What is Prototype?
TL;DR
A prototype is an interactive model of a product that lets you click through and experience how it will work before it is built.
Example
Prototype vs. wireframe:
Wireframe: Static picture of layout Prototype: Clickable, interactive experience
What you can do with a prototype:
- Click buttons and see next screens
- Fill forms (simulated)
- Navigate through menus
- Experience user flows
- See animations and transitions
- Test on actual devices
Prototype example flow:
- Click "Sign Up" button
- See registration form appear
- "Fill" the form
- Click "Create Account"
- See success screen
- Land on dashboard
All simulated. No real code yet.
Explanation
Types of Prototypes
Low-fidelity: Basic clickthrough. Limited interactions. Tests flow, not details.
High-fidelity: Looks like real product. Realistic interactions. Tests usability and feel.
Functional prototype: Partial real functionality. Some actual code. Tests feasibility.
Prototyping Tools
- Figma: Most popular, collaborative
- Adobe XD: Adobe ecosystem
- InVision: Simple clickthroughs
- Framer: Advanced interactions
- Principle: Animation-focused
When to Prototype
- Before building complex features
- When testing new ideas
- For user research and feedback
- To align stakeholders
- Before major development investment
Why It Matters
For Business Owners
Prototypes reduce risk. Test ideas before spending money on development. Fail fast, fail cheap.
Prototypes enable user testing. Put a prototype in front of real users. Watch them struggle or succeed. Learn before building.
Prototypes communicate vision. Easier to show a clickable prototype than explain in words. Stakeholders understand faster.
Prototypes are not the product. They're tools for learning. Some things can only be validated with real code.
Getting Value from Prototypes
- Test with real target users
- Focus on critical user journeys
- Iterate based on feedback
- Don't over-polish (it's just a test)
- Document learnings
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