A prototype is an early, simplified version of a product used to test and validate ideas before investing in full development. It can range from a rough paper sketch to a fully interactive digital mockup that mimics real functionality.
‍
Prototypes let teams explore concepts, gather feedback, and spot usability problems while changes are still cheap to make. Common types include low-fidelity wireframes, clickable prototypes, and high-fidelity interactive models.

Why does prototyping matter?

Prototyping helps teams catch design flaws and misunderstandings before writing production code, saving both time and money. It also gives stakeholders and users something tangible to react to, making feedback more concrete and useful than a static description.

For example, a designer might build a clickable prototype in Figma to test navigation flow with real users, refining the layout based on where people get confused before handing it off to developers.

Similar