Different Types of Prototypes
Prototypes: From Idea to Reality
Prototypes are an important part of the design process. They allow designers to test their ideas and get feedback from users early on in the development process. There are many different types of prototypes, each with its own strengths and weaknesses.
Low-fidelity prototypes
Low-fidelity prototypes are quick and easy to create. They are often made from paper, cardboard, or other inexpensive materials. Low-fidelity prototypes are not intended to be perfect replicas of the final product. Instead, they are used to test basic concepts and get feedback on the overall design.
Opens in a new window — Lowfidelity prototypes
Benefits of low-fidelity prototypes:
- Fast and easy to create
- Inexpensive
- Allow for early feedback on basic concepts
High-fidelity prototypes
High-fidelity prototypes are more detailed and realistic than low-fidelity prototypes. They are often made from computer-aided design (CAD) software or 3D printing. High-fidelity prototypes are used to test specific features and functions of the product, as well as the overall user experience.
Opens in a new window — Highfidelity prototypes
Benefits of high-fidelity prototypes:
- More detailed and realistic than low-fidelity prototypes
- Allow for testing of specific features and functions
- Give a better idea of the overall user experience
Horizontal prototypes
Horizontal prototypes focus on the user interface (UI) of a product. They are used to test how users interact with the product, such as how they navigate through menus and screens. Horizontal prototypes can be created using paper, cardboard, or other inexpensive materials, or they can be created using software.
Opens in a new window — Horizontal prototypes
Benefits of horizontal prototypes:
- Focus on the user interface (UI) of a product
- Test how users interact with the product
- Can be created using inexpensive materials or software
Vertical prototypes
Vertical prototypes focus on the functionality of a product. They are used to test how the product works, such as how it handles data or how it interacts with other systems. Vertical prototypes can be created using software or by coding up specific parts of the product.
Opens in a new window — Vertical prototypes
Benefits of vertical prototypes:
- Focus on the functionality of a product
- Test how the product works
- Can be created using software or coding
Rapid prototyping
Rapid prototyping is a process of creating prototypes quickly and iteratively. This allows designers to get feedback from users early on in the development process and make changes to the product as needed. Rapid prototyping can be used for both low-fidelity and high-fidelity prototypes.
Benefits of rapid prototyping:
- Allows for quick and iterative feedback
- Makes it easy to make changes to the product as needed
- Can be used for both low-fidelity and high-fidelity prototypes
Evolutionary prototyping
Evolutionary prototyping is a process of starting with a basic prototype and gradually adding features and functionality as the product develops. This allows designers to focus on the most important features first and to get feedback from users early on in the development process.
Benefits of evolutionary prototyping:
- Allows for a focus on the most important features first
- Gets feedback from users early on in the development process
- Makes it easy to add features and functionality as the product develops
Extreme prototyping
Extreme prototyping is a process of creating prototypes that are as close to the final product as possible. This allows designers to get feedback from users on the final product and to make changes as needed before the product is released.
Benefits of extreme prototyping:
- Allows for feedback on the final product
- Makes it easy to make changes to the product before it is released
Feasibility prototypes
Feasibility prototypes are used to test whether a product can be made. They are typically made from inexpensive materials and are not intended to be perfect replicas of the final product.
Benefits of feasibility prototypes:
- Test whether a product can be made
- Inexpensive
- Allow for early feedback on basic concepts
Usability prototypes
Usability prototypes are used to test how easy a product is to use. They are typically made from more realistic materials than feasibility prototypes and are used to test specific features and functions of the product.
Benefits of usability prototypes:
- Test how easy a product is to use
- Made from more realistic materials than feasibility prototypes
- Test specific features and functions of the product
