Prototyping in Design
What is a Prototype?
Prototype
Preliminary version of a system or product, designed to demonstrate its core features and functionality
A prototype can be working or non-working, physical or digital, and serves as a tangible representation of the final product.
Note- Prototypes are not final products.
- They are tools for exploration, feedback, and iteration.
Make mistakes cheap and fast!
Prototype types
We can narrow down different categories of prototypes:
Low Fidelity Prototypes:
- Quick, inexpensive (e.g., paper sketches, wireframes)
- Focus on core functionality and structure
- Ideal for early-stage idea exploration and validation
Paper sketches illustrating layouts of basic screens, including login, account overview, and transfer money.
Medium Fidelity Prototypes:
- Interactive mockups or clickable prototypes
- More detailed with essential features
- Useful for testing usability and user flows
Clickable wireframe mockup where users can tap buttons to navigate between login, account summary, and transfer screens.
High Fidelity Prototypes:
- Closely resemble the final product (visual design, interactions)
- Created with prototyping tools or coded
- Used for advanced testing and detailed feedback
Fully designed and interactive app prototype with real colours, fonts, animations, and user flows that look and feel like the final app.
By medium, the most popular are:
Paper Prototypes
- Hand-drawn, low-fidelity sketches
- Map basic layout and user flow
