usability study should be conducted?
- Unmoderated (CORRECT)
- Moderated
- Complementary
- Mobile
Correct: Since their goal is to keep costs low and interview a large number of participants within two months, a moderated usability study may not be the most cost-effective approach due to its higher expenses. Instead, opting for an unmoderated usability study would be a more efficient and economical solution.
2. Choose the correct definition of a usability study.
- A research method that assesses how easy it is for participants to complete core tasks in a product (CORRECT)
- An easily understood chart that explains everything designers have learned about a user
- A series of experiences a user has as they interact with a product to achieve a specific goal
- An assessment of a competitors’ strengths and weaknesses
Correct: A usability study is a research method that assesses how easy it is for participants to complete core tasks in a product.
TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE ON ANALYZING AND SYNTHESIZING RESEARCH RESULTS
1. Step one of turning observations into insights requires a designer to gather the data. Which should the designer do next?
- Hypothesize trends in data
- Gather the data from the usability study
- Organize the data (CORRECT)
- Come up with insights based on themes
Correct: The second step in converting observations into valuable insights involves systematically organizing the data. Subsequently, designers should engage in a comprehensive analysis of the information by identifying recurring themes and patterns. To facilitate this process effectively, they can pose two essential questions: What patterns consistently emerge from the data? and What insights do these patterns provide regarding the product design?
2. What is the third step of turning observations into insights?
- Come up with insights based on themes
- Gather the data from the usability study
- Organize the data
- Identify common themes and patterns (CORRECT)
Correct: The third step in converting observations into insights is identifying common themes and patterns among participants. This process is a central objective of user research, as it helps uncover valuable trends to inform and improve the design.
3. Select all that apply: Creating information architecture (IA) is an important part of UX design because it _____.
- plans the initial direction of the design
- helps engineers understand how to organize the data (CORRECT)
- organizes and defines the overall structure for the app or site (CORRECT)
- provides a high-level view of the product (CORRECT)
Information architecture systematically delineates and organizes the overarching framework of an application or website, providing engineers with a systematic approach to manage data and effectively scale the product. Moreover, it delivers a comprehensive overview of the product’s design and operational features.
Information architecture establishes the framework of the application or website, aiding designers in planning its functionalities while offering engineers a lucid framework for data organization. It also presents a high-level insight into the product.
Information architecture elucidates the interconnections among the components of a product, delineates the overall structure of the application or website, and assists engineers in efficiently organizing data. Additionally, it affords a thorough overview of the product.
4. When building digital wireframes, what best practice should you apply to transfer information from the paper wireframe?
- Add expressive content like color and images
- List the information that needs to go on the page you’re wireframing
- Draw at least five different versions of how to structure information on the page
- Use actual content for important pieces of text instead of placeholder text (CORRECT)
Correct: Labeling essential elements like menu or navigation buttons help users understand how to navigate the wireframe.
5. A designer is interested in updating their existing online profiles as they start a job search. What is one of the first things they should do as they develop their online presence?
- Create new accounts that are geared towards their career.
- Do a Google Search on their name and review the results. (CORRECT)
- Ask their friends and family to leave helpful comments.
- Remove personal photos from their social media presence.
6. A designer is working on their portfolio. They want to demonstrate the full range of skills they have. What can they do to show this range?
- Include multiple projects that each show a different facet of their talent. (CORRECT)
- Compile lists of talents that they have and skills they want to learn.
- Link to professional social media accounts that have these skills highlighted.
- Record a video that lists and highlights the UX skills that the designer has.
7. In a design portfolio, what does your personal brand demonstrate?
- Your past projects and future goals
- Your work experience, education, and hobbies
- Your values, unique skills, and personality (CORRECT)
- Your ideal role at a company
8. It’s important for designers to include a personal statement to reinforce their professional presence online. What should a personal statement highlight?
- The differences between a designer’s personal and professional life
- The things a designer does, and what they stand for (CORRECT)
- The list of projects a designer has completed
9. A designer is working on the “About Me” page on their portfolio site. Which of the following are items they might include? Select all that apply
- Case studies
- Passions (CORRECT)
- Credentials (CORRECT)
- Contact information (CORRECT)
10. Which popular online community for UX designers focuses on long-form writing?
- Medium (CORRECT)
11. What should a designer include in their application for a design role?
- Hobbies and interests
- Personal social media profiles
- Design inspirations
- Resume (CORRECT)
12. A designer is interested in finding newsletters from prominent UX designers to learn more about new concepts in UX. What online community would be a good place to do that?
- Dribbble
- Medium (CORRECT)
13. Personal branding should be platform-specific.
- True
- False (CORRECT)
14. A designer is deciding how to describe their work in their online portfolio. Should they include technical language and buzzwords, since the target audience includes people from the UX design industry?
- No. They should write content that is friendly, conversational, and aligns with their personal brand. (CORRECT)
- Yes. They should write content that appeals only to industry professionals, recruiters, and hiring managers.
