1️⃣ What is Prototyping?

Prototyping is the process of creating an early, testable version of a product to validate design ideas before development.

It can range from simple sketches to fully interactive click-through mockups.

  • Low-Fidelity Prototypes: Basic wireframes that emphasize layout and flow.
  • High-Fidelity Prototypes: Detailed visuals with realistic interactions, colors, and branding.

Prototypes let stakeholders and users experience a product before any code is written.

2️⃣ Key Benefits

  • Early Feedback: Identify usability issues before costly development.
  • Improved Collaboration: Designers, developers, and stakeholders work from a shared vision.
  • Faster Iteration: Adjust layouts, interactions, and features quickly.
  • Cost Efficiency: Reduces rework during development.

3️⃣ Example Project: Food Delivery App

Scenario: Designing a mobile app to order food.

Steps

  1. Wireframing – Created low-fidelity screens for browsing restaurants and placing orders.
  2. Interactive Prototype – Used Figma to link screens with tap gestures and sliding menus.
  3. Stakeholder Review – Team explored flows like searching, ordering, and tracking deliveries.
  4. User Feedback – Conducted moderated testing to refine navigation and checkout process.

Result: Usability issues were resolved before development, saving time and costs.

4️⃣ Prototyping Best Practices

  • Start Simple : Begin with low-fidelity sketches to validate layout quickly.
  • Design for Accessibility:
    » Maintain sufficient color contrast.
    » Include keyboard navigation and ARIA roles for screen readers.
  • Responsive First : Ensure prototypes adapt to mobile, tablet, and desktop breakpoints.
  • Document Interactions : Add notes or annotations for developers

5️⃣ Free AI Tools for Prototyping

  • Figma + AI Plugins : Auto-generate wireframes and dummy content.
  • Uizard: Turn text prompts or sketches into clickable prototypes.
  • Penpot: Open-source design and prototyping tool for teams.
  • ChatGPT: Generate microcopy and user flow suggestions.

These tools accelerate iteration while maintaining creative control.

✅ Conclusion

Prototyping is the bridge between ideas and a real product experience. By building low- to high-fidelity prototypes, gathering feedback early, and applying accessibility and responsive design standards, you ensure your final product is user-friendly and development-ready.

A strong prototype saves time, reduces costs, and sets the stage for a successful User Testing phase.

UX Idiation - Information Architecture