User Experience Design User Experience Design Interaction Design & Prototyping 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which type of prototype is best suited for early-stage concept validation when speed matters more than visual fidelity?
- High-fidelity HTML prototype
- Paper prototype (Correct answer)
- Coded interactive prototype
- Pixel-perfect mockup
Correct answer: Paper prototype
Paper prototypes are low-cost, quick to create, and ideal for early concept validation before investing in digital tools.
Question 2: In interaction design, what does the term 'affordance' mean?
- The cost of designing a feature
- A visual cue that suggests how an object can be used (Correct answer)
- The time required to complete a task
- The number of steps in a user flow
Correct answer: A visual cue that suggests how an object can be used
An affordance is a property or visual cue of an object that signals to the user how it can be interacted with, such as a button that appears pressable.
Question 3: What is the primary purpose of a clickable wireframe prototype?
- To test server performance under load
- To simulate user flows without full visual design (Correct answer)
- To generate production-ready code
- To document accessibility compliance
Correct answer: To simulate user flows without full visual design
Clickable wireframes allow stakeholders and users to navigate simulated flows, testing task completion before committing to full visual design.
Question 4: Which interaction design principle states that systems should always keep users informed about what is happening?
- Aesthetic and minimalist design
- Match between system and real world
- Visibility of system status (Correct answer)
- User control and freedom
Correct answer: Visibility of system status
Nielsen's heuristic 'Visibility of system status' states that systems must provide timely, appropriate feedback so users always know the current state.
Question 5: In Fitt's Law, which factor most directly affects the time needed to acquire a target?
- The color contrast of the target
- The distance to and size of the target (Correct answer)
- The number of items on screen
- The user's cognitive load
Correct answer: The distance to and size of the target
Fitt's Law states that movement time is a function of both the distance to the target and the size of the target — farther and smaller targets take longer to acquire.
Question 6: What distinguishes a high-fidelity prototype from a low-fidelity prototype?
- High-fidelity prototypes are always built in code
- High-fidelity prototypes closely resemble the final product in visual design and interaction (Correct answer)
- Low-fidelity prototypes require more time to build
- High-fidelity prototypes are only used for developer handoff
Correct answer: High-fidelity prototypes closely resemble the final product in visual design and interaction
High-fidelity prototypes closely replicate the final product's visual appearance and behavior, making them suitable for later-stage usability testing.
Question 7: Which principle of interaction design emphasizes reducing the number of actions required to complete a task?
- Progressive disclosure
- Efficiency of use (Correct answer)
- Error prevention
- Recognition over recall
Correct answer: Efficiency of use
Efficiency of use focuses on minimizing the steps and effort required, allowing both novice and expert users to accomplish tasks with minimal friction.
Which type of prototype is best suited for early-stage concept validation when speed matters more than visual fidelity?