A prototype is a very important element in software development and it helps to verify the product design before the development begins. Prototype testing is conducted in order to test an early version of the software product by using real users. This helps to know whether your software product will be accepted by the end users once it is released. Through this article, we are going to learn what prototype testing is, its benefits, what are the types of prototype testing, how to conduct it, and the best practices.
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What Is a Prototype?
Prototype is an early version of a software product or product concept created to help understand its functionalities and design. Prototypes are mainly used to display how a new design or a feature meets its end-users requirements and desires.
What Is Prototype Testing?
Prototype testing is creating prototypes or early mock-up versions of a software application and evaluating its design, functional and non-functional aspects, user experience, and other key factors before moving to the development phase. During prototype testing, project teams present the created prototypes to their target audience and gather audience feedback on which components are approved to proceed with the development and which components should be further improved.
Different Types of Prototypes
There are four different types of prototypes and each of them has its own set of conditions. Let’s get to know what those key prototypes are.
Low-Fidelity Prototypes
Most of the time low-fidelity prototypes are based on papers and they do not allow any user interaction. Any hand-drawn sketch or a mockup design that is drawn on a sheet of paper can be considered a low-fidelity prototype. A hand-drawn basic layout of the structure of a website dashboard can be given as an example of a low-fidelity prototype. That layout should be drawn on paper and it should display the outlines and the placements of the elements without mentioning any of their features.
High-Fidelity Prototypes
High-fidelity prototypes are completely different from low-fidelity prototypes because they are highly interactive and functional. From every perspective, high-fidelity prototypes are similar to the final software product. These kinds of prototypes contain all the necessary components that should be integrated with the respective final software product. A prototype of a mobile application created using a design tool like Figma can be considered a high-fidelity prototype. It should provide a more realistic preview of the final software application with the actual user interfaces with clickable buttons, page navigation, and other functional components.
Live Data Prototypes
Live data prototypes are more interactive than other traditional prototypes and they always use live user data. Those kinds of prototypes are mostly designed in code form. An e-commerce website prototype that displays live product information, actual product prices and their availability can be taken as an example of a live data prototype.
Feasibility Prototypes
Feasibility prototypes are specially designed to test a selected feature or a component of the software product. Usually, the software project teams make sure to design the function within its predefined boundaries while making feasibility prototypes in order to evaluate the technical aspects behind the respective function. A prototype of a facial recognition feature of a smart mobile banking application that is specially focused on its function can be considered as an example of a feasibility prototype. It should allow the users to interact with the facial recognition feature while evaluating its accuracy within the given scope.
Why Do You Need Prototype Testing?
Prototype testing does not only help the testers to validate the design of the software application. From requirement gathering to fixing defects, it helps all the stakeholders such as developers, business analysts, customers, end-users, etc. Here are some of the reasons that help us to identify why prototype testing is important.
What are The Benefits of Testing Prototypes Before Launch?
Testing prototypes before a software product launch gives a lot of benefits for both the customers and the software development teams. Let’s get to know some of those key benefits.
User Testing Methods for Testing Your Prototype
After your prototype creation is completed, it is ready to carry on to the stages of managing your test cases and starting automated testing on it. There are some user testing methods you can conduct on your product prototype. Let’s get to know those user testing methods.
Moderated Testing
Moderated testing is used to gather feedback at earlier stages when designing a new software product. This prototype testing method requires a person who is involved to observe users who interact with the software product, record the major findings and observations of those user interactions, and capture the user’s direct feedback.
Unmoderated Testing
Unmoderated testing has similarities with usability testing but it is less structured than that. Unlike moderated testing, this type of prototype testing does not need the involvement of a moderator. Since unmoderated prototype testing does not require any moderator, lab, or any other test conditions, it is easier and cheaper to conduct this type of testing. However, it will be a bit harder for the testers to sort data when it comes to unmoderated tests.
Remote Testing
Remote prototype testing can be conducted virtually using a tablet or a computer. Because of that, it is easier to get the involvement of a group of users to test the prototype who may feel more comfortable using their own digital devices even from their own homes.
In-Person Testing
In-person prototype testing means the involvement of the users on-site since the development team might need to assess the product functionalities using the users’ facial expressions, body language, etc. Therefore, conducting this prototype testing type is a bit harder than remote testing.
Qualitative Testing
Qualitative testing is designed to evaluate the “why” factor behind every decision made. When conducting qualitative prototype testing, the testers have to gather information on user’s thoughts, feelings, opinions, and challenges they face while using the designed software product. It ultimately helps to develop certain features in a more meaningful manner and reduces the confusion of the end-users.
Quantitative Testing
Quantitative prototype testing gives a more accurate picture of what is happening in the software application and it mainly focuses on the aspects such as performance and stability.
