Prototypes are one of my favorite tools for collecting feedback. Playing with a prototype allows the users to really put themselves in the mindset of interacting with the designs.
I’ve used both click-through and high fidelity prototypes to great effect. Each has their benefits and drawbacks, though I have to admit to having a preference toward wireframe prototypes, particularly since I’ve begun using Axure.
Click-Through
I’ve created click-throughs (essentially paper prototypes) using PowerPoint/Keynote/other presentation software. Usually when running a test with a click-through, I prefer to operate as the user’s hands, having them tell me where to click and move the mouse. That’s because, in general, if you create a click-through with hot-spots the users quickly learn to move the mouse around until they see the pointer turn to a hand, in which case, you have an Easter Egg hunt, not a usability test. Having them direct me avoids this behavior and also provided opportunities for speak aloud behavior on the part of the participant.
As an added bonus, when conducting a remote usability test using a web meeting, acting as the user’s hands limits the impact of any sort of delay in the web conference since you remove the “I clicked here and nothing immediately happened so I’ll start clicking around elsewhere” effect.
Wireframe Prototypes
Interactive prototypes require more effort than click-throughs, but they frequently yield better results because the user can comment on the actual interaction experience, such as a panel sliding in, rather than trying to imagine the behavior. Axure has become my tool of choice here, not only because it makes wireframes easy to create and simple to code, but also because Axure can host the interactive prototype in a password protected environment. This hosting is particularly useful when running a remote usability test since animations are notoriously bad in a web conference, but if the user logs directly into the Axure server and then shares her screen with you, you may experience a lag in what you’re seeing but the participant can speak to the experience in real time.
Below is an early wireframe I built in Axure of this website-to-be. It is interactive and hosted on their servers. In this case, the prototype is not responsive, but that is a possibility and something that I intend to explore.
