Prototyping

By prototyping we mean the early visualization and iterative optimization of a user interface. The benefit of this agile approach: We can obtain early feedback from all project participants and especially from users and easily correct designs. The result is a user-friendly application.

Our approach to Prototyping

Prototypes are early visualizations of the system or system segment to be developed. With the help of these drafts, we clarify all important questions and requirements of the project stakeholders and users already in the user interface and prototyping phases. For example, we perform usability tests already with paper prototypes or prototypes with partial functionality. If requirements change due to test results or a usability problem is identified, we can make straightforward adjustments that would have been expensive after implementation.

Prototypes also provide valuable benefits to project participants in the company: They ensure that all persons responsible have the same conception of the system to be developed and provide for more efficient collaboration in the team.

The end result of the prototyping phase can serve as a direct template for the programming.

Examples for prototypes

Structure and layout

Before contents and functions are placed, we clarify the basic layout, compliance with formal boundary conditions, and the screen resolution, among other things. In this way, we ensure consistency from the start.

Wireframes

With wireframes, we establish the functional framework and clarify how contents will be displayed for the user. In order to knowingly place the focus on functions, structure, and layout, we do not yet create the fine design in this step. Instead of holding discussions about favorite colors, we use this phase to test whether contents and functions correspond to the requirements of the users.

Graphic prototypes

Finally, we can, for example, use fully functional graphical prototypes to simulate the system including its design and interaction. With such high-fidelity prototypes we obtain feedback on the holistic user experience of the new system.

When do we recommend Prototyping?

We recommend the use of prototypes if you are planning to revise your system in whole or in part or would like to develop a new application.

Even if there are still many unclarified questions, prototyping can be used to find easy-to-implement answers. How will the numerous ideas for an application or new function look in a concrete manner on the user interface? Does it function how we imagined it to? How are the users finding our innovative approach? What can we give to the programmers for the estimation of effort?

Prototyping provides fast and, above all, explicit answers to these and other questions.

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Prototyping for Voice User Interfaces

You are planning to develop a skill for Alexa, an action for Google Home or a function for another voice assistant?

We do not only design visual prototypes for you, but also prototype voice user interfaces. We combine voice commands with the corresponding system responses so that typical use cases can already be felt while developing them. We can even create complex interactive prototypes with inputs and corresponding outputs, depending on the context of your project. Prototypes of voice user interfaces are also ideal for conducting usability tests with people from your target group and obtaining user feedback.

More about Voice User Interfaces

Computer screen showing a flowchart. A voice assistant is standing in front of it.

Why our customers appreciate prototyping

A picture says a thousand words

Through the use of prototypes, abstract ideas become concrete and tangible. The room for interpretation becomes minimal.
Brainstorming without technical restrictions

With prototypes, various ideas can be compared, supplemented, and evaluated.
Corrections are easier to make than after implementation

If, for example, the navigation concept is not yet 100% functional, this can be changed in prototypes much easier than after programming.

Errors and problems are visible earlier

Significant problems are eliminated well before the technical implementation.
User feedback can be obtainedh

We perform usability tests with the very first scribbles or prototypes with partial functionality and thus uncover usability weaknesses.
Focus on what matters

We knowingly forgo focusing on color in early prototypes. The focus is thus exclusively on structure, navigation, and content.

What results do you receive?

Depending on your wishes, we will provide you with all conceivable classifications of prototypes: from well-documented, static wireframes to interactive click dummies all the way to functional prototypes with a completely designed user interface.

Would you like to know how we have used prototypes to ensure usability in other projects? Take a glance at our case studies.

TUI Germany: User-Centered Design

All Case Studies

Client voices about Prototyping

“A big thank you to usability.de for their great commitment, many creative workshop ideas and the UX design for the various research questions and prototypes. The concept of the radiology assistant has won colleagues and experts over, internally and on international radiology congresses. The user-centered approach from ideation to implementation has substantially contributed to this outcome.”

Sven Kohle, Senior Key Expert
Siemens Healthineers

“Our cooperation with usability.de was highly professional, uncomplicated, and pleasant. The results of the analysis were comprehensibly prepared and well structured. The prototype with proposals for solutions actually exceeded all our expectations. Thank you very much!”

Christian Stampfer, Team Leader Monitoring, Evaluation & Quality Support
SOS Kinderdorf

“The design phase with usability.de and their young team was very refreshing, professional and instructive. The interviews and usability tests, which were carried out in the course of a system relaunch, were very well received by us and our travel agencies. The test results were comprehensible, partly surprising and very well presented. We thereby got to know our target group even better and understood their needs. The prototype is terrific and is already being used for the first technical implementations. You did a great job, thank you very much. I'm sure we'll work with you again!”

Izabela Nawrocka, Business Analyst Referent, Product & Operations B2B
TUI Deutschland GmbH

“usability.de supported us professionally in developing a mobile concept for our globally employed warehouse management product. [...] The customer feedback was positive in every way: An appealing, modern user interface and a significant improvement compared to the old GUI. The same applies to the smartphone and tablet interface designed by usability.de [...].”