7 Reasons Why You Should Always Prototype (Or At Least Wireframe)
Wireframes & prototypes didn´t use to be a priority for IT professionals. But as the IT industry develops, it becomes essential to build websites or apps on solid foundations. Here comes a non-exhaustive list of why we should all be using wireframes and prototypes more often.
- We speak different languages
Imagine an English developer having to explain a future website to his client, a chinese businessman… I think this speaks for itself. But we don´t need get to such extremes, the very same word can have different meanings for people that speak the same language. But simply because they have different backgrounds they won´t intend the same things behind a common concept.
- We need to visual the future product
An image is worth a 1000 words! This is actually why we wireframe in the first place (and incidentally, reading all the specs doc of a future website is a pain, I wonder how many actually do it). Even if it´s only a sketchy wireframe, at least everybody sees where is what and how it looks like.
- Clear up your ideas
Get things clear! Wireframes and prototypes help you to organise and share your idea avoiding misunderstanding. You´ll see what´s possible and what´s not.
- Save time (it´s quick)
Because with a prototype in hands, you know what to expect as a final outpout. Hence prototyping will save you time during development and avoids rework being done too. A prototype is also quickly shared & commented among collegues and you can apply ongoing changes to it so you see in real-time what´s being done.
- … and money (it´s cheap)
Time is money, everybody knows it! Whether it´s on conception, design or development, saving time most certainly means less man-month! Plus, the whole point of a prototype is to save time, so it´s usually developed using cheaper & easier technologies than the one that will be used for the final product.
- Anyone can do it
No need to be a high-profile developer to do a prototype. Actually, it´s quite the opposite. If you want to build a good user interface, you might want to ask a UX designer, or designer to build what usually a simple HTML prototype. Moreover, with high-fidelity prototyping softwares, everybody can create fully functional prototypes without a single line of coding.
- Run user testing before development
This is probably the main advantage of prototyping! Prototyping the UI of a website or an app lets you carry out user tests before developing the final thing. This is also a big difference between functional prototypes and static wireframes, as the latest doesn't allow you to do this.
All in all, although wireframes are very useful when it comes to define and analyse a website or an application, these arguments shows that it´s best to prototype. Prototyping will "fluidifies" all processes of any IT project, from design to development and testing. With RIA & dynamic websites the need for prototyping will be increasingly present.
Questions and Answers
Generalizability further expands on consistency within an interface design by looking at software applications that are similar to yours.
Of course, getting the team of experts for your company can be tough given there are other established companies ahead of you. In order for you to receive the kind of services that you need, you must have a strategy and technique in scouting the best programmers and developers.
People of today now want something that can contend with their busy schedule and what better what than accessing immediate information, products and services online in just as fast as minutes.
When engaging in web application development, it is crucial that you have prior knowledge in order to be adept in addressing problems and difficulties. In tuned to this, you should also know the factors in which will affect the success of your company.
The market has been prolific and it is not a surprise that majority is now hoping into the bandwagon but for you to attain the achievement that you seek, you should first distinguish your company from the rest.
The advent of the internet has introduced e-commerce and with it there occurred an undeniable change in the way of shopping and purchasing in the modern world.
This article looks at the evolution of UX design from its early years up until now.
Good tips and tricks to improve your SEO. Organize your Google Analytics account into section.
New studies have shown the explosion of mobile devices has triggered a new way of surfing the web. Wireframing websites and apps for all these new devices is now essential for effective cross-platfrom user experience.
E-learning is a rather new field that consists in learning through IT tools. However, eventhough usability techniques would greatly enhance the quality of e-learning, this domain doesn´t used yet.
Wireframe is a blurry notion. New devices and technologies like the web2.0 greatly changed this concept part of the design process. We'll see what a wireframe means and how it integrates into a project today.
Discuss this Article
