Just when UX/IA designers were settling down in a cosy working method, drawing nice static wireframe, Information Architect´s game changed again with the coming of Rich Internet Applications (RIA).

Technologies tend to go faster than our design skills. Whether it´s AJAX, Flex, PHP… it became a challenge to improve the usability of these new applications. Wireframes and prototypes thus became increasingly important to rely on.

“Show, don´t tell”
For complex RIA, prototypes are definitely the best way to express the structure, flows and layout of information. However, if you have a tight schedule, it´s even better to start by “telling” the client a narrative wireframe and then quickly move to more functional prototypes.

Defining user behaviours
When wireframing RIA, a key step is to define “personas”, meaning all the types of user behaviours. In this context, improving usability usually means imagining different narrative according to personas, guiding users through tasks according to their needs and context.

Narrative wireframe
When using a low-context medium like wireframes to illustrate dynamic information like RIA, it´s essential to narrate the information. In other words, it´s best to build stories to illustrate non-linear apps.

This low-context, narrative approach is actually a good way to introduce new ideas to clients. Presenting one dimension of information at a time allows clients to focus on one particular aspect of design, avoiding confusion and misunderstanding. The key here is to focus on general patterns and not details.

Prototyping interactions & dynamism
Once this foundation work is done, it´s important to move to high-context documents like functional prototypes. Designing applications and leaving out interactions or data dynamism is like forget the cheese in a cheese cake… That makes no sense! Dynamic functional prototypes are thus essential to fully grasp the purpose of the RIA and what it can achieve.

Prototyping the actual app is also important for the client to see and validate the final design and not just the information flow. Another advantage of prototypes in RIA is to witness on-going changes during the development process.

These two techniques of wireframing and prototyping, once brought together, can significantly improve the usability of complex dynamic applications or websites.