PatchWork: a software tool for early design

Abstract

In this paper we describe the design and motivation for a novel prototyping tool to support the exploration of early design ideas. This software tool, Patchwork, allows the designer to rapidly create rough looking, runnable prototypes using simple building blocks which we call patches. Patches are arbitrary-shaped digital images, typically of low-tech design materials or domain objects. Prototypes are constructed through the specification of storyboards.