The goal of design is to solve problems, so designers are always looking for the best solution to solve problems. It's not always easy to get the perfect solution on the first try; this is why designers devote time to developing prototypes and testing them with users.
There are different ways to create prototypes, but this article will look at the best four quick prototyping techniques.
Methods of Prototyping
Paper Prototyping
Paper prototyping is simply creating a prototype with pen and paper, it is one of the earliest forms of prototyping, and they are handy at the first stage of prototyping. You don't need any particular skill to use this. You can quickly scribble, sketch and cut out part of a user interface on paper, e.g., the header, drop-down menu, the text field, the buttons, etc.
Although paper prototypes are easy to create and great for receiving early feedback, you will have to spend more time explaining them to users during usability testing.
Clickable wireframes
A wireframe is a web page layout that indicates what interface elements will be displayed on key pages. Clickable wireframes show the user interface of a website or software application in a visual format. In contrast to static wireframes, clickable wireframes respond to user interaction in simulation.
Clickable wireframes may have buttons that perform a specific action or lead the user to a related prototype page when clicked. It also has the advantage of showing several states of a user interface. For example, a drop-down or side-bar menu may appear in simulation, which would not be possible with static wireframes.
Clickable wireframes can also deliver more accurate findings in usability testing, and this is because the interactive experience is similar to that of a completed application. They are easy to modify as you are not required to re-draw a whole page on paper to introduce changes.
Role-play
A role play is a form of prototyping or simulation technique that can aid in the quick discovery of the target audience's user experience for a product or service. In this type of research, participants take on specific roles in a skit or a conversation.
When you put yourself in the shoes of a character (your user in this case), you can better comprehend the issues they confront when using your product. It helps to develop an empathetic understanding of users, which is very useful when you want to discover critical areas within the product you are designing.
Wizard of Oz Prototyping
The name of this prototype process comes from L. Frank Baum's famous story. In the story, the Wizard creates a superpower illusion with a set of controls while hiding behind a curtain.
Wizard of Oz prototypes are false functionalities prototypes that you may use to test with your users, for example, interactivity that originates from a human rather than software, with users believing the latter. This technique is suitable for understanding how users will interact with an actual product.
There are more techniques in UX design that can help you become a better designer, but you need a tutor to help you understand them and guide you on how to use them. This is why you should register for the GoCreate USA Bootcamp, where you will learn the details of UX design.