What is a High Fidelity Interactive Prototype?

"It’s easier to use an eraser on the drafting board, than a sledgehammer at the construction site."
– Frank Lloyd Wright

A prototype allows project stakeholders to visualize the final product early in the project lifecycle. There are several key reasons to do this: to clarify what is within and outside the project scope, to generate support or even investment for the project, to test theories and ideas regarding the layout and structure of the website, and, most importantly, to gather user feedback through usability testing. Typically, a website prototype undergoes several rounds of usability testing, during which it is continuously refined until the project team is confident enough to proceed to the next phase of development.

Many people wonder why they should invest time and effort in creating a prototype when they could jump straight into development. The answer often depends on the specific project, but generally, the benefits of prototyping include saving time and money. We've had clients come to us a few months after launch, frustrated that their site isn't performing as expected. User testing often reveals that critical assumptions made early in the project were never validated and turned out to be incorrect. By prototyping, these issues can be identified and addressed early, avoiding costly rework later on.