Prototyping Tools

What is Prototyping?

Prototyping is a part of the design process that allows team members to review concepts, share feedback and collaborate during the early stages of a design project. Designers create an interactive mockup of a website, software product or mobile app in order to test concepts before designing the full project. Often UX designers use wireframes to evaluate the flow and usability of the concept before investing too much time in the actual design, and so prototyping platforms may also contain wireframing tools. Some tools also offer usability testing programs wherein real users will test and provide feedback on your design concept.

Prototypes, as opposed to wireframes, are working models or mockups of websites or web apps, designed to present a closer to finalized experience for user testing than a wireframe. Prototypes include animations and graphics to exemplify the aesthetic and functional qualities of the web application or website.

Prototyping Features & Capabilities

Prototyping tools may include some of the following functionalities:

• Image editing capabilities
• Drag-and-drop design tool
• Direct uploading of various file types (PSD, GIF, JPG, etc.)
• Interactive mockups
• Advanced animations and transitions
• Photoshop sync
• Sharing features
• Collaboration features such as commenting and threading
• Version control
• User testing

Pricing Information

There are a wide range of tools to help designers create and test prototypes. The simplest tools may be free and support small teams or single individuals managing a single project. Enterprise level tools brand themselves as collaborative design platforms and allow teams to build workflows and collaborate, with features such as commenting, threading, version control, etc. Many tools offer free plans with no collaboration features, and paid versions that allow multiple users to interact.