Exploring Design Thinking: Different Meaning Examples of Prototype

Daniel Ling
Jan 5, 2024
3 min read

Updated: May 30

Design Thinking is a human-centric approach that encourages innovation and problem-solving through a creative process. Prototyping is a crucial step in the DT process- and it's meaning is to foster collaboration, alignment and validation- delivering a visual outcome of an idea in a cheap and fast manner. The key mindset to prototyping is this: If one does not work, throw it away and try it again!

1. Low-Fidelity Paper Prototypes:

Low-fidelity prototypes are quick, hand-drawn representations of ideas. They are commonly used in the early part of Prototype Phase to visualize concepts without investing too much time or resources. Paper prototypes are particularly popular in user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) design. Designers sketch interfaces on paper, allowing them to receive feedback on the basic structure and flow of a product.

Handwritten notes on a wooden table show financial planning with pie charts, amounts, and notes. Prototyping of digital design, user flows and customer journey just using a pen and paper.

Prototyping of digital design, user flows and customer journey can easily be done

just using a pen and paper.

2. Interactive Wireframes:

Wireframes are a step up from paper prototypes and provide a skeletal representation of a digital product. Interactive wireframes allow designers to create a navigable version of a website or application. These prototypes are essential for testing user interactions, information architecture, and overall user experience.

3. Another Prototype Meaning- Mock-Ups:

Mock-ups are high-fidelity representations of a design, often created using graphic design software. These prototypes aim to mimic the final look and feel of a product. Designers use mock-ups to evaluate color schemes, typography, and overall aesthetics. Mock-ups can be static or interactive, depending on the level of detail required.

Papers with handwritten notes and pink sticky notes are taped to a wall. The notes include comments and highlights, creating a brainstorming mood. Mockups of graphic layouts and user flows in Design Thinking

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4. Physical Prototypes:

Not all prototypes exist in the digital realm. Physical prototypes are tangible models of products, frequently used in industrial design and manufacturing. For example, in the automotive industry, physical prototypes of car components are created to test their functionality, durability, and aesthetics.

Cardboard boxes display "Pick a Benefit" and "Open an Account." Six people converse in a room with stacked chairs. FRANK BY OCBC Store Concept prototype within an empty space- with cardboards and papers in Design Thinking

We test the FRANK BY OCBC Store Concept prototype within an empty space- with cardboards and papers.

5. Digital Prototypes:

Digital prototypes simulate the functionality of a product or system. These prototypes are interactive and can provide a realistic user experience. Tools like Adobe XD, Figma, and InVision allow designers to create digital prototypes for websites and applications. This type of prototype is valuable for user testing and refining the user interface.

Two smartphones display a scheduling app. The left screen shows a loading spinner, and the right displays a March calendar with highlighted dates. Interactive prototypes provide a realistic UX in Design

6. Storyboard Prototypes:

Storyboards are a visual way to represent user interactions and scenarios. They are often used to prototype user journeys in a narrative format. Designers create a sequence of images or illustrations to illustrate how a user might interact with a product or service over time.

Comic strip: A person decides to head home, struggles with no phone signal on a train, then shops for ingredients and cooks dinner, ending with "YUM!" Storyboarding is a great way to prototype a scenario of a new idea and concept in Design Thinking

Storyboarding is a great way to prototype a scenario of a new idea and concept

Conclusion:

Prototyping is a versatile and integral aspect of the Design Thinking process. Whether you're sketching on paper, creating interactive digital interfaces, or building physical models, the goal remains the same – to bring ideas to life, test them, and refine them based on user feedback.

By exploring various examples of prototypes, designers can choose the right method for the specific needs of their project, ultimately leading to more effective and user-centric solutions.

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Last Words

I will be adding more articles on Design Thinking, Strategy and Innovation throughout the year. Articles of these 5 Step Action Plan and Modern Soft Skills will be added periodically to give my readers a broader insights to how to crush complex problems, overcome future challenges and spot AI opportunities.

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