When Should You Test Your Prototype?
Even though you have created a complete and functioning prototype, it is always better to decide when you should conduct prototype testing considering the relevant factors such as scope, timeline, budget, project complexity, etc. The phase you should do prototype testing always depends on what type of prototype you have designed.
Paper-based low-fidelity prototypes are better to test right after completing the initial design work and during the early development stages. Because they mainly give an idea of the layout and the product design. It is better to test high-fidelity prototypes after doing the final changes in the prototype once you have reviewed low-fidelity and the test data. When the developers need proof and evidence to know whether a particular feature works, you can conduct testing tasks for live data prototypes. Feasibility prototypes can be verified before committing resources of the software product and while defining the scope of the software project.
How to Test Your Prototype: Step-By-Step Process
Testing a prototype is a sequential process. Here are the steps that need to be followed in order to test the prototype of your software application.
Step 1 – Gather and Analyze User Information
The first step of prototype testing is to collect and analyze the gathered user data. Once the users have given their feedback and all other user requirements are ready, the project team can go ahead with the rest of the testing steps. Clarity is very important when it comes to user requirements.
Step 2 – Design The Prototype
The most important step is building the prototype of the product that needs to be tested. The prototype should be created using the information that was collected during the first step of the process. There, you can create an initial product design in the first place and create a more interactive prototype that is closer to the end product using that. If needed, you can use real data for the created prototype to make sure that it is more accurate and test one or two of them.
Step 3 – Decide What to Test
During this step, the testers should decide what they want to test in the particular prototype before using a prototype testing tool. There, the testers can focus on whether the functions work according to the given user requirements, whether the page navigations and working correctly, whether the functions have a smooth flow and work with less confusion, whether the components such as buttons are labels placed correctly, etc.
Step 4 – Create a Preliminary Design
A preliminary design is a simplified version of the final prototype that gives the users a rough idea about how the final product should work. The team can start this step by drawing rough sketches and paper drawings to test different designs.
Step 5 – Create Test Scenarios
During this step, testers should create test scenarios considering the initial functionalities of the software application, end-users expectations, and feedback. Most importantly, those test scenarios should cover the real-life scenarios when creating test scenarios.
Step 6 – Initiate User Feedback
There, you can conduct an initial user evaluation, where you present the created prototype to the end-users and get their comments and suggestions on that. Using that information, the prototype can be improved further with less confusion and requirement defects.
Best Practices for Successful Prototype Testing
Prototype testing can be conducted in several ways but it is always better to use best practices when doing prototype testing in order to get the maximum out of it.
There are many tools that can be used to conduct prototype testing. Let’s get to know some of those well-known tools.
Figma
Figma is a well-known design and collaboration tool that can be used to create functional prototypes quickly in a more efficient way. Furthermore, it allows real-time feedback to improve the prototypes to the next level.
Framer
Framer is an integrated platform for design, creating prototypes, and development. Specially, it allows to creation of both high and low-fidelity prototypes. Going beyond that, it helps to create interactive prototype designs as well.
UXPin
UXPin is a well-known tool for high-fidelity prototype designing. It is created with a lot of in-built UI elements and integrations and reusable components as well. Provides the ability to connect with Storybook, Git repo, or NPM package to bring in code components directly into your design system, app, or website.
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HereConclusion
Test prototypes are a key factor in software development and it allows the development teams to receive valuable feedback to improve the overall quality of the final product. Even though there are various types of prototype testing and usability testing, we should know what to choose from them and when we need to conduct prototype testing. Using the right tools and adhering to best practices will help us to get the maximum out of it. If a development team can successfully conduct prototype testing, there is no doubt about the quality of the end product.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the prototype test model for?
The prototype test model is created to assess and test the functionalities, design, and user experience of a software product during the earlier stages of development. There, you can gather user feedback, detect potential issues, and apply further improvements to the end product.
What are the two main types of prototypes?
The two main types of test prototypes are low-fidelity prototypes and high-fidelity prototypes. Low-fidelity prototypes are mainly paper-based and their interactions are very limited. It is used to display basic designs and layout concepts of the product. High-fidelity prototypes are highly interactive and they provide a more realistic preview of the product compared to the other types of prototypes.
Why is it a good idea to test a prototype?
Testing prototypes gives a lot of advantages. Allowing gathering user feedback in earlier development stages, reducing cost and time, detecting issues at the earliest, and improving user engagement are some of those benefits.
What are the problems that you face when testing a prototype?
Prototypes do not have the complete functionalities most of the time and it is a bit challenging when it comes to testing all aspects of the final product. Sometimes, users misinterpret the components of the prototype which can be affected by the feedback. Sometimes, there can be technical difficulties and constraints when it comes to designing and it can be affected by the representations of the product as well.
