What is Digital Prototyping?
Prototyping digitally is an exciting aspect of the design process. Prototypes begin to approximate the finished product, allowing teams to test and confirm their concepts.
Digital prototypes may be divided into two categories:
- Low-fidelity prototypes: user flow using wireframes.
Research teams can utilise low-fidelity prototypes to sketch out fundamental user flows and information architecture. - High-fidelity prototypes: representations of a user flow
High-fidelity prototypes assess user interfaces, interactions, and how usability testers engage with a product in more detail.
Designers use design software such as Figma, Adobe XD, and others to create prototypes. Non-designers in product teams have been known to utilise Powerpoint or Google Slides to replicate user flows.
UXPin is different from other popular design tools in that it allows designers to develop prototypes that appear and perform precisely like the final product.
Low-quality audio During a Yelp redesign exercise, a UXPin prototype was produced.
Digital Prototyping’s Benefits
Realistic interactions – Using high-fidelity digital prototypes, UX teams can observe how people interact with the final product, allowing them to quickly identify any usability flaws.
Flexibility — Test frequently and early! You may start with low-fidelity prototypes and work your way up as the design process progresses.
Speed: Digital prototypes are the quickest method to evaluate usability concerns, whereas paper prototypes are the fastest way to test concepts. Changes cost substantially more time and money after a project reaches the engineering stage.
Digital Prototyping’s Drawbacks
Learning curve – You’ll need to learn and comprehend the programme before you can construct a prototype, which is why product teams frequently utilise Powerpoint instead of a specialist design tool. The good news is that most design software includes the same capabilities, making switching between them quite simple.
Time and labour expenses rise as you progress from low-fidelity to high-fidelity prototypes.
The success of a prototype is determined by teams defining clear objectives and KPIs for each usability research. Designers might become sidetracked if they don’t have a strategy in place, adding unneeded features and interactions!
