Section F: Putting It All Together—Capstone Prototype Project

Bring all your UI/UX skills together by creating a complete interactive prototype that addresses a real user need. From research and wireframing to iteration and usability testing, this project simulates a real design process.

The capstone prototype project is the culmination of your UI/UX journey. In this section, you will walk through all phases of design: defining a problem, empathizing with users, ideating solutions, prototyping, testing, and refining. You'll create a medium-fidelity or high-fidelity prototype using Figma, incorporate real feedback, and present your final work. This project not only reinforces everything you've learned but also prepares you for real-world product design tasks and portfolio development.

The Capstone Prototype Project: Full-Cycle Design Challenge

The capstone project is a full-cycle design challenge where you create a functional, user-tested digital product prototype, integrating all skills learned in the course.

1. Project Planning and Empathy (Inquiring and Analysing)

• Problem Definition: Choose a practical design challenge and frame it using the How Might We question format (e.g., How might we help college students manage their weekly study goals?).
• User Research and Persona Creation: Conduct interviews or surveys to gather data. Use this data to create at least one detailed User Persona with goals, frustrations, and key behaviours to focus your design.

2. Structure and Visuals (Developing Ideas)

• Information Architecture and Wireframing: Sketch out the sitemap or user flow. Create low-fidelity wireframes that map out essential screens and features, ensuring clear flow and Information Architecture.
• Visual Design & Prototyping (Figma): Translate wireframes into interactive mockups in Figma. Apply all learned visual principles: consistent visual hierarchy, spacing, typography, and color schemes. The goal is a High-Fidelity Prototype that simulates the final product.

3. Validation and Delivery (Creating and Evaluating)

• User Testing & Feedback Gathering: Conduct Usability Tests with at least 3 target users. Document the feedback, identify usability issues and Pain Points, and plan specific improvements.
• Iteration & Final Prototype Delivery: Based on feedback, make thoughtful design revisions. Submit a working prototype that is interactive, accessible, and user-friendly, along with a presentation detailing your process and design rationale.

Key Deliverables:

• Detailed User Persona
• Low-Fidelity Wireframes
• High-Fidelity Interactive Prototype (in Figma)
• Usability Test Summary and Iteration Log