What Is the prototyping model in software engineering?
Prototyping is a process of creating models using software, usually in three dimensions. Prototypes are often created with rapid prototyping tools, which may enable designers to create interactive or animated interfaces with high-fidelity elements. A prototype model can be used to test the usability of a system’s interaction design before extensive resources are expended on building an entire product. It is also used in basic and intermediate design courses in software-related industries like a computer, electronics, and mechanical engineering
In Software Engineering, Prototype methodology is a software development model in which a prototype is built, tested and then reworked when needed until an acceptable prototype is achieved. Prototypes are often built quickly to test ideas and software before expensive projects are built.
Advantages of UI/UX Design Prototyping
Sure, there are many pros and cons of the prototype model. The main advantage of this method is that your idea will be explored and it can detect any errors in the initial stage itself. In UI/UX Design prototyping, the designer will be able to confirm whether the functionality is working or not. Once you have a prototype ready, you can make a demo video of it and share it online to let others know your product idea. This will give you an idea of how people like your product idea. And if people like it they will surely try to invest in your project too. Another advantage is that here you can use 3D models instead of 2D drawings which make them look more realistic and appealing. In UI/UX Design prototyping, the designer will have complete control over the design to test it.
Tips for making your own UX Design prototyping:
In UI/UX Design prototyping, you will have to work on the design with proper planning. You need to have a good knowledge of tools or software that can be used for designing or creating prototypes. You will also need to know the kind of software required according to your idea. Below are some tips which can be useful for you while designing UI/UX Design :
If you want to make your design more appealing and realistic, you should work on the colors and shadows in the design. Realistic and appealing designs always attract more users which in turn will help in getting potential investors.
The quality of your design also matters a lot in UI/UX Design prototyping. If you make poor quality prototypes, people will not believe in your ideas and it will be difficult for you to find any financial help. Always use good quality designs to make them look professional and attractive to others.
Always keep in mind that your prototype should be designed according to the needs of the users and not just for testing purposes only.
Prototyping is all about testing your design for any issues. You should use the prototype to check if the design works properly or not. If you are not able to identify any error using the prototype, then there might be some issue with the design itself. So, after creating a prototype you should test it thoroughly for any errors or problems that you might have overlooked.
Make sure that your prototypes are designed according to the requirements of the people who will use them. For example, if you are designing an interactive software prototype for kids, then the user interface must be simple so that they can easily understand it and navigate through it without any confusion.
Prototyping Tools for UX Designers
How many times have you heard “This is just a mockup? This isn’t real code.”? It is true that prototypes done with code are not real code, but they are the design documents testers use to write their test plans and developers use to build applications of any size. Prototyping tools for UX designers allow you to create applications of extreme complexity with little or no effort which is the primary reason why your team needs one.
It can be difficult to know where to start when searching for the best prototyping tool for UI/UX designers, so we’ve rounded up some of our favorite prototyping tools below.
Adobe Experience Design CC is a web-based UI prototyping tool from Adobe that helps people from all walks of life create interactive prototypes that can be exported into a variety of formats including HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. The tool also supports real-time collaboration using the “LiveShare” feature which allows multiple users to simultaneously edit a prototype and see changes in real-time. The platform supports a variety of standard design elements that can be easily placed into a prototype. The tool comes with several pre-built widgets that can be placed directly in your prototypes including buttons, panels, modals, and menus. Another cool feature built into this tool is the ability to take screenshots via the “Record” feature which allows you to record what you are doing on your computer and create a video that shows the process in action.
Adobe XD is another web-based prototyping tool from Adobe that creates interactive high-fidelity prototypes of desktop and mobile applications. It is a visual tool made for UX designers and it assists you throughout the whole design process from beginning to end. In fact, the tool recommends the right tool for each step of the design cycle – whether you’re sketching or wireframing to creating interactive prototypes or sharing your designs with others. The tool supports vector and bitmap artwork and lets you export your designs to PSD, GIF, and PNG formats. It also features a built-in lite version of Photoshop CC so that you can use Photoshop layers saved in PSD files inside of your prototypes to create rich graphics without any additional plugins or software. Mockplus is an easy-to-use rapid prototyping tool for web and mobile app UI designers. It is mainly used to create interactive high-fidelity prototypes with less effort. It supports customized gestures and interactions, allowing designers to quickly test various application features. It also features a built-in 500+ icons, 200 components, 200 templates, powerful quick shape tools, 3000+ fonts for comprehensive design freedom.
Justinmind is another one of the most popular prototyping tools for UX designers that allows you to build accurate wireframes and prototypes of websites and apps. The tool provides support for team collaboration and real-time sharing, allowing you to present your prototypes to other designers and clients in a series of interactive presentations. The tool supports a variety of design elements, including buttons, forms, lists, typography, and navigation features. The interface is very intuitive and it can be easy to learn and use if you already know Sketch or Photoshop.
Popfly is an affordable web-based prototyping tool for UX designers that helps you create interactive wireframes using Adobe Photoshop templates. The templates are built with many popular jQuery UI elements such as accordions, dialog forms, modals, and popovers that help you quickly get your designs to life.