- Sometimes. They should use technical language if they can do so confidently, but conversational language if they are inexperienced.
15. What should designers include in the About Me page on their website?
- Creators a designer follows, popular trends, and test results from case studies
- Work, passions, and credentials (CORRECT)
- Sketches, final designs, and wireframes
16. How can a portfolio be used to help further a designer’s career?
- To showcase examples of their work to hiring managers (CORRECT)
- To showcase a complete record of their job history
- To showcase their professional references
17. A designer is working on their portfolio. They want to make sure it is engaging for the audience. What can they do to raise engagement?
- Tell a story about the design process. (CORRECT)
- Ask rhetorical questions in the portfolio writing.
- Record videos of all portfolio material.
- Include lots of text for the audience to read.
18. How can a designer reinforce their professional presence online?
- Curate a company’s statement that reflects their brand and work.
- Post exclusive content on their preferred social media platform.
- Post personal opinions about non-industry subjects.
- Keep their design style, professional photos, and personal brand consistent across platforms. (CORRECT)
19. Which of the following can help a UX designer enhance their social media presence?
- Avoid starting conversations with industry professionals on social media
- Tag and interact with industry professionals on social media (CORRECT)
- Set personal accounts to public mode.
- Don’t worry about what is shared, posted, and liked on social media
20. A designer is interested in sharing a series of essays about their experience with UX design so far in their career. What site will best help them do that?
- Medium (CORRECT)
21. As a new UX designer, which of the following strategies can help you learn how to present yourself effectively in online UX communities?
- Create several accounts and post different content on each one, to identify the designs other people like
- Check out designers with the most followers to get ideas on how to frame your online presence (CORRECT)
- Engage with as many professional designers as possible to increase your odds of finding out about a job opening
- Identify popular designs and post mockups of those designs on your own portfolio
22. Why is it important for UX designers to use a portfolio during the job application process?
- Because it shows hiring managers examples of work and the skills a designer can bring to the job (CORRECT)
- Because it’s a great way to start feeling like a part of the UX design community
- Because jobs in the creative fields don’t accept traditional resumes
23. When including case studies in a design portfolio, which of the following questions should they answer?
- What biases did the designer include?
- What process did the designer follow? (CORRECT)
- Who were the designer’s mentors?
- What UX design online communities are featured in the case study?
24. A designer does not want coworkers and recruiters viewing their personal social media presence. What best practice for developing an online presence can they use?
- Take a break from personal social media
- Set their social media accounts to private (CORRECT)
- Start new accounts using a different name
- Delete their personal social media presence
25. Which websites help designers enhance and showcase their portfolios? Select all that apply.
- Buzzfeed
- Behance (CORRECT)
- Dribbble (CORRECT)
- Medium (CORRECT)
26. You have gotten some feedback on your portfolio site that notes the language on your home page is a little vague. What is something you can do to fix this?
- Include specific testimonials at the top of the page
- Add a longer explanation to the “About Me” page
- Add your professional specialty above the fold (CORRECT)
- Link out from the home page to LinkedIn
27. Imagine that a designer writes content for their online portfolio. To come across as knowledgeable about UX design, they include industry terms and buzzwords that are trending in the design sector. What can this designer do to improve their written content?
- Remove written content and use primarily visual components
- Use brief, uncomplicated language (CORRECT)
- Increase buzzwords and industry terms
- Add long descriptive paragraphs to hook readers
28. Identify a tip a designer should consider when creating descriptions for their website.
- Include complex depictions of projects
- Use complicated language
- Inject personality (CORRECT)
- Add jargon
29. A UX designer wants to create an updated portfolio to showcase their unique skills and values as a designer. They start by purchasing a custom domain name. To make a great first impression on website visitors, they add projects that highlight the type of work they do well. Then, they add a concise description of their personal design philosophy to help them stand out from the crowd.
- This designer is applying what best practice to convey the value of their work?
- Establish a personal brand (CORRECT)
- Tell a complex and detailed story
- Use widely available templates
- Leverage free online resources
30. Should designers prepare for potential employers to check their social media accounts during the application process?
- Yes, potential employers typically check social media accounts to learn about a designer’s outside interests. (CORRECT)
- No, designers don’t need to worry about employers checking social media accounts, since a resume and portfolio are typically sufficient.
- Maybe, but since it’s not always part of the application process, designers do not need to establish a strong presence on their media accounts.
31. How can designers benefit from online UX communities?
- Start a design business and file key legal documents
- Share full case studies
- Communicate with company executives
- Get inspiration from other designers (CORRECT)
32. Beyond increasing a designer’s visibility, what is another benefit that social media can provide for designers?
- Lead designers to interesting ideas and inspiration (CORRECT)
- Offer designers a platform to critique their own designs
- Allow designers to train with new tools that colleagues recommend
- Help designers obtain certificates in specialized fields
33. Identify websites that feature a job board to assist designers in procuring their next job or project. Select all that apply.
