No. 074
Product Design
Prototype
A prototype is an interactive, clickable model of a product used to simulate the experience before it is fully built.
Why it matters
Prototypes let you test ideas with real people and catch problems early — when changes are cheap — rather than after development.
In depth
Prototypes range from low fidelity (clickable wireframes) to high fidelity (near-final visuals and interactions). Their purpose is to learn: validate flows, gather feedback, and align the team. The right fidelity depends on the question you're trying to answer.
Real-world example
Linking screens together in Figma so testers can tap through a sign-up flow creates a prototype without writing any code.
Low-fi
Related terms