Autor: Stiven Garcia

As engineers, designers, and other related fields, we are familiar with the term prototype, as we engage in it even before embarking on academic journeys, from the sketches we make to represent an idea to the models embodying those ideas. But what exactly is prototyping, and how can we use it to deliver a product that meets users' needs? 

First, let's define prototyping. This tool involves creating initial ideas and preliminary versions of a product or service. Its primary objective is to allow us to test, evaluate, and validate different components and functionalities of the product, determining whether it meets your objectives, those of the client, or the company.

One of the main benefits of prototyping is optimizing the resources that will be devoted to developing the project. Through early prototyping, we can determine if the project can proceed to a development phase. Once we establish that the project has potential for development, prototyping allows us, through testing, to refine ideas, functionalities, and components as much as possible. This clarity enables us to communicate to the development team the product's scope and the team's expectations.

Now, let's discuss the phases of prototyping and the function of each.

Phase 1: Sketching or Drafting

In this phase, we'll sketch initial ideas on paper. This provides a quick first impression of content configuration, quantity, and types of elements. It's highly useful in the ideation and research phase and easily adaptable to early changes.

Phase 2: Wireframes

In the second phase, we refine the sketches to arrive at a design that more accurately represents the expected outcome of each component, connecting each view to the next—for example, seeing what happens when we press a button. The aim is to make it as clear as possible so that anyone viewing it can understand all the components without explanation. To achieve this, we must have a clear understanding of screen interactions, user flows, and use cases before adding interactivity. 

Lo que pretendemos es que quede lo mas claro posible, de manera que cualquier persona que lo vea pueda entender sin ningún tipo de explicación todos los componentes. Para esto debemos tener muy claras las interacciones entre pantallas, las maneras de uno y los casos de uso antes de agregar la interactividad.

Phase 3: Non-functional Prototype

In this phase, we add interactions and follow the flow of a product, the next phase being development, showcasing a design very similar to what the final product would look like. This phase is typically presented to the team using a tool simulating a functional app or website. 

Now that you understand what prototyping is and how it's used, you can implement this tool in your product or service design and development processes, streamlining and optimizing your resources. Some tools you can use for this purpose include Figma, Justinmind, InVision, Marvel, Sketch, Balsamiq, and Proto.io.

 Our slogan,

"technological solutions from people to people," has enabled us to include users as protagonists in our application design processes for analytics, allowing us to prototype based on experience. Let us know how we can assist you in your prototyping processes.

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