Build 31

Prototype

Prototypes are simulations of products or services that are created with the intention of communicating and learning without the full investment of development. While design teams are often able to refine their designs and make better decisions simply through the activity of building prototypes, the primary goal is usually to learn by sharing with stakeholders and doing user validation with your target audience.

Prototypes are most useful for testing innovative products and services and for ensuring that users understand novel interactions. They can range in fidelity from rough paper prototypes that the design team can produce quickly to full-fledged production prototypes that usually require coordination with developers or manufacturers. As the level of investment rises, typically so does the quality of the feedback. Choosing a prototype fidelity depends on how far along your project is and what you hope to learn from testing it.