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Whether you’re a small brand or an enterprise with a long history in the industry, creating new products is associated with many risks. How can you develop a useful product? What value do you want to offer?
Successful businesses can pivot as needed, but it’s not always easy. That’s why many leading companies adopt an agile approach to product development. This methodology focuses on testing different prototypes at various milestones during production.
By adopting this approach, companies can test their ideas and start an iterative process until they reach the final production stage.
To achieve optimal results, you have to use the right tools during the process. A video-based user research platform such as our PlaybookUX allows you to run a moderated prototype study or unmoderated prototype tests and ask the participants whatever questions you need to gather data and further optimize your product.
PlaybookUX is compatible with many different solutions for prototyping, including Webflow and UXPin. You can also use our platform to conduct other studies, including card sorting, tree testing, and usability testing.
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PlaybookUX can also serve as a research repository. Our search feature, indexing, and tags make crucial information easy to find. Sign up on the spot and make use of our 7-day free trial!
If you want to know more about prototyping, read on. We’ll discuss the prototype testing benefits, when and why to use it, and how PlaybookUX perfectly fits in the prototyping process.
Prototype testing is a process that involves the creation of a working model to test the functionality and usability of a product. Companies can use this method to test their finished products against real users to determine if they are ready for mass production.
In software development, you can use interactive prototypes to test whether your product works as you expect. Prototypes can also help developers quickly see the impact of their modifications on product performance. On a smaller scale, you can use prototypes to test whether certain design elements work correctly.
Prototypes are used in many industries to test products before they are brought to the market. You can use them to assess how well new products align with potential buyers’ preferences. It is even more relevant when it comes to software because people around the world use these products.
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A prototype testing tool makes prototype testing of digital products easier. It allows you to conduct studies without planning and executing each step manually.
For example, a platform like our PlaybookUX can take care of user research recruitment and simplify the testing process significantly thanks to automation. It can help you test your prototypes quickly. Start your free trial to see how it works.
It’s hard to describe how important prototype testing is. It’s one of the essential stages of product development.
It’s a way to test whether your solution works well enough before you waste too much time and money. The purpose of prototype testing is to collect valuable feedback from real users to reduce the risks associated with the launch.
By creating a functional model that closely resembles the final product, you can quickly identify any problems with your design and make the necessary changes.
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Prototype testing is one of many usability testing methods. It provides information about how your planned end product looks, feels, and works.
You can use it to test if the product meets its design goals and conveys the right message. You can explore different user experiences and gain valuable insights into how users interact with your solution.
Usability testing is a broader term. You don’t necessarily conduct a usability test using prototypes, though sometimes you might. Depending on the method, you can test existing websites or applications or even evaluate ideas in early stages of the product development.
Different research methods may also have different goals. For example, some studies focus on information architecture, others on content design, or on getting very detailed data regarding user interaction, user satisfaction, user engagement, conversions, or page navigation.
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Neither is better or worse. While concept testing and prototyping may seem very similar, you can conduct these two studies at different stages of product development.
Concept testing comes first. Once you start creating the product or have a more precise idea of what you want to make, you can use concept testing to assess various aspects of your solution. Let’s imagine you want to create an online store selling shoes only for women. Concept testing will help you validate the basic idea by assessing whether your target audience shows any interest in your idea.
Prototype testing, on the other hand, allows you to evaluate if your clients like the specific design of your product.
For example, in the case of the online shop with shoes for women, you can see whether users like the website you’ve created and whether the design fits your target audience’s preferences.
Prototyping helps you determine whether your product is intuitive and provides valuable features and attractive design that motivates customers to use your solution.
Some people use the terms interchangeably, but these methods have some crucial differences. You can use prototype testing during software development to guide the process and make the necessary changes before your product is shown to customers.
A pilot test, often called a beta test, doesn’t rely on a prototype. Instead, you can offer the early version of your product to a carefully chosen group of customers and see their reactions.
You can let them use your website or app and launch the product if everything seems well and there are no severe issues.
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You must keep a few things in mind to successfully test a prototype. Here are six simple steps to get the most out of the process.
The first thing you need to do is set a goal for the entire testing process. Think about what you want to discover. What kind of data do you need?
You also need to know what your product will represent, how it’s supposed to work, and what kind of experience you aim to deliver.
Now, you need to consider your target audience. It is vital for the prototype testing process because a poorly defined test audience can completely skew your results and make the data unusable.
Your test participants need to reflect the people you’re going to offer your product to – the more alike they are, the better the data you’ll get from your test.
