Prototyping is an essential stage of website development. Designers often prototype after they've decided on the structure and conducted market & competitor research. Let's take a look at why you need a prototype, and how to create it.
A prototype is a detailed outline with the key sections of a web page. It helps you focus on its meaning and structure before you start the design process.
👀 So why do I need a prototype?
1. Figure out what should be on the website Prototyping helps create a structure and decide on the number of sections, menu type, number of menu items, length of headings, etc. At this stage, you want to figure out the content for each section as well.
2. Quickly work out several hypotheses Explore different options without wasting time on design. It may turn out that the amount of text doesn't fit in the block or there are too many sections for the menu. You can quickly decide where to place the widget and how to highlight the phone number on the page, for example.
3. Determine content before you start designing Content is often left for later and the draft is filled with Lorem Ipsum. A prototype allows you to decide in advance what info should be on a website, and choose the right structure for it.
4. Quickly make changes Looking at the website prototype, you need to make sure that the structure is clear, key sections are not missing, and the narrative is logical. Edit the structure is easier when the design process hasn't started yet.
Also, if you are creating a website for a specific customer, you will be able to agree on a final design without making numerous changes to the finished website.
A prototype is similar to testing different website options. It helps you see the whole picture, work through any imperfections, and create an effective website. 🙌