Supportsoft Glossary

How Prototypes Validate Ideas Before Full Development

An initial prototype is a simplified representation of a product that is created to verify ideas prior to starting actual product development. Prototypes are valuable because they enable teams to investigate concepts and test their assumptions about what will work through feedback, without the expense of full product development. 

A low-fidelity prototype, for example, may provide layout and navigation options, while a higher-fidelity prototype may create an interactive simulation of essential functions. Prototyping in the software environment allows stakeholders to visualise the user experience, identify areas for improvement, and better clarify requirements of the final software product. 

Designers and developers use prototypes to investigate workflows, make decisions regarding technology, and try to identify effective interfaces. By encouraging iterative testing and learning, rather than striving for a finalised structure, prototypes help reduce risk by enabling teams to test features that are less likely to meet a stakeholder's needs before a full production run. 

By receiving early input from users, clients and decision makers during the prototyping phase, teams are better able to make educated design decisions and plan projects more accurately. When full-scale product development occurs, project teams have a much clearer picture of their overall goals, allowing them to avoid creating unnecessary work and to ensure the completed product will meet the stakeholders' expectations.