How to Prototype an App in 1 hour: meet POP

How to Prototype an App in 1 hour: meet POP(boardofinnovation.com)

82 points by Wraecca 13 years ago | 21 comments

bambax 13 years ago |

1. > During workshops we don’t have time to learn people how to use software

"teach"

2. The inventor of the PalmPilot used a prototype made of cardboard for months, to see if it was usable. He would bring it to meetings and "use" it to take notes like it was the real thing! Here's a pic of one of those prototypes in the Computer Museum in Palo Alto

http://bambax.smugmug.com/Other/2012-10Californie/27080082_g...

ManuVollens 13 years ago | |

Thx for the feedback and the inspiring example!

taude 13 years ago |

On being a maker: Most non-designer/non-technical business types I know can pretty competently use tools like Keynote or Basalmiq Mockups to slap screens and ideas together. I'm not sure that hand drawing sketches out would be any faster for them. And then if you're paying for UI stencils to draw...what's the point? Maybe it's nice to take a break from looking at a computer screen?

If learning Keynote or a tool like Basalmiq is too much of a learning curve, I'm not sure someone should even be working in the world of app design? I know non-technical people that downloaded some Keynote templates and were slapping together ideas in less than an hour after reading some quick tutorials.

Also, as far as mobile prototyping goes, I'm a strong believer of higher-fidelity mockups since screen real estate is such a premium.

ams6110 13 years ago | |

Using drawing software for prototypes has the disadvantage that there is a temptation to start tweaking nonessential details... fonts, shadows, colors, obsessing over alignment of widgets, etc.

Pencil and paper doesn't have these problems except for the most anal-retentive of folks.

samirahmed 13 years ago |

At a glance, this is a very creative way to fuse the best of digital prototyping with the spontaneity of hand drawn prototyping.

However I believe that digital linking and editing stages would be easier if it were on a browser than an iphone.

lmirosevic 13 years ago | |

I use pop a lot and its actually really easy and intuitive. Just my opinion.

stravid 13 years ago | | |

Can I use it on an iPad? For non phone app prototypes an iPhone screen seems rather small.

gfodor 13 years ago |

POP is great and I use it not only for hand-drawn sketches but also for wireframes and comps too. Especially for an iPhone app with clever uses of comps and transitions you can pretty much demo what the final app is going to look like before writing any code.

fakeer 13 years ago | |

What such options are the for an Android? Do they generate skeleton code?

focuser 13 years ago | | |

You may want to check out this: http://jimulabs.com/

dreamerslab 13 years ago | | |

Android version is in private beta, should be ready this month.

dirkdk 13 years ago |

I personally prefer Prototyper by Appgyver (http://www.appgyver.com/prototyper), editing your mockups from your computer with a mouse and keyboard.

jneen 13 years ago |

This is my new response to anyone who wants their design to "pop".

alok-g 13 years ago |

PAULHANNA84 13 years ago |

Seems ok but I would stick with Axure for wireframes and prototyping.

seivan 13 years ago |

Most good software engineers could probably prototype faster with code either html or cocoa.

rpc_was_taken 13 years ago | |

Really doubt it.

And the idea behind paper prototyping is to be able to discard without regret. Once you code, you can get attached to your first ideas and not iterate, or iterate over some arbitrary restriction set by the tools. Paper prototyping makes it easy to "kill your darlings" without regret.

More than that, the second and probably more important idea is to avoid the customer to get attached to an un-iterated design, and the "but it's almost done!" effect that can be devastating when negotiating times.

WayneDB 13 years ago | | |

I don't doubt it...at least not for desktop or web apps, which are the kind that I build most of the time.

Just this past Thursday, we found a new task that our call center would have to perform. I opened Visual Studio, created a new WinForms app and layed out the UI within 20 minutes. I emailed the screenshots to all the principles and got responses back within the hour.

jarofgreen 13 years ago | |

I don't think it's aimed at software engineers

rikacomet 13 years ago |

Hi, a great addition to the HN. I'm currently attending the SW, and since we are a little down on the developer side of things, I would love to check out what you shared above.