This is an excellent list of customer experience (CX) prototyping techniques! Each method is valuable at different stages of design thinking, helping to test ideas, understand user needs, and refine solutions. Here’s a summary with practical contexts where they might shine:
- Storyboard
- Bodystorming
- Use case: When evaluating physical environments or interactions that involve movement or spatial dynamics.
- Example: Planning the layout of a retail store to ensure smooth navigation and pleasant customer interactions.
- Paper Prototype
- Use case: When designing digital interfaces and quickly iterating on layout and functionality.
- Example: Testing navigation in an e-commerce website to align with user expectations.
- Cardboard Prototype
- Use case: When testing the physical form or ergonomics of a product.
- Example: Creating a mock-up of a new coffee machine to evaluate user interaction with buttons and display screens.
- Service Blueprint
- Use case: When mapping out complex services involving multiple stakeholders or touchpoints.
- Example: Designing a hotel check-in service, showing front-stage (customer-facing) and backstage (staff actions) interactions.
- Task Evaluation
- Use case: When validating usability or functionality of a solution by observing real-world interactions.
- Example: Watching users assemble a piece of furniture using provided instructions to identify pain points.
- Card Sort
- Use case: When understanding mental models for organizing information.
- Example: Structuring categories for a website’s navigation menu based on user input.
- Service Advertisement
- Use case: When communicating and testing the appeal of a value proposition or feature.
- Example: Creating a mock advertisement for a meal delivery service to gauge customer interest in specific benefits.
Each of these tools is low-cost, adaptable, and rich in insights, making them essential for iterative design and validation processes.
