6 Steps for Creating a Prototype - Easy as Pie

Peter Martinez updated on 2024-06-06 13:45:30

If you think creating prototypes is a tough job, then you have certainly come to the right place. Ideally, prototyping is one of the most vital phases of product development and should be worked on right from the start. These days, experts even create a prototype online and share it with others instantly. Now, you can also do the same and be a pro in prototype designing in no time. In this post, I will let you know how to create a prototype for a service or a product so that you can have stunning designs in no time.

Important Role of Prototyping in Design

In some cases, with the help of a competent layout of the site, you can persuade visitors to certain actions. The prototype is an important draft design that precedes the development of the original design layout, and prototyping is a process designed to significantly reduce the time to develop a site. 

Here are the reasons why prototyping is important in design:

• The prototype gives the customer a complete idea of how the site will look like in the final result.
• Prototyping allows you to streamline the design development process, focusing on important interface elements.
• A site’s sketch is an irreplaceable thing if the client still does not fully understand what he expects from the site, what functions each page will carry. Careful planning at the prototyping stage makes it possible to avoid global changes in the finished layout.
• At the prototyping stage, it is possible to identify unnecessary elements that are best abandoned.
• This process significantly reduces the workload of the designer in developing the project, and thus saves the customer money.
• Having a prototype in hand, the designer and customer more clearly represent the final result.

The Best Tool for Creating Prototypes

Choosing the best tool for prototyping is the first step to success. It doesn't matter if you wish to create a prototype online or would like to work on a desktop application, Wondershare Mockitt has got you covered. Since it is a beginner-friendly tool, you can easily use it for creating a prototype even if you don't have experience in designing. Before we discuss how to create a prototype for a service/product, let's consider some of its features.

• On Mockitt, you can find hundreds of widgets, icons, UI kits, and other design elements that you can drag and drop to your canvas.
• You can create prototypes on different perspectives and environments like iPhone, Android, iPad, desktop, web, watch, custom, and so on.
• If you are running short on time, then you can simply use a readily available template and further customize it to create a prototype on the go.
• The application is ideal for creating prototypes with high fidelity by using its dynamic widgets, micro-interaction, transitions, real-time preview, and other features.
• You can also collaborate with your team, share your projects with others, and export your work in PDF, HTML, PNG, SVG, or APK formats.

Supported Systems:

Web and all browsers, Windows, Mac, Ubuntu

How to Create a Prototype Step-by-Step

By taking the assistance of Wondershare Mockitt, you can easily create a prototype for any product or service. The application has tons of features and is recommended to both beginners and experts alike. To learn how to create a prototype with this tool, you can simply follow these basic steps:

Step 1: Create a Project

Firstly, you can open the Wondershare Mockitt website and sign in. To begin with, you can click the "Create" button on the left toolbar and then click "Prototype". This will reveal a new page, on which you can enter details about the project, like on which perspective you wish to make the prototype, the size of your canva.

If you want, you can use an existing template as well. Besides that, you can also enter details about the specific screen (like the iPhone model) to work on.

Step 2: Drag and Drop Widgets to Your Canva

Once the canvas is opened, you can drag and drop design elements from the sidebar. There are tons of widgets and elements that you can add to your canvas and further edit them. On the sidebar, you can find different options to change the overall appearance and design of the widgets. You can also save your widgets and mark them as a master to reuse.

Step 3: Create Interactive Links for Your Prototype

Now you can add interactive links to make your prototypes with high fidelity. First, select the widget you want to add links to, and then drag the "Lighting bulb" to the target screen. This will make it an interactive prototype.

Please note that the default interaction is "Tap" and you can change it by clicking the gesture icon. And click the dropdown menu of the event. You can see there are "Tap" "Swipe Left" "Swipe Right" "Swipe Up" "Swipe Down" "Tap and Hold" "Double Tap".

Step 4: Preview and Present Your Prototype Project

When you have completed working on your project, click the "Preview" button and you will get its live preview on the interface. You can use this to make a presentation and Mockitt will offer a real interactive experience.

Step 5: Share the Prototype You Created

You can share your projects with others by clicking on the "Share" option from the top to generate its QR code or link. Click "Copy" to copy the share link automatically and send it to your partners. Also, you can just export it in different formats like PDF, HTML, PNG, or SVG.

Step 6: Handoff the Created Prototype to Developer

You can also hand it over to the developer. It generate CSS/Swift/Less/Sass/Stylus/Android code automatically. You can also collect comments and feedback on the prototype you created.

Video Tutorial on How to Create a Prototype

Online Resources to Learn How to Create a Prototype

Now when you know how to create a prototype, you can easily come up with aesthetically pleasing designs. To further gain more knowledge, you can consider exploring these resources about how to create prototypes online.

1. Udemy
2. Coursera
3. Udacity
4. Lynda
5. Skillshare

1. Udemy

Udemy has tons of courses related to wireframing, prototyping, and designing that you can explore. Most of the courses here are developed by industry experts, giving you practical knowledge for creating prototypes.

2. Coursera

Coursera has one of the most extensive collections of courses of different domains. These courses are affiliated with various universities and are available for free. Though to get their certification, you would have to pay a small fee.

3. Udacity

Just like Udemy, Udacity also has several courses and action plans that designers can follow. Most of the courses here are design-oriented and can be accessed for free or by paying a one-time fee.

4. Lynda

Owned by LinkedIn, Lynda has several courses for professionals that you can explore by visiting its website. Most of these courses are focused on real-life problems to give a more practical approach to creating prototypes.

5. Skillshare

Lastly, you can also head to Skillshare to learn how to create a prototype for a service or a product. While there are only a handful of genuine courses here, most of them can be accessed for free and will help you learn new skills for sure.

There you! I'm sure that after following this guide, you would be able to create a prototype on your own as well. Since it is pretty simple to create a prototype online, you can take the assistance of a reliable tool like Wondershare Mockitt. Not only is it easy to use, but it also features a wide range of elements for creating prototypes with high fidelity. You can explore it for free by visiting its website and can also share this guide with others to teach them how to create a prototype like a pro.

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Peter Martinez