Mobile App Prototype: A Comprehensive Guide for Beginners

A Mobile App Prototype is a vital step in mobile app development. Think of it as a draft or sample version of the mobile app. It allows the stakeholders of the project to visualize as well as interact with their ideas and designs. 

In other words, we can see and test the User Interface, functionalities of the application, usability, and user experience, even before fully developing it.

Prototyping is a major process that needs to be followed and every good mobile app development company knows this. Even at Soft suave, we also follow this process to offer the best prototypes for our clients.

This guide has everything you need to craft an amazing prototype like the steps followed, the necessary tools, and the benefits of creating a prototype.

So, be sure to read this article completely.

What is a Mobile App Prototype?

First, let’s start from the foundations. It is important to know what is a mobile app prototype is before you start to create one.

Mobile application prototype is a preliminary model of the mobile app before we can move to the final stage. Prototype helps stakeholders see and feel the app without the need to fully develop it. If you’re considering making your own app, understanding prototyping is an essential step.

Another important thing to recognize is that prototyping is not just limited to mobile app development. It extended beyond that to product design, web development, software development, etc.

Tom Wujec, a designer and technologist, aptly explains that, 

“Prototyping is the conversation you have with your ideas.” 

This perspective perfectly captures the purpose of a prototype, a tool to explore, refine, and validate your concepts before bringing them to life. 

These are not just mere designs that can only be looked at. With the use of a mobile application prototype, we can see what the app looks and feels like. We can preview the layouts, and functionalities and test the app’s usability. It looks and feels like a real app but has no code in it. We can also interact with the prototypes.

According to MoldStud, 71% of mobile app developers believe that application prototyping is necessary to ensure the success of an app. Many companies have started to understand the importance of prototyping and the market for prototyping is growing tremendously. According to a report published by The Business Research Company, the market value of prototyping is expected to reach $2.78 billion in 2028.

Standard Phases of Mobile Application Prototype

Now that the basics have been covered, let us move on to the standard phases of creating a prototype. There are three major phases.

1. Ideation and Concept Development

This is the first phase in creating a prototype. This is the foundation of the mobile app prototype process, where ideas are formed and transformed into a structured plan.

In this phase, the app’s purpose and the benefits or problems it solves are clearly outlined. This clear vision helps determine the features that need to be included in the application.

2. Designing and Prototype Creation

After setting a clear vision for the app, the next phase is to design and visually represent it. This includes creating a wireframe, converting it to a mock-up, and then evolving the mock-up into the mobile app prototype.

The prototype must look and feel like the actual mobile application that needs to be developed. In this phase, you must get feedback from other stakeholders in order to make sure that the prototype aligns with the goals outlined previously. This helps the project to stay on track without any deviation from the main goal.

2.1 Levels of Prototype

Before advancing more into mobile app prototypes, first let us see the differences between wireframes, mockups, and prototypes to avoid any confusion as we learn more about the process. 

Three levels of prototypes need to be understood before you start prototyping a mobile app.

The first one is a low-fidelity prototype known as the wireframe. They just have the basic layout and structure without any design, content, or color. They are mostly black and white and can be either hand-drawn or designed using simple tools. It focuses on the functionality and navigation flow without much attention to visual details. Wireframes have no amount of interactivity, just a plain design.

The next one is a medium-fidelity prototype, also known as a mockup. Mockups are the next level of wireframes consisting of color, fonts, logos, images, and typography. At this stage, the design starts to resemble the final product but not completely. Another feature of the mockup is that it has some level of interactivity.

The final type of prototype is the high-fidelity prototype which is usually referred to as the prototype. This is the final stage where the designs completely resemble the final end-product. It consists of complete branding, texts, images, etc, and has a high level of interactivity. This version of the app is sent for user testing and for making final presentations.

3. Testing and Iteration

In this phase, the final prototype is released for user testing, and their feedback is collected. Various aspects of the mobile application prototype are tested including its usability, navigation, functions, etc.

Feedback is collected from the users and utilized to enhance the prototype.

Best Mobile App Prototyping Tools

To create astounding mobile app prototypes, the first step is to choose the right tool.

There’s a wide range of options tailored to different needs. Figma and InVision are cloud-based platforms with Figma offering no-code features and InVision providing pre-designed templates and integrations. Justinmind and Marvel focus on simplicity, with features like UI kits and beginner-friendly interfaces. 

Sketch is ideal for Mac users, and supports plugins and integrations for seamless design workflows. Adobe XD offers powerful functionality and Adobe Suite integration. 

UX Pin enables static and interactive designs with features like real-time collaboration, and Framer enhances user experience with animations and SEO tools. 

These tools require various skill levels and requirements, so choosing a prototyping tool that meets your expectations is advisable.

Step-by-Step Process for Creating Mobile Application Prototype

Now let’s focus on the main topic of this guide – creating a mobile app prototype. Earlier we saw the basic phases involved in this process. Now, let’s see more about the step-by-step process used to create a prototype.

