Web site design: a case study in usability testing using paper prototypes

Paper prototypes are a low-tech, low-cost, but highly effective, form of usability testing for web site design. Creating a web site is relatively easy, given the technology and tools now available. All too often, web site developers tend to be enamored with the technology and forget the needs of end user. As a result, many web site developers delay usability testing until their web site is completely designed, only to uncover significant interface, content, or structural problems with the site once the customers try to use it. Significant redesign may be impossible due to time, cost, or personnel constraints.This paper discusses the benefits of using paper prototypes to conduct usability testing of a web site for Mercer University's School of Engineering Center for Excellence in Engineering Education (CE3). These benefits include the following: 1. Low cost, both in terms of time and materials required to create the prototype;2. Critical feedback from users, who appear more willing to suggest significant flaws when the site design is obviously very rough;3. Willingness on the part of the designers to change the design, since they have invested minimal time and effort into creating a paper prototype; and ultimately4. Improved usability. .This paper also discusses how to create a paper prototype, how to conduct a usability test with the prototype, and what to do with the test results. This process can be used to enhance the usability of any web site.The design of the CE3 is a project of a team of senior technical communication students in the Department of Technical Communication at Mercer University. This paper also discusses the importance of training technical communicators to be user advocates.