- Medium
- Dribbble (CORRECT)
- Behance (CORRECT)
- LinkedIn (CORRECT)
34. A designer is working on their professional presence online. They’re trying to make their presence more uniform across platforms. What task should they start with?
- Making sure their color scheme, logo, font, and other design elements are consistent (CORRECT)
- Putting their professional portfolio behind password protection
- Hiring a visual designer to create personalized marketing materials
- Starting entirely new professional presences on UX websites and social media platforms
35. A hiring manager is considering applications for an open UX designer position at their company. What materials might they want to review that highlight each applicant’s design work and skills?
- Social media posts
- Design portfolio (CORRECT)
- Employee recommendations
- Client testimonials
36. How might a non-disclosure agreement affect a designer’s portfolio?
- They help designers avoid sharing sensitive information. (CORRECT)
- They help designers demonstrate their design process.
- They help designers display their designs.
37. Which of the following are places where a designer should consistently implement their personal brand? Select all that apply.
- Recommendations for colleagues
- Social media accounts (CORRECT)
- Business cards (CORRECT)
- Resume (CORRECT)
38. A designer is working on their portfolio. They are exploring how to demonstrate who they are and what makes them interesting. What term describes this content?
- Client testimonials
- About me
- Personal branding (CORRECT)
- Past experiences
39. Personal branding is essential to demonstrating a designer’s values, unique skills, and personality. What are the benefits of creating a personal brand? Select all that apply.
- A personal brand allows you to blend in with the rest of the design community.
- A personal brand can help you match with companies that share your values.(CORRECT)
- A personal brand helps you stand out from the crowd. (CORRECT)
- A personal brand allows recruiters and potential employers to understand who you are, and learn about your passions and your strengths. (CORRECT)
40. A designer creates a new Twitter account, posts pictures of several designs, and links her portfolio. How can this impact her job search?
- Recruiters are unlikely to check her social media accounts, so she can keep her interactions and posting activity to a minimum.
- Recruiters may review her Twitter account rather than a traditional portfolio to assess her work history and skills.
- Recruiters may find her designs since they often check social media accounts after the application process begins. (CORRECT)
41. A design team wants to gather feedback on some fun design experiments they’ve been exploring in-house. What online community would be a good place to do that?
- Medium
- Dribbble (CORRECT)
42. A good portfolio has which of the following qualities? Select all that apply
- A good portfolio must be created with an easy-to-use website builder.
- A good portfolio is concise, and highlights key insights that helped inform a designer’s decisions on a project. (CORRECT)
- A good portfolio establishes a personal brand. (CORRECT)
- A good portfolio tells an engaging story about a designer’s process. (CORRECT)
43. Why should personal branding matter to a UX designer? Select all that apply.
- It enhances a designer’s creative drive.
- It helps a designer stand out from the crowd. (CORRECT)
- It can help match a designer with companies that share their values. (CORRECT)
- It showcases the type of work a designer does. (CORRECT)
44. A UX designer is assembling examples of their work and examples of specific skills to share with hiring managers during their job search. What is this collection of examples called?
- Design portfolio (CORRECT)
- Resume
- Design application
- Social media profile
45. A designer is interested in updating their existing online profiles as they start a job search. What is one of the first things they should do as they develop their online presence?
- Do a Google Search on their name and review the results.(CORRECT)
- Create new accounts that are geared towards their career.
- Ask their friends and family to leave helpful comments.
- Remove personal photos from their social media presence.
46. Can designers leverage online UX communities to gather feedback on their work?
- Maybe. Designers can get feedback from people online, but it’s best to use subscription-based services where users are verified UX professionals.
- Yes. Designers can post work in popular UX communities online to generate ideas, find inspiration, and learn from other UX professionals. (CORRECT)
- No. Designers should avoid posting their work online, since it’s possible that other designers may use these ideas on projects.
47. Imagine a designer is creating a portfolio and needs to write the introduction. Which of the following is an example best practice of an introduction?
- “I like to create user-centered design experiences for underrepresented audiences.”
- “Hello, I’m Jenna. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
- “Hi, I’m Jenna. I believe the user is the center of any successful design solution.” (CORRECT)
48. Imagine that a designer writes content for their online portfolio. To align with their personal brand, they include friendly, conversational language. They write brief and snappy descriptions, and include key details about their professional background. Before they publish, what can they do to ensure the content is as good as it can be?
- Include quotes from friends acting as clients
- Add long descriptive paragraphs to hook readers
- Find a trusted editor to review the content (CORRECT)
- Infuse buzzwords and technical terms into the written content
49. A designer is just getting comfortable with a new design tool and wants to try live streaming some of their work. What online community would be a good place to do that?
- Medium
- Behance (CORRECT)