What is rapid prototyping?
Rapid prototyping is the process of creating lower-fidelity prototypes with multiple fast iterations based on user feedback.
It is not meant for refining ideas, but for identifying good ideas and weeding out bad ones. The model for rapid prototyping involves designing, testing, refining, and repeating, which embeds user feedback throughout the design process and aligns the product definition with the user’s perspective.
Paper prototyping is one possible method for rapid prototyping, and guerrilla usability testing can work well when teams have limited usability testing resources.
What do you need for rapid prototyping?
TIME
MATERIALS
It depends on the level of fidelity of your prototype. Here are some options:
How do you rapid prototype?
Step 1: Identify user needs
Gather user needs from stakeholders, test users, and/or market research.
Step 2: Decide what to rapid prototype
Identify a function, feature, or task flow to prototype.
Step 3: Design prototype
Create a testable prototype using low-fidelity designs to refine ideas. This could be anything from a sketch on a napkin to a fully interactive, high-fidelity, digital prototype.
Step 4: Test with users
Show your prototype to test users you can find quickly, even if they are coworkers, strangers or acquaintances.
Step 5: Modify prototype
Address usability issues in your designs and prototype based on the feedback you receive.
Step 6: Continue rapid prototyping, testing, and refining
Test this new version of your design and continue iterating. As your design’s issues are resolved, move up to higher-fidelity methods to finalize the design.
Tips for great rapid prototyping
