Prototyping

Prototyping

Why do you need prototyping? We never get things perfect for the first time; we just make them better when they are not perfect. When you are making a design with people involved, you are not quite sure how they should be to meet their expectations; people are not as predictable. So, you do not make things right the first time. We prototype.

 

What is prototyping

Prototyping is an experimental process in which designers draw ideas before implementing them. These designs can be created on paper or digitally. These samples are recorded with different degrees of fidelity, and their applicability is tested. Also, by saving all the test samples, you can compare the subsequent versions with the previous ones to make corrections to your design and validate it to launch the right products on the market.

 

Prototyping cycle

 

prototyping cycle

 

Prototyping consists of a cycle. You design something; you prototype it in different means and ways. It might be making something out of a blue frame or card board. Or it might be creating something on a device. You get the prototype, bring it to actual use, evaluate it, find out what is wrong, redesign it, fix the bugs, fix the problems, mend it, and make one with higher fidelity. Then test it again, evaluate with people, and repeat the cycle until you get the best version of your service or product. 

 

Significant reasons for prototyping

Prototype creation is the fourth stage of design thinking and design sprints. Prototyping is an essential part of the user experience. This part is usually done after ideation. When the product or service design team creates their idea and predicts that it can solve a part of the community's need, they make a simple test sample of their product and concept to check its feedback. In this way, they can determine how correct their prediction of the implemented plan is and to what extent the product can respond to the user's needs and match them. From the very beginning of your work, you should consider the prototyping stage, and even if it is correct and practical, implement your design on paper. Because the feedback you receive from your test sample users can help you develop and improve your business.

 

The benefits of prototyping are:

 

  1. Have a solid foundation for your product or service to improve your plan. Also, give all stakeholders a clear picture of the potential benefits, risks, and costs associated with where a prototype might lead.
  2. By creating a prototype, you can apply changes to your product much faster. As a result, you don't spend a lot of time on the initial version, and you don't incur any costs due to ignoring the bugs and defects of the design.
  3. By releasing the prototype to your users, you can get feedback from them. This feedback will help you understand which factors and variables are working well and which elements need significant change.
  4. By designing a test version, you are creating a tool to understand the user's needs and problems. As a result, you can gain access to parts of the user's world that few people know about. For example, you realize that they are using your product for other purposes and uses than you planned and anticipated, so you can plan to improve the user experience in that area.
  5. Create a sense of ownership for all relevant stakeholders – thus fostering emotional investment in the product's ultimate success.
  6. Improve time to market by minimizing the number of errors corrected before product release.

 

 

Types and fidelity of prototypes

Fidelity refers to the proximity of the prototype to the final product. There is no fixed right way to create a prototype. The type and fidelity of each prototype are determined at the discretion of its designer. However, some methods have been proven to work better over time, and their use has a more favorable outcome.

Typically, the designer determines the fidelity of the product or service prototype according to the stage of the design process, the available resources, and the goals of the prototype. For example, if the purpose of creating this demo is to provide an initial idea of ​​the user-to-customer flow, a low-fidelity prototype can get us there. However, if the prototype is designed and implemented to see how potential customers interact with it, it is preferable to use a higher fidelity and more consistent prototype.

 

Low fidelity prototypes

Low fidelity prototyping is a quick and easy way to turn a design idea into a more tangible example of a product. A low-fidelity prototype's purpose is to describe a product's flow and test its functionality's usefulness and usability. Therefore, low-fidelity prototypes are not as refined and optimized as high-fidelity prototypes. Examples of low fidelity prototypes include

  • Sketches
  • Paper prototypes

Of course, a designer should weigh the pros and cons of creating low-fidelity prototypes before starting a project. The key advantages of low-fidelity prototypes are that they are quick, easy, and cost-effective.

 

High fidelity prototypes

High-fidelity prototypes are more advanced than low-fidelity prototypes. They are also more aesthetically pleasing, and their performance is closer to the final product. High-fidelity prototypes are usually created during the design process when the team understands what they want to deliver as a final product. High-fidelity prototypes are sometimes better for usability testing than low-fidelity prototypes.

 

 

The type and fidelity of the prototype you should create will be determined by the project's specifications and the preferences of the UX designer. Early in the design process, when you want to show off your thoughts and work with product teams to determine what the final product should be, it's best to create low-fidelity prototypes. Types of low-fidelity prototypes include sketches and paper prototypes. The advantages of low-fidelity prototypes are:

  • quick
  • Inexpensive
  • Easy to revise

 

It is best to create high-fidelity prototypes at a later stage of design. These samples are used for usability testing and a team's final indication of the product design before development begins. Benefits of high-fidelity prototypes include:

  • They are more realistic in terms of visual design and performance.
  • They require less imagination on the part of reviewers and approvers.
  • They are better for sharing with external parties and asking for UX feedback.