Step 1: Define Your Objectives

The first step of creating a prototype is to clearly outline the objectives of the mobile application. It includes specifying your target audience, the problems that the app aims to solve, and the features it must have. 

The end-user requirements must be understood at this stage and specific objectives must be outlined. These objectives are important because it is used for making certain design decisions.

 In short, market research and user analysis are carried out in this stage.

Step 2: Develop the Prototype

The next step is to develop a prototype for your app. For this, you need to first select the correct prototyping tool by choosing the one that matches your needs, skill level, and project requirements. Some popular tools for prototyping were discussed earlier.

Before directly creating a prototype, you need to create a wireframe and mockup first.

Wireframe is a simple sketch of the application that focuses on navigational flow, main features, and layout which can be used to visualize the interaction between a user and the app. It helps you to organize ideas and function as a blueprint for the app.

After the stakeholders approve the wireframes, next we can enhance them into mockups. Mockups have little more detail than wireframes like colors, text, etc.

After mockups are approved, they can be enhanced into an aesthetic digital prototype. Different components like colors, fonts, icons, etc can be added in this step. Now, the prototypes start to look like the real app that is to be developed. 

Next interactive elements like clickable buttons, transitions, animations, etc can be added to make the experience more appealing. This interactivity allows the stakeholders to experience the application like it was the real app. This step helps to test the usability and flow of the app.

Step 3: Conduct User Testing

The final and interactive prototype which was designed in the previous step, is shared for user testing with a small group of target audience for collecting their feedback. Include non-tech-savvy users in this testing to make sure that your app is usable by a wide range of people.

Step 4: Gather Feedback

Gather feedback from each user after testing and systematically analyze it. Their interaction with the prototype must be noted closely and from that the areas that need to be improved are identified.  

Positive as well as negative feedback must be gathered. This step is very important because it allows us to ensure that the app meets the expectations of the users and helps to identify any remaining issues.

Step 5: Refine based on Feedback

The last step is to refine the prototype. This is done by addressing the remaining issues and it helps to give users a seamless experience. The design elements and interactions are fine-tuned to create a high-quality prototype. This step prepares your prototype for the next stage of the process, which is either development or presentation to stakeholders.

Step 6: Repeat as Necessary

Testing and iteration of the prototype can be repeated until the final prototype is up to the expectations and standards. 

Mobile app prototyping is not the only step in a mobile app design process. It’s one of the important steps.

Why is Mobile App Prototyping Important?

We have covered everything that has to do with creating a mobile application prototype. Now let’s see the importance and benefits of this process. 

Now, at this point, you may start to wonder, “What if I skip the prototype and jump directly into development?”, let’s clear this up first.

Developing the app directly without prototyping it first is like building a house without a blueprint. At first glance, it might seem like you are doing impressive work, but you’ll likely face challenges later. Without a solid foundation of planning and structure, your hard work can end up in vain.

Without a clear plan or structure, the app may end up with confusing navigation, missing features, or an interface that fails to appeal to the target audience.

So this is why prototyping is a major step in creating a mobile application. If you’ve changed your mind and plan on carrying out this process, these are the benefits that come with it.

Benefits of Mobile App Prototyping

Learning about the benefits of prototyping will help you further understand the importance of this process. So these are the major advantages that you need to know.

Testing and Validation at an early stage

Using the mobile app prototype you can test the design and functionality of your application in the initial stages of development and you can collect feedback from the users before developing it completely. This helps you to identify any potential issues with the interface, navigation, or core features and allows you to assess whether the design actually aligns with user needs and business goals. 

Iteration becomes more manageable and cost-effective because changes at the prototyping stage are far less expensive than in the development stage. Furthermore, with the help of a prototype project cost estimation and feasibility testing becomes easier. 

MoldStud states that, when the app is prototyped and tested before development, the chances of the app’s success are increased by 67% in the current competitive market environment.

Cost and Time Efficiency

By solving the issues during the earlier stages, the need for extensive rework later in the timeline is completely avoided. This approach saves both time and resources while making sure that the end product is delivered efficiently as well as within budget.

In a nutshell, it helps to avoid something known as technical debt. It refers to the additional work required in the future due to shortcuts or poor decisions made during the development stage. 

Team Alignment

Another major benefit of a prototype is that it serves as a representation of the app. This helps you to align all stakeholders of the application, around a shared vision. It removes misunderstandings and makes sure that all the stakeholders are on the same page regarding the app’s functionality, looks, and feel. This results in a better collaboration and decision-making throughout the process.

Conclusion

Now we have reached the conclusion of our ultimate guide to mobile app prototype. This guide began with the basic question of  “What is a prototype?” and covered the steps needed to create a prototype as well as the benefits of creating one.

Prototyping not only helps you visualize ideas but also ensures that the app is easy to use and meets all the business goals. The steps outlined in this guide can help you simplify your prototyping process and efficiently bring your app into existence.

If you are looking for a way to create a mobile app without having to go through the time-consuming process of prototyping, designing, and development, Soft Suave is your ideal solution, offering top-notch mobile app development services.