AIX Design: Prototype Hi-Fi, Test & Iterate

During this stage of the design thinking process, my objective was to develop a high-fidelity prototype based on insights gathered from the cognitive walkthrough, evaluate its usability through heuristic evaluation, and iteratively refine the design into a final, user-centered product. This phase focused on transforming earlier ideas into a polished interface while continuously improving usability through testing and feedback.

After completing the cognitive walkthrough, I identified several key improvements that needed to be incorporated into the hi-fi prototype. One of the most important updates was adding consistent back buttons across screens to support easier navigation and reduce frustration from misclicks. I also recognized that within the Community tab, it was essential to reinforce user anonymity on every screen. Since anonymity is a core feature that differentiates this app, clearly communicating it helps users feel safe and more comfortable engaging with the platform. These insights guided my transition from low-fidelity concepts into a more refined design in Figma.

During this stage, I used Figma Make (a generative AI tool) to help visualize my interface ideas(on screen) before building the full prototype. I had a clear concept in mind but needed help translating it into a structured layout. I prompted the tool to design a mobile journaling app with five tabs—Reflect, Library, Journal, Community, and Profile—emphasizing a clean, calming, and intuitive experience. The AI generated a structured interface with consistent spacing, clear organization, and a cohesive visual style. I used this output as inspiration rather than a final solution, referencing its layout and overall design direction while creating my own prototype in Figma. In this process, AI supported early-stage visualization and layout generation, while I remained responsible for designing interactions, applying usability principles, and refining the final product. This reinforced that AI is a helpful tool, but not a replacement for human-centered design decisions.

To evaluate my hi-fi prototype, I conducted a heuristic evaluation with three classmates. Their feedback revealed several usability issues that needed to be addressed. For visibility of system status, users wanted clearer feedback such as confirmation messages like “Entry Saved” or “Entry Deleted,” especially when interacting with AI-related features. In terms of error prevention, there were no confirmation prompts before saving entries, which could lead to accidental submissions. Users also suggested improvements related to recognition rather than recall, specifically enhancing the calendar by highlighting days with entries so users could easily identify past activity. Additionally, some elements of the design were seen as visually distracting, particularly excessive lines on the journaling page, which pointed to a need for a more minimalist approach.

Based on this feedback, I refined my prototype by adding confirmation messages and system feedback indicators, improving navigation with consistent back buttons, enhancing the calendar with visual cues, and simplifying the journaling interface to reduce distractions. These changes helped create a more intuitive and user-friendly experience and brought the design closer to usability best practices.

Using AI during this stage had both benefits and challenges. It helped me quickly visualize ideas and overcome the difficulty of starting from a blank screen, while also providing a structured layout that guided my early design decisions. It made me feel more confident in turning abstract ideas into something tangible. However, the AI-generated design lacked interaction details and did not fully align with my vision, requiring significant refinement. It also caused me to initially overlook important usability elements, such as system feedback messages, because those details were not included in the generated output.

Overall, AI played a meaningful role in supporting my design process, especially in the early stages of visualization. At the same time, this experience highlighted the importance of maintaining a clear division between AI assistance and my role as a designer. While AI helped generate ideas and structure, it was my responsibility to ensure the design met user needs and usability standards. This stage reinforced that effective design is not just about visual appeal, but about creating intuitive, functional, and user-centered experiences. Through prototyping, testing, and iteration, I was able to transform my initial ideas into a more refined and thoughtful final product.