The prototyping stage is one of the most important milestones in any project because it is the first tangible proof of a working concept. A well-functioning prototype conveys the intention, the layout, and the function, without having to have a fully functioning project. Prototypes are also very cost intensive and can require huge amounts of resource dedication to deliver an unfinished product. If the prototype fails to deliver, this can delay delivery, go over budget, and negatively impact the reputation of your business.

Low-fidelity prototypes are prototypes made from basic materials such as cutouts, sheets of paper, or any other physical items that are easily accessible. These items are structured in a way that is representative of your design and they detail the intent of a design interactively, as opposed to a storyboard. This can be a cost-effective solution to display the potential and can be used to generate positive feedback related to the design aspects, while still showing the potential vision the designer has in mind for the actual prototype.

Using Minimal Resources for Maximum Potential

There are many cost effective tools to use when drafting a working proof of concept. Low-fidelity prototypes are intended to convey the aspects of a design at a bare-bones level, using placeholder content and templates to display the potential delivery. By using cutouts and hand-crafted elements, a designer can drive the focus to the functional aspects of the project, which better helps the budget to be spent on the finished product.

A well-crafted low-fidelity prototype is used to show the design interface in a hypothetical action and requires the client to understand how the interface interacts with their uses. Both the client and the designer can use this time to verify that the promises are deliverable, and that the progression is logical, which in turn help the designer confirm their design's intentions.

Budget

Prototypes are cost intensive and may risk the project going over budget if the prototype fails to deliver on the project's promises. Because a low-fidelity prototype does not rely on polished elements such as graphics or programming, the budget can be spent when those elements are absolutely needed during the final stages of design. A rudimentary design displays how the project is intended to operate in a step-by-step process, which allows the client to observe each operation and to evaluate the flow of the design.

By using a simplistic example, any changes that need to be considered can be easily implemented since the entire design is hypothetical. Issues addressed in development are changed without having wasted dedicated resources or time. The client and the designer can then evaluate the design based on how it is presented and drive the focus toward the processes involved. This saves the budget allocation to making the elements that the client wants and minimizes expenses going toward prototypes that will not be used in the final product.

Directed Feedback

It is not always clear what the client is looking for in a course, but it is easy for them to know what they don't want. A fully fleshed out design is crafted in the way the designer sees it, not necessarily the way the client would perceive it. Mockups with specific fonts and colors present noticeable items to critique and may distract the client from the design of the course itself. The likelihood of driving feedback toward the functionality is increased when the design is presented without eye-catching elements since the key selling feature is in the operation itself.

Criticisms based on surface-level elements can be avoided by promising to deliver those elements upon design approval. Once the client is confident and has weighed in constructive feedback, the designer can use directed feedback to help guide them to construct the final product.

Shaping the Perfect Design

The end goal of a low-fidelity prototype is to make the most polished concept before building the actual design. A high-fidelity prototype is designed from the notes gathered during the initial prototype's presentation and uses that feedback to shape the vision as the client sees it. A well-crafted high-fidelity prototype will include elements that are in line with what the client would expect, which can then be used in the final product itself.

High-fidelity prototypes are still preliminary designs built early enough in the design stage. At this stage, a designer can utilize specifically requested resources such as art elements or media to enhance the high-fidelity prototype, while major changes to the content or layout can still be implemented at a minimal cost. The high-fidelity prototype will help build the perfect working prototype because it is built to the specifications determined by the client based on early discovery during the beginning stages of the project.

Conclusion

The perfect design comes through the process of shaping the conceptual into the achievable. Time and budget are two components that can negatively impact your courseware if they go over the project allotment. Low-fidelity prototypes bring the attention to the foundation and allows the designer to build the course off the intentions of the client while dedicating the resources appropriately to the mechanics. Not only does a low-fidelity prototype lead to appropriate uses of the budget, it also helps produce the best deliverable you can design.