8 Essential Prototyping Tips

Here are eight practical recommendations for effective prototyping during the innovation process, balancing speed with purpose when testing technological ideas.

1. Define Your Purpose

Write a question, and make your prototype answer it. Start with clarity about what specific problem you're solving.

2. Prioritize Speed Over Polish

Keep initial versions rough and functional rather than refined, deferring aesthetic improvements for later stages.

3. Discard Successful Prototypes

Once a prototype validates your concept, set it aside rather than building upon shortcuts taken during rapid development.

4. Identify Critical Risks First

Address the most uncertain technical challenges earliest to minimize wasted effort if obstacles emerge.

5. Divide Work Across Your Team

Parallel efforts—such as visual mockups alongside technical validation—accelerate the overall process.

6. Explore Non-Digital Approaches

A good prototype doesn't need to be coded. Paper sketches and manual walkthroughs reveal interface relationships quickly.

7. Leverage Accessible Tools

Simple platforms like HTML, PowerPoint, or Keynote can demonstrate concepts without extensive programming.

8. Separate Core Interaction from System

Build the fundamental interaction model ("the toy") before designing the larger feature set ("the game").