digital prototypes
Creating a digital prototype during the UX Design process involves developing a simulated, interactive version of the final product's user interface.
The purpose of the digital prototype is to provide a tangible visualization of the design, allowing designers and stakeholders to test functionalities, flow, and interactions.
The benefits of the digital prototype include early identification of design flaws. Catching design problems early saves money.
While appearing to be an extra step in the process, the creation of the digital prototype accelerates the design cycle by communicating the design of the interface to the various stakeholders.
The aim is focus on the user interface with the mindset and behaviors of the user. This is part of the user-centric development process that aims to develop a webapp final product that user's will rate as satisfactory and effective.
The digital prototype can be produced in the form of screenshots of the webapp's user interface, stitched together with an animation, like an animated gif.
For example, a digital prototype may include the following user interfaces:
- homepage
- schedule page
- list of available (guides)
- (guide) profiles
- confirm booking
- booking confirmation screen
The interactive app also includes the functions that link a button on one interface to the display of another interface.
Each of the interface screens includes a rudimentary design:
- heading
- nav
- menu
- search (chat)
- main
- footer
- contact