Website prototype: importance during site creation

Online presence is key for any business, and high-quality website development is of particular importance. In addition, there is an important stage that is often underestimated - creating a prototype. It helps to visualize the future resource, coordinate its structure and functionality, preventing many problems at the subsequent stages of development. In this article, we will take a detailed look at what it is, why it is important and how prototyping helps make your website successful.

What is a website prototype?

What is a website prototype? In short, it is a simplified model of the future website, which reflects its basic structure, navigation, placement of key elements and functionality. It is a kind of "skeleton" of the site, devoid of detailed design, graphics and final content. 

A prototype is implemented at the initial stages of development, immediately after collecting requirements and analyzing the target audience. Its main purpose is to give a clear idea of ​​how the user will interact with the site, even before its full development begins. This approach reveals potential problems and inconsistencies at an early stage. 

For developers, a prototype is the basis for further technical specifications, helps to determine the necessary blocks, their interconnections and work logic. At the same time, for customers, a prototype of a site is an opportunity to see how their ideas are embodied in a specific structure, assess the convenience of navigation and make adjustments before the start of the expensive stages of design and programming.

There are two main types of prototypes: static and interactive. The first is, as a rule, a set of sketches or layouts of individual pages that reflect the placement of content and the main interface elements. In this case, it is impossible to 100% test the functionality of the future site. The second type is a more complex option that simulates the main scenarios of using the site. The user can click on buttons, move between pages, fill out forms, which gives a more realistic idea of ​​​​the work of the resource.

So, prototyping is the process of creating such models that allows you to iteratively improve the structure and functionality of the future website. If you plan to order  the development of a high-quality corporate website, starting from the prototyping stage, you can in our company BitStudio.

Why do you need a prototype of the site?

A prototype brings significant benefits to both the client and the programmer, optimizing the development process and minimizing potential risks. 

Advantages of a prototype for the customer:

1. Visualization of ideas and the structure of the site provide a visual representation of the future project, allowing you to see the location of key elements, navigation logic and the overall relationship between pages. 
2. Preliminary agreement before starting development is one of the main advantages of a prototype. Having a mockup in front of your eyes, the customer can assess whether the proposed structure meets their business goals.
3. Cost and time optimization is a key benefit of this process. Although creating a prototype already requires certain resources, in the long run it is a significant savings. Identifying and eliminating errors at this stage is much cheaper and faster than refining an already finished design or functionality.

Advantages of a prototype for a developer:

1. Creating a clear TOR based on a prototype helps the programmer better understand the customer's requirements and plan the development process. Based on the prototype, it is easier to estimate the scope of work, determine the necessary technologies, and draw up a realistic project implementation schedule.
2. The ability to test ideas allows you to check the functionality, identify potential problems, and find optimal solutions before the main development stage begins.
3. Determining technical requirements and a technology stack is not only easier based on a prototype, but also more efficient. The programmer can choose the necessary tools in advance to solve the tasks of the future site.

How to create a website prototype?

Creating a prototype of a website can be done in different ways, depending on the complexity of the project, available tools and preferences of the developer. Let's consider the main approaches to prototyping.

Manual method 

The simplest and fastest way to create a prototype is the manual method. It involves using paper, pencils, markers or a whiteboard to schematically depict the pages of the website and their relationships. The following advantages can be distinguished:

• speed, no special skills required;
• accessibility;
• flexibility;
• creativity without software constraints.

But this method also has serious drawbacks, such as:

• staticity;
• difficulty in sharing;
• limited testing capabilities.

The manual method is good for quickly sketching ideas, defining a basic structure, and getting initial feedback.

Software solutions

Today, there are many specialized programs and online services for creating prototypes of varying complexity - from simple wireframes to interactive layouts with animation and transitions. These tools have many advantages, namely:

• high interactivity;
• ease of collaboration;
• testing capabilities;
• a wide range of functions.

With all the advantages, the programs also have their disadvantages:

• the need for training;
• cost, may be paid;
• possible technical limitations.

Popular programs for creating prototypes

There is a wide range of prototyping tools on the market, each of which has its own characteristics.

Axure RP

Axure RP is a tool for creating detailed and interactive prototypes. Suitable for developing complex web and mobile applications with a large number of use cases. 

Balsamiq

Balsamiq stands out for its approach to creating low-detail, sketchy prototypes. The program interface imitates freehand drawing, which allows you to quickly sketch the main ideas and structure without excessive design detail.

Figma

Figma is a popular online design and prototyping tool that is noted for its real-time collaboration capabilities. It offers a wide range of tools for creating both static mockups and interactive prototypes with smooth transitions and animations.

Origami

Origami, developed by Facebook, is a free interactive prototyping tool focused on developing interfaces for iOS. It uses a visual, patch-based approach that allows designers to create complex animations and interactions without writing code.

Draftium

Draftium is an online service that offers a library of ready-made blocks and templates for quickly creating website prototypes. It is aimed at users who do not have deep knowledge in design and prototyping, and allows you to quickly visualize the structure of the future site using ready-made elements.

InVision

InVision is another popular platform for prototyping and collaborating on design. It allows you to upload mockups from other tools (such as Sketch or Photoshop) and turn them into interactive prototypes with clickable areas, transitions, and animations.

Entrust your website prototype to BitStudio

So, a website prototype is an investment in success, helping to avoid mistakes and save resources.

The BitStudio team is professionally engaged in creating high-quality prototypes that will become a reliable basis for further website development. We will help visualize your ideas and determine the optimal structure of the future website.

Popular questions about the website prototype

• What is a website layout and how does it differ from a prototype? - A website layout is a visual representation of a design with colors, fonts and graphics, while a prototype shows the structure and functionality without stylization. A layout focuses on the appearance, and a website prototype is about usability and work logic.
• Why do prototypes save money and time? - Prototypes save resources because they allow you to quickly test ideas, find errors, and make changes before the expensive development phase. Identifying problems at the early stage of prototyping is much cheaper and faster than reworking a finished design or functionality.
• Which program to choose for prototyping? - For prototyping, you can choose Figma, Adobe XD, Axure, or Balsamiq, depending on the complexity of the project and requirements. Each tool has its own advantages and features, so the choice depends on your needs and skills.