[IxDA Discuss] Apparently, IxD is not obscure enough

[Andrei Herasimchuk]

On Aug 24, 2007, at 4:53 PM, Robert Hoekman, Jr. wrote:

> Depends on how we're defining hammers, wrenches, and screwdrivers.  
> You don't need a prototype to run a usability test, and you don't  
> need to run a usability test to produce a prototype. So usability  
> testing can be a "hammer" that has nothing to do with prototyping.

It appears you're defining the "prototype" itself as a tool, whereas  
I'm treating the prototype as a result of using my tools. Subtle  
difference probably, but an important one if so.

> And design is not always about design tools, because some design  
> tools are intangible.

Some design tools are intangible? Like which ones? How do you justify  
making decisions that impact the bottom line to executives using  
"intangible" tools or even "intangible" processes?

> You don't need to be convincing to build a prototype, nor do you  
> need a prototype to be convincing.

But if you build a convincing prototype, I guarantee that you'll love  
your job a thousand times more (because quite frankly, building a  
prototype is the *fun* part of the job), engineers, product managers  
and company executives will treat everything you do an order of  
magnitude higher on the respect meter, and you'll probably get a  
pretty big raise in the process.

Are prototypes the be all end all for us as designers?.... I could  
take the easy road and say no... or it depends... or whatever. The  
truth is that I think that yes, they are. Prototypes are the ultimate  
expression of the product design without having to build and  
manufacture the product itself. Just like building scale models for  
architects, or wooden concept cars in automobile design, or  
storyboarding a movie as a director, or any number of ways people  
build a test version of the product before committing to the final  
design.

-- 
Andrei Herasimchuk

Principal, Involution Studios
innovating the digital world

e. andrei at involutionstudios.com
c. +1 408 306 6422