[IxDA Discuss] What do these prototyping tools give me? (RE: Axure RP Pro prototyping tool)

[Robert Hoekman, Jr.]

The question of maintenance is interesting.

In my case, using Axure, when I wireframe and/or protoype something
for the first time for an app that already exists, I take screenshots
of the app and plug them into a new Axure doc. I make modifications as
needed, export the new JPGs or prototype (with annotations) and hand
those off for review and/or implementation. When it's a new app, I
create the interface from scratch or from pieces of other apps (we
have a lot of apps that share common UI elements) and go from there.

Every time a new feature is implemented or a new app is created, I'm
the guy who does the design work for it. For existing apps, I just
update the original Axure doc and make new deliverables.

What's tough about maintenance in your environment?

-r-


On 5/11/06, Todd Warfel <lists at toddwarfel.com> wrote:
> [Please voluntarily trim replies to include only relevant quoted material.]
>
> I think another thing that's missing is when these are appropriate.
> For instance, in Dave's case if he's got 5 Designers that are
> familiar w/Adobe and MM tools, then why switch to something like
> Axure or iRise? There's the initial expense. Then the learning curve
> and downtime (soft costs).
>
> Who's going to use or consume the output? There's a mention of a
> "free reader," but frankly, I don't want or need another free reader
> and don't want to make our clients download a free reader. If it
> isn't in something like PDF, HTML, SWF, or DOC, then I can't be
> bothered with it.
>
>  From all that I've gathered so far, these are decent requirements
> gathering tools, but you'd be better off prototyping on paper or with
> Flash/HTML.
>
> What about ongoing maintenance? Some of our projects have been
> running for 1.5 years or more. There's been some changes. Maintenance
> is a big issue for us.
>
> On May 10, 2006, at 11:22 PM, David Heller wrote:
>
> > [Please voluntarily trim replies to include only relevant quoted
> > material.]
> >
> > If people concede the point about these tools not working well as a
> > conversion prototype > word platform (which is what I'm hearing),
> > and then
> > it is just about prototyping, then ... Why these tools?
> > What do they offer that another development environment doesn't? I
> > mean
> > iRise and Serena have pretty heft licensing costs. That is pretty
> > hard to
> > justify when I can great prototypes in Dreamweaver or Flash or Flex
> > 2.0 or
> > the upcoming tools in the Expression Suite from MS, just as easily.
> >
> > What am I missing here? Seriously, I'm about to head into a HUGE
> > hosted
> > enterprise application re-design, and I'd really like to know what I'm
> > missing out on. I've looked at these tools, but a separate Wiki for
> > gathering requirements + Dreamweaver seem to be working fine. So
> > I'm really
> > curious about this. $10k for a $5m project doesn't seem like a lot
> > to ask
> > for, but it is still $10k .. But compare that to $5k for 5 licenses of
> > Studio 8 by Adobe, and I just don't see the cost benefit analysis.
> > Help me!
> >
> > Aspects that people didn't talk about are:
> > Maintainable objects
> > Sharing across teams, and within a team
> > Annotating (was sorta mentioned)
> > Converting prototypes to something consumable by other teams (Dev &
> > QC jump
> > to mind).
> >
> > I think Jay hit one requirement on the head and that is being able
> > to create
> > data sets to be used for usability testing.
> >
> > -- dave
> >
> >
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> Cheers!
>
> Todd R. Warfel
> Partner, Design & Usability Specialist
> Messagefirst | designing and usability consulting
> --------------------------------------
> Contact Info
> Voice:    (607) 339-9640
> Email:    todd at messagefirst.com
> AIM:       twarfel at mac.com
> Blog:      http://toddwarfel.com
> --------------------------------------
> In theory, theory and practice are the same.
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