Contents
- What is Prototyping
- Goals of Prototyping
- Types of Prototypes
- Stages of Prototyping
- Tools for Prototyping Development
What is Prototyping
Prototyping is one of the key stages of development, during which a preliminary design is created for websites, landing pages, applications, or other projects. This process involves forming the structure and schematic representation of the main interface elements. The main task of prototyping is to create a layout that simulates user interaction with the interface. In some cases, prototypes can be interactive, meaning clickable, which makes them more convenient for testing.
A prototype can be created in various ways: drawn on paper, assembled in Google Docs, or using graphic editors. The main difference between these methods lies in the level of detail and clickability of the elements. For example, the simplest prototype can be easily created on paper, where the structure of the future website is presented without exact text or illustrations.
Goals of Prototyping
The primary goal of prototyping is to save time and resources. Creating the perfect product on the first try often proves to be a challenging task, and prototypes help avoid unnecessary costs. Their value lies in the fact that they provide a general understanding of the product, its structure, and concept, as well as quickly and clearly demonstrate the idea. If the created prototype appears useful even without the final design and animations, it indicates its viability.
To test the viability of prototypes, it is advisable to use clickable versions, which can be quickly created using tools like Figma. It is essential to remember that a prototype allows for testing proposed solutions without significant investments, making adjustments, and only then proceeding to design and programming. Prototyping helps address several key tasks:
- Finding the best ideas: Rapid prototyping allows for preparing several options for testing, which is especially relevant for startups.
- Identifying errors: At the layout creation stage, key shortcomings can be discovered, saving time and resources on corrections in the future.
- Usability assessment: Testing user scenarios on prototypes provides the opportunity for early analysis of the solution's convenience for users.
Types of Prototypes
Prototypes can be classified by their level of detail and interaction capabilities. In terms of development depth, prototypes are divided into high-fidelity and low-fidelity, depending on the number of elements needed for the final product. In terms of interaction with the layout, prototypes can be static and interactive. Static prototypes can be created on paper or in a text editor, while interactive ones are best developed using graphic editors such as Figma.
Stages of Prototyping
The prototyping process includes several key stages:
- Setting goals: At this stage, all project participants (client, designer, marketer, etc.) define clear and specific goals. The clearer the goals are formulated, the easier it will be to test hypotheses.
- Conducting research: To create a quality prototype, it is essential to study the client's business, the specifics of their product, and the target audience.
- Formulating hypotheses: It is important to clearly understand what you want to test using prototypes.
- Creating the prototype: Based on the research and hypotheses, a layout of the future website or application is developed, including all planned interactive elements.
- Testing with a focus group: This stage allows for identifying deficiencies in the interface logic and making adjustments before handing the project over to developers.
- Refinement: Involves adding new details and making changes based on testing results.
Tools for Prototyping Development
Currently, there are many tools for designing websites and applications that do not require significant financial investments. For example, Axure and Sketch offer free trial versions, while Figma has a starter plan with a sufficient set of features.
- Figma: A graphic editor suitable for team collaboration and allows for creating interactive prototypes.
- Axure: A program that enables the development of complex elements and simulates the functionality of a finished application.
- Sketch: A tool for quickly designing applications, ideally suited for macOS users.
Thus, prototyping is an important stage of development that allows for simulating the functionality of a finished project and minimizing risks by testing hypotheses before moving the project to the design and development stage.