UX Design Prototyping: What is the Use?
Prototyping is an essential part of the design process. Using prototypes, UX designers can give clients a visualization of the product before launch.
Meanwhile, clients can give UX designers feedback once they’ve had a visual of the product. UX designers can then make tweaks to the design saving the client both time and money. check also website design
That said, what is a prototype and what are prototypes used for? Keep on reading to learn more.
What is a Prototype, Exactly?
A prototype is a visual representation of a product that a design team creates during the design process. Prototypes usually closely resemble what the final product will look like.
On the other hand, prototyping is the process of creating prototypes, often with the aid of a UX design tool such as Adobe XD.
Typically, it starts with creating low-fidelity prototypes such as sketches, then eventually creating high-fidelity prototypes using a UX design tool such as Adobe XD.
Uses of Prototyping
The best user experiences don’t happen by chance. UX designers usually follow a systematic process to deliver excellent user experiences.
Prototyping is one key element that’s crucial to delivering excellent user experiences. It precedes the development of the final product, meaning it significantly influences the look and feel of the final product.
Here are some important reasons for using prototyping before creating the final product:
Visual Representation of the Final Product
Human beings are visual. Without visuals, many people find it difficult to imagine how something will look.
Prototypes allow UX designers to give clients a visual idea of how the final product will appear. By demonstrating prototypes, UX designers give clients clarity.
Spot Mistakes
Prototypes can allow UX designers to identify design mistakes early on in the design process. Prototypes help designers avoid the pitfall of launching a product that users don’t like or find difficult to use.
They enable designers to rectify mistakes before product launch, saving clients’ money and time.
Validate Concepts
It’s difficult to determine the effectiveness of a concept without a visual representation of it. Prototypes allow UX designers to present designs to clients and other stakeholders in the design process and receive feedback.
The feedback received can then enable designers to make well-informed design decisions. For example, clients may identify unnecessary elements in a design that can be removed.
Assess Technical Viability
Developers usually implement prototypes. Prototypes can give developers an idea of whether the design is viable. Prototypes can enable developers to identify challenges they may encounter when implementing the design.
They can also help developers to determine the time it will take to implement the product. Such information can be useful to marketing teams when planning a go-to-market strategy.
Enhance Collaboration
Often, a good user experience isn’t due to a solo effort. Instead, it’s usually a team effort. UX designers, developers, and clients are all key stakeholders in the design process.
UX design tools such as Adobe XD can allow stakeholders to collaborate during the design process. For example, Adobe XD allows designers to collaborate on shared documents in real-time.
Bottom-Line
Prototyping is essential to a good user experience. What’s more, it can save time and money, making it beneficial to everyone involved in the design process.
