The need for prototyping in UI design
Design thinking is a solution based approach to solving problems. It’s useful in handling complex problems that are not well defined or unknown. By understanding the human aspect involved and by reframing the problem in human centric ways, we can handle and design solutions. The five stages of design thinking are not sequential steps, but different modes we can put ourselves in, to break down the problem statement, ideas, or prototype, or to learn more about our users at any point during the project.
We should use prototyping as part of various stages of designing UI. We can use prototyping as a visualization method, as it allows us, as well as users, to explore alternative solutions. This is possible because prototypes are physical representations of our solutions and prototyping allows us to think by doing. Adopting a thinking by doing mindset is helpful in letting us derive more value from researching, defining, ideating, and testing. We can use prototypes to explore problems, ideas, and opportunities within a specific area of focus and test out the impact of the changes. Prototyping help us to better understand the dynamics of a problem, product, or system by physically engaging with them and picking apart what makes them work or fail. Prototyping allows us to engage with end users or stakeholders, in ways that reveal deeper insight and more valuable experiences, to inform design decisions. We can use prototypes to sell new ideas, motivate buy-in from internal or external stakeholders, or inspire markets toward new ways of thinking and doing.
Prototyping has a bias towards action. We will investigate each assumption through active testing, instead of theoretically thinking it through. By using controlled experiments, we can prove or disprove our assumptions in their real context and thus further refine or even abandon our initial ideas.
Many times, we spend our resources in exciting new ideas, brainstorming, and planning for their implementation until we realize, after deploying them, that our brilliant designs don't connect with our users. In other words, the assumptions we based our solutions on were wrong and when they are wrong, they lead to wasted time and resources. Prototyping helps prevent this. Prototyping quickly is the best way to test our assumptions, learn about users, and improve on your ideas. Prototypes can be anything from sketches on a napkin to role-playing. Prototyping helps create a bias towards action, making rather than thinking. It creates opportunities for the innovative spark we need to create useful and revolutionary solutions.