Chapter 12. Sketching the User Experience

IN THIS CHAPTER, WE WILL: Talk about the process of sketching and how it can be used to discover the requirements for an application. Talk about sketching, wireframing and prototyping, and how SketchFlow can assist you in these tasks. Create a prototype for a quiz application in SketchFlow, using states, transitions, mockups, animations and so on. Deploy and run the prototype. Collect and manage user feedback in the SketchFlow player. Talk about importing and exporting data to and from various applications. Integrate feedback and collaborate through Sharepoint and TFS.

A very important step in the creation of an application is the phase sometimes called envisioning, in which the requirements are gathered and the first sketches of the application are drawn. The information gathered during this step is used to shape the whole development process. It is important that this phase be executed as thoroughly as possible because any detail that is forgotten will end up costing time and effort to be integrated in the application later. In fact, forgotten details will cost more and more as the project reaches completion, until eventually it is not possible to make changes anymore without missing the deadline or killing the budget.