The next logical step is to create the prototype you want to test. Depending on the nature and goals of the study, you may either need a complex prototype that faithfully represents the end product (high-fidelity prototype) or something far less sophisticated (low-fidelity prototype).
Now, it’s time to choose a suitable testing method aligned with your goals. There are two choices here. First, you need to decide whether your test will be performed locally, in the real world, or remotely – via the Internet.
Local, in-person testing is an excellent option in some circumstances, especially when testing physical products. However, it’s also quite expensive and time-consuming.
Remote testing is easier to do, and – if you use a platform like our PlaybookUX – it gives you access to a much wider audience.
The second choice has to do with the nature of the study. In essence, there are two main options here:
In most prototype tests, you’ll also want to find tools to make the entire process easier.
PlaybookUX is a great option here. You can run moderated and unmoderated tests and many other user research methods. Our platform automates many aspects of the process, like transcribing and scheduling testing sessions. It’s also a robust UX research repository.
What’s best, you can start a 7-day free trial to test all features before you decide to use PlaybookUX.
The next logical step is to analyze the results. Consider all the data, and share it with other stakeholders. Use that information to guide future experiments and further develop your idea.
You’ll learn more about your customers and how they respond to your product, and you can use this knowledge to expand your product range or make changes to your current offerings.
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It’s not a secret that successful prototype testing is an essential part of the product development process. Here are a couple of reasons why.
It is probably the most important thing. When you work on one product long enough, you can sometimes get tunnel vision. You may not be able to see all its advantages and – more importantly – disadvantages.
Prototype testing shines a light on issues while there’s still time to fix them. It also lets you get a fresh perspective.
Seeing how people interact with your prototype can help you understand how your ideas work in practice. Here are some of the questions you can answer:
Do copies and content work as well as they should?
Is the product intuitive?
Can people navigate and use it without problems?
The important thing is that you can test features freely and refine your product.
Some studies show that engineers spend up to 50% of their time fixing problems that could’ve been avoided at an earlier stage of development. Improving a product already on the market can be up to a hundred times more expensive than fixing a prototype before launch.
Because of this, prototype testing is a crucial step of the product development process for anyone who treats their business seriously. You can save yourself money, time, and more than one headache.
You can also use prototype testing to persuade other stakeholders, like different departments or executives at your company, that your idea has merit. You get hard statistics and data that can skew things in your favor and help you get the support you need to move your plan forward.
User feedback is valuable. Getting it early can help you shape your product. In the end, users’ perspective is always what matters the most, so you should use every research method and tool that allows you to see your solution from their angle.
PlaybookUX is a powerful video-based user research platform you can use to conduct various prototype tests. You can run moderated studies and ask follow-up questions. You can also make use of unmoderated prototyping with 5-8 people. It’s swift, effective, and easy to do.
Moreover, PlaybookUX is also an excellent research repository. Our indexing and tagging systems make finding anything you need in your workspace a breeze, and you don’t need to invest in any additional license to access this feature.
Additionally, you can use PlaybookUX for other user testing methods, such as content design, concept testing, and creative testing. It’s a powerful solution that can be a big help during prototype testing and other steps of the development process.
PlaybookUX is also an excellent choice for those who need unmoderated user testing tools, card sorting tools, and tree testing tools. You can also run moderated user interviews to get feedback on various product aspects directly from your users.
All in all, our PlaybookUX is one of the best usability testing tools on the market. It’s an invaluable platform for anyone interested in prototype testing.
Prototype testing allows you to get quick answers to questions regarding your product and identify possible issues before you invest too much time and money into further development.
It also helps you avoid common pitfalls – you can’t build a product that meets your target audience’s requirements if you create it based on your preferences.
By building models and testing your ideas, you can determine if the final product is well-designed and intuitive. If it doesn’t work, you can easily tweak the prototype until it matches your customers’ needs.
If you’re interested in prototype testing, one solution that can help you immensely is a user research platform like our PlaybookUX. You can use it to run moderated and unmoderated prototype studies with customized tasks.
You can get video recordings and ask follow-up questions to clarify results that seem confusing. PlaybookUX can also serve as your research repository without incurring any additional costs.
Sign up on the spot and check it out – the 7-day free trial will let you test all our great features!
Do you have further questions regarding prototype testing? Here are some of the prevalent issues people search on the Internet.
There are many methods for testing prototypes:
It’s worth noting that companies in different industries use different methods for testing the prototypes of their products.
There are four things you have to do to create a prototype of your solution:
You can prototype many things, such as websites, applications, or even physical products – for example, a smartphone or a kitchen robot.
Prototype testing is just one usability testing method, but there are others. For example, unmoderated tests, moderated interviews, card sorting, or tree testing.
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