Prototype

A Prototype is a functional and interactive model of a user interface. It represents the evolution of a Wireframe (which is static) and a Mockup (which is visual). A prototype combines structure, content, visual appearance, and interactions to simulate the final user experience.

The prototyping phase is a crucial step in UX methodologies (including Google’s UX process), as it allows designers to test and validate the user experience before any development starts. Prototypes can exist at different levels of fidelity (low, mid, or high), depending on the testing objectives.

A prototype helps evaluate two major aspects:

• Interaction: Ensuring that transitions, clicks, and animations between screens feel intuitive and reflect the real user flow.
• User feedback: Serving as a concrete support for usability testing, allowing teams to identify friction points and validate design decisions.

In short, the prototype acts as a bridge between idea and production, helping reduce risks and costs by identifying UX issues early in the process.

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If a wireframe is the blueprint of a car, a prototype is a physical model with moving wheels and opening doors. It allows teams to test ergonomics, dashboard layout, and ease of access before investing in final production. Today, tools like Figma are commonly used to build interactive prototypes.

For the prototyping stage, tools like Figma, Framer, and ProtoPie are the most widely used today. Figma allows for the rapid creation of interactive and collaborative prototypes; Framer is ideal for highly realistic prototypes close to the final product; and ProtoPie stands out for advanced interactions and micro-interactions. These tools enable testing user journeys, validating flows, and iterating before development begins.

Sprint: How to Solve Big Problems and Test New Ideas in Just Five Days by Jake Knapp: This methodological book is the Google Ventures manifesto. It gives you the method to move from concept to a tested prototype in just five days, maximizing the efficiency of your validation.

Lean UX: Designing Great Products with Agile Teams by Jeff Gothelf and Josh Seiden: This practical guide is essential for Agile teams. It explains how prototyping serves to quickly validate hypotheses rather than to rigidly specify final requirements.

Rocket Surgery Made Easy by the great Steve Krug: This is the simplest and most pragmatic testing book. Read it to learn how to find and fix the major problems in your prototypes with minimal resources.

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