A prototype is a clickable model made by linking the screen designs together. It behaves like a finished product, the buttons lead to other screens and a product added to the basket shows up there, yet there is no software behind it yet. It is made in Figma, and anyone can open it from a link on their phone or computer without installing anything or signing up.
It is worth making because many things look fine on a static screen and still get stuck in use. Only by clicking through do you find out that the back button leads to the wrong place, or that the sign-up asks for too many fields. These mistakes can be fixed in the prototype in minutes, while after development they cost money and time.
What it can be used for
- User testing, where a few real visitors complete a task while we watch where they get stuck
- Internal sign-off, when management or investors want to see how it works before development
- Developer handover, because the developer can see what each click leads to
- Quickly trying out a new feature before you commit a serious development budget to it
A user test does not need many people. Five or six participants are enough to reveal the most common sticking points, because almost everyone runs into the serious problems. During the test we give a specific task, for example to find a product and add it to the basket, and watch where they hesitate.
We share the prototype through a link, so your team can try it on their own phones and add their comments directly to the screens. The feedback collects in one place this way, and does not get lost in a chain of emails and screenshots.
A prototype does not need to include every screen. We usually link up the most important journeys, for example the purchase or the enquiry, because most depends on these. For a simpler site this is a few days of work, while for a complex app it keeps growing throughout the design.
A prototype also takes a lot of the burden off development. The developer receives a design that has already been tried out, so fewer questions and fewer late changes are left for the end of the work.
