Prototypes & click dummies Receive early feedback in real practical use

Particularly in the case of web projects in the B2B sector, it makes sense to repeatedly obtain feedback from later users during the development process and to test various approaches and functions for their practicality at an early stage.

To avoid having to completely develop complex features and components of the later application and then having to rebuild them again, it is a good idea to implement parts of the application as a prototype, also known as a click dummy, for an initial practical test in a rudimentary version.

Prototypes are early models of websites or web applications that are developed to improve the functionality and understanding of a solution. They can be used to gather feedback from users or stakeholders, make design decisions, and mitigate risks.

Prototypes can be created at various stages in the development process and can range from simple graphic designs (wireframes) to functional digital prototypes developed using rapid prototyping approaches. It is important to tailor the prototyping approach to the goals and requirements of the project and ensure that it meets the specific needs.

For example, simple paper prototypes are good for testing basic ideas and concepts and giving users an idea of the general structure and navigation of a website or application. Digital prototypes, on the other hand, provide the opportunity to simulate user interactions and workflow and gather detailed feedback on usability and the use of features.

It is important to note that prototypes are primarily intended to improve understanding and planning and to minimize the risk of errors or problems in later development phases. They do not aim to create a quick way to a finished product. Therefore, it is advisable to start working on the final product with a clean base and only incorporate the insights from the prototyping phase into the final product.

In practice, it is necessary to carefully plan the prototyping approach and ensure that all relevant stakeholders and users are involved. In this way, potential problems and challenges can be identified and addressed early on, before too much energy has been invested in the development.

The cost of developing a click dummy depends on various factors such as the scope of the project, the type and number of features, the design and the use of special technologies.

It is therefore difficult to make a general statement about how much a click dummy will cost. To get a better estimate of the costs, it is therefore advisable to clearly define the requirements and functions that the click dummy should fulfill and request an offer based on these requirements.

I am happy to advise you on this.

The User Interface (UI) design plays an important role in prototyping as it ensures that the end product is intuitive and user-friendly for the users. A well-designed UI helps to make the end product easy to understand and use.

Therefore, it is important to incorporate UI design into the prototype in the early prototyping phase, as this can help to minimize later changes and improvements and ensure that the design also works under real conditions.

In this approach, it is particularly important to connect both worlds (design and function) early on and, in