Prototyping

Prototyping

Prototyping Jonathan Poland

A prototype is a preliminary version of something that is used to test and refine an idea, design, process, technology, product, service, or creative work. It serves as a tool for gathering requirements, developing and planning strategies, and evaluating the feasibility of a concept. Prototypes are often used to explore and validate the potential of a new idea or to identify areas for improvement before committing to a full-scale implementation. The following are common types of prototype.

Architectural Animation
A movie that walks through the proposed 3D space of a building or structure.

Concept Art
Illustrations that capture an aspect of design such as an idea, layout, form, aesthetic, architecture or sequence.

Demo
A short, unpolished version of a work such as a song, film, visual design, game or business application.

Evolutionary Prototype
A prototype that is extended over a considerable period of time that represents a future version of something. For example, a concept car that is developed as a potential future production model.

Form Study
An object or animation that explores size, shape, form and appearance.

Functional Prototype
A prototype that is close to the end result in functionality. For example, a user interface that works with test data but isn’t properly developed as an well designed and integrated system.

Horizontal Prototype
A prototype that shows a complete user interface without the ability to drill down.

Low Fidelity
A prototype that is less detailed or lower quality than the intended end result.

Minimum Viable Product
A product that’s complete enough to put in front of customers as tool of market research or as a beta release.

Mockup
A broad category of prototype that looks like the finished product but is completely lacking functionality. For example, a webpage depicted as an image or a car without an engine for use in wind tunnel testing.

Paper Prototype
Illustrations and primitive cardboard models of design ideas.

Proof Of Concept
An implementation of a method or design to prove that it can work.

Proof Of Principle
A test of a foundational idea.

Rapid Prototyping
Techniques such as 3D printing that produce a physical object from a computer aided design.

Scale Model
A smaller, typically non-functional, model. Commonly used for large things such as buildings, automobiles or aircraft.

Simulations
Software visualizations of physical things.

Sports Prototype
An advanced automobile that is only used for racing. Often used as a prototype for advanced technologies that may be used in future production models.

Static Prototype
A prototype that appears to be functional but is in fact hardcoded. For example, software that fakes its data as opposed to integrating with data repositories.

Storyboard
A series of graphics that visualize a sequence such as a user interaction or a scene in a film.

Throwaway Prototype
A low cost prototype that is quickly developed with limited quality and functionality. Essentially the opposite of an evolutionary prototype that represents a state of the art design.

Vertical Prototype
A user interface mockup with drill down capabilities.

Wireframes
An illustration of a skeletal framework that serves as a blueprint for a design.

Learn More
Liquidity Risk Jonathan Poland

Liquidity Risk

Liquidity risk is the risk that a financial institution or company will not be able to meet its financial obligations…

Product Extension Jonathan Poland

Product Extension

Product extension is the practice of introducing new products or product lines that are related to a company’s existing products.…

Alliance Marketing Jonathan Poland

Alliance Marketing

Alliance marketing refers to a strategic partnership between two or more organizations in which they agree to collaborate on marketing…

Decision Framing Jonathan Poland

Decision Framing

Decision framing refers to the way in which a choice or dilemma is presented or structured. This includes the language…

Productivity Jonathan Poland

Productivity

Productivity is a measure of how efficiently resources are used to produce goods and services. It is typically calculated by…

What is Air Gap? Jonathan Poland

What is Air Gap?

An air gap is a computer network that is physically isolated from other networks, including the internet. This isolation is…

Risk Acceptance Jonathan Poland

Risk Acceptance

Risk acceptance involves consciously deciding to take on a risk, often because the potential reward outweighs the potential negative consequences…

Revenue Operations Jonathan Poland

Revenue Operations

Revenue operations, also known as RevOps, is the practice of overseeing and optimizing an organization’s core sales processes. This includes…

Onboarding Jonathan Poland

Onboarding

Onboarding is the process of introducing a new employee to an organization and providing them with the necessary tools, resources,…

Content Database

Search over 1,000 posts on topics across
business, finance, and capital markets.

Manufacturing 150 150 Jonathan Poland

Manufacturing

Manufacturing is a critical phase in business development, especially for companies that produce physical goods. The synergies between manufacturing and…

Decoy Effect Jonathan Poland

Decoy Effect

The decoy effect is a cognitive bias that occurs when people make choices based on the relative attractiveness of options.…

Key Performance Indicators Jonathan Poland

Key Performance Indicators

KPIs, or key performance indicators, are metrics that are used to measure the performance of a business or organization. These…

Situational Awareness Jonathan Poland

Situational Awareness

Situational awareness (SA) is the ability to understand and effectively respond to a situation by being aware of what is…

What are Finished Goods? Jonathan Poland

What are Finished Goods?

Finished goods are products that have completed the manufacturing process and are ready for sale to customers. They are the…

IT Operations Jonathan Poland

IT Operations

IT operations involves the delivery and management of information technology services, including the implementation of processes and systems to support…

Direct Marketing Jonathan Poland

Direct Marketing

Direct marketing is a type of marketing that involves communicating directly with potential customers in order to generate a response…

Digital Maturity Jonathan Poland

Digital Maturity

Digital maturity refers to an organization’s ability to effectively utilize information technology to achieve its goals and objectives. This can…

Upselling Jonathan Poland

Upselling

Upselling is a sales technique that involves encouraging customers to purchase higher-priced, add-ons, or upgraded versions of products or services…