prototype

A prototype makes an idea concrete before the team spends much time developing it fully. It might be a screen sketch, clickable design or simple software version. The choice depends on the question you want to answer.

What can you investigate with a prototype?

A prototype lets you check early whether a design is understandable. Test users can show whether they find a button, complete a task or consider the steps logical. The findings help test assumptions and adjust the design.

A prototype therefore does not need every feature. It may already look like the final product while little works behind the scenes. A technical prototype may look simple and test just one interaction or solution. Its code is not automatically suitable for production: security, performance and error handling may still be missing.

Prototype, proof of concept or MVP?

A proof of conceptGlossary · In briefproof of conceptA proof of concept is a small-scale experiment that investigates whether an idea is technically or practically feasible before it is fully developed.Read more⁠ mainly investigates technical or practical feasibility. A prototype usually focuses on the form, behaviour or user experienceGlossary · In briefuser experienceUser experience, often abbreviated to UX, is the overall experience someone has when using a product, system or service.Read more⁠ of a possible solution. Both can be temporary and discarded after the investigation.

An MVPGlossary · In briefMVPMVP stands for Minimum Viable Product: the smallest usable version of a product that lets you test key assumptions with real users.Read more⁠ is an initial usable version for real users. It includes only the features needed to provide value and gather feedback from actual use. A prototype can precede an MVP, but is not necessarily a functioning or maintainable product itself.