Web designing and web development are two parallel disciplines. They may have certain subtle differences, but when it comes to similarities, one cannot think about designing or developing any product without first producing its prototype.
We live in a world quite different from what it was decades ago and yet there are some areas where our vulnerabilities have not evolved into something better at all. Although the mediums and practices have changed, we still face pitfalls, which are otherwise avoidable.
Steering this discussion of vulnerabilities, in this article, we are going to talk about some pitfalls of prototyping and how to avoid them?
1. Discouragement because of failure
Designers often take things for granted. They start with an idea, think about putting it into practice, and create a prototype, which according to them should work. Only when it fails to deliver, the team confronts nothing but discouragement. They simply forget where the fault was.
How to avoid this?
By simply focusing on our idea first.
If we refine it before putting it into practice, we could avoid discouragement. Even if nothing works and failure is bound to be our fate, we should never back off and instead revisit our ideas to see where it lags.
2. Focusing on the outcome; not on functionality
Sometimes when we create something, our efforts only tend to attract us towards that thing. We become attached. Similarly, certain designers simply fall in love with their outcome, and in the fit of it, they neglect the flaws in its functionality.
How to avoid this?
We should understand that what we have created is not the final piece. Our focus should be on updating our prototype rather than making it our “precious”.
3. Starting without an idea
As necessity is the mother of invention, an idea is the mother of innovation. If we don’t have any idea, how could we create something and hope for it to solve our problems? Prototype creators sometimes become victim to this pitfall. They simply start to create, for example, a web design without any reason.
How to avoid this?
Before we amend anything or bring anything new, we should first know the reason for it. For example, if we are working on an already thriving website and suddenly we think of changing certain things around, we should first have a definite purpose for the imminent web development.
4. Not testing the idea itself
Trying to come up with a prototype based on the initial idea could be dangerous. Any designer could face failure this way just because of the inadequacy of our initial idea.
How to avoid this?
Whether we are working on web design or web development, we should always give room to more than one ideas. By following the footsteps of the experts who test and retest several ideas and only pick the one which delivers, we can avoid wasting an unimaginable amount of time and effort.
5. Focusing on wrong fidelity
There are paper prototypes and then there are high-fidelity or high-detail ones. Often times, in a rush for perfection and value, we focus too much on detailing our prototypes at the wrong stage. This leads to nothing but disappointment in the end when things don’t work.
How to avoid this?
We should understand the stage of prototyping in which we are. Creating a high-fidelity model right from the beginning could be expensive. That should only be allowed in the final stages. In the beginning, working with low-fidelity models (such as sketches and paper models) should be a priority.
Verdict:
Web designing and web development are gradual processes, requiring a deep understanding of the stages involved. Starting from refining ideas, picking the one that delivers, choosing the right fidelity, and then creating the final prototype, we should avoid all the pitfalls stated above.
At Krome, we specialise in website design and development services. If you or your client are interested in creating a site, it’s time to tell us about your project or have a chat about what we can do. You can contact us here.