Creative Design: Prototyping and Testing Course

Lesson 1 • Design Thinking and Iteration

Introduces the five-stage design thinking model and positions prototyping within it. Connects iterative mindset to faster, cheaper problem-solving.

Lesson 2 • Setting Up a Prototyping Mindset

Addresses common psychological barriers to prototyping, such as perfectionism and fear of critique. Establishes habits that sustain productive iteration throughout a project.

Lesson 3 • Types of Prototypes by Purpose

Categorizes prototypes by their functional goal: proof-of-concept, usability, and visual. Helps students select the right prototype type for each design challenge.

Lesson 4 • Choosing Fidelity Strategically

Teaches how to match fidelity level to project stage, resources, and stakeholder needs. Students practice fidelity decision-making using real project scenarios.

Lesson 1 • Wireframing Basics

Introduces structural wireframes as a bridge between sketches and digital prototypes. Students learn layout grids, content hierarchy, and annotation conventions.

Lesson 2 • Paper Prototyping Fundamentals

Teaches construction of paper-based interactive prototypes for screens and physical products. Students simulate user interactions using cut-outs and overlays.

Lesson 3 • Sketching for Ideation

Covers rapid sketching methods to generate and communicate design ideas quickly. Builds the visual vocabulary needed for all subsequent prototyping work.

Lesson 4 • Rapid Prototyping Workshops

Applies low-fidelity techniques in timed, collaborative workshop formats. Students practice facilitating and participating in design sprints.

Lesson 1 • Introduction to Digital Wireframing Tools

Surveys leading digital wireframing applications and their core feature sets. Students set up workspaces and learn tool-agnostic workflows applicable across platforms.

Lesson 2 • Building Navigation and User Flows

Teaches how to map and prototype multi-screen navigation paths digitally. Students create clickable flows that reflect real user journeys.

Lesson 3 • Responsive and Adaptive Layouts

Covers layout strategies for multiple screen sizes within mid-fidelity prototypes. Students apply grid systems and breakpoints to ensure designs scale correctly.

Lesson 4 • Designing with UI Patterns

Introduces established UI patterns for common interactions such as forms, carousels, and modals. Applying patterns reduces design time and improves usability from the start.

Lesson 1 • Building and Using Design Systems

Introduces design systems and component libraries as tools for consistency and speed. Students build a reusable component set for their prototype project.

Lesson 2 • Applying Brand Identity to Prototypes

Teaches how to translate brand guidelines into prototype screens without losing usability. Students balance aesthetic fidelity with functional clarity.

Lesson 3 • Visual Design Principles for Prototypes

Covers typography, color, contrast, and spacing as applied to high-fidelity screens. Students evaluate and refine visual decisions using established design principles.

Lesson 4 • Micro-Interactions and Motion Design

Covers the design of small, purposeful animations that communicate state changes and feedback. Students add motion to high-fidelity prototypes to simulate real product behavior.

Lesson 1 • Realistic Data and Content Integration

Teaches use of realistic placeholder data to improve prototype credibility during testing. Students replace lorem ipsum with representative content and images.

Lesson 2 • Sharing and Presenting Prototypes

Teaches how to share prototypes with stakeholders and facilitate live prototype walkthroughs. Students practice presenting design rationale alongside interactive demos.

Lesson 3 • Prototyping for Multiple Platforms

Covers platform-specific interaction conventions for mobile, desktop, and voice interfaces. Students adapt a single concept into prototypes for two or more platforms.

Lesson 4 • Conditional Logic in Prototypes

Introduces variables and conditional flows to simulate dynamic, data-driven experiences. Students build prototypes that respond differently based on user input.

Lesson 1 • Moderated Usability Testing

Covers facilitation techniques for in-person and remote moderated sessions. Students practice think-aloud protocols and neutral probing without leading participants.

Lesson 2 • Quantitative Usability Metrics

Teaches task completion rates, time-on-task, and error rates as objective usability measures. Students calculate and interpret metrics to benchmark prototype performance.

Lesson 3 • Unmoderated and Remote Testing

Introduces unmoderated testing platforms and asynchronous research methods. Students design self-guided test flows that yield reliable data without a live facilitator.

Lesson 4 • Writing Test Plans and Tasks

Teaches how to write clear test plans, realistic task scenarios, and screening criteria. Well-crafted tasks are the foundation of valid, unbiased usability data.

Lesson 1 • Synthesizing Mixed-Methods Data

Integrates qualitative observations with quantitative metrics for a complete picture of usability. Students reconcile conflicting data points and draw defensible conclusions.

Lesson 2 • Translating Insights into Design Changes

Bridges analysis and redesign by mapping each insight to a specific prototype revision. Students practice evidence-based design decision-making.

Lesson 3 • Severity Rating and Issue Prioritization

Teaches frameworks for rating usability issues by frequency, impact, and persistence. Students prioritize a backlog of issues to guide the next design iteration.

Lesson 4 • Qualitative Data Analysis Methods

Covers affinity mapping, thematic coding, and pattern identification from session observations. Students organize messy qualitative data into structured insights.

Lesson 1 • Measuring Improvement Across Iterations

Teaches how to compare usability metrics across test rounds to quantify design progress. Students set improvement targets and evaluate whether iterations meet them.

Lesson 2 • Prototype Handoff and Production Readiness

Covers the final steps to prepare a validated prototype for engineering implementation. Students produce complete handoff packages including specs, assets, and interaction documentation.

Lesson 3 • Managing Prototype Versions

Covers version control practices and file organization for iterative prototype projects. Students maintain a clear audit trail of design decisions across multiple rounds.

Lesson 4 • A/B and Multivariate Prototype Testing

Introduces controlled comparison testing of two or more design variants. Students design valid A/B tests and interpret results to make evidence-based design choices.