In class, we did a rapid-fire round of 1-on-1 prototype testing. Each of us had about three minutes to present our prototype to a classmate, who would try to figure out how it works and what it represents, without much explanation.
My prototype was a small-scale physical room, just 10x10cm, constructed from paper. It had two vertical walls and a floor, with a “0” drawn on each of these surfaces to mark the starting point. From there, the interaction unfolded in layers.
The next components were two small paper strips, 1x3cm each. Folded in half and placed on top of the walls like little blades, these represented projectors. Then came two larger 10x10cm sheets, each marked with a “1” in the top left corner and colored pink. One of these was placed on the floor, the other on one of the walls. The pink floor piece had footprints drawn on it as signal of movement.
Finally, two more sheets were added this time green, labeled with a “2” and layered over the pink ones. On the green floor piece, small ripples of water replaced the original marks. Meanwhile the wall had raindrops in the same axis of the water ripples.
As classmates explored the prototype, the general response was encouraging. Many found it intuitive, the layering, the footprints, the shift from step to splash. However, the most consistent point of confusion was the tiny projector pieces. People weren’t sure what they were for, and in the fast-paced 3-minute window, that uncertainty took up valuable time.
This exercise reminded me how even small unclear elements can disrupt an otherwise understandable experience. But it also showed how much can be communicated through tactile storytelling. Overall, it was nice to see my idea come to life in others’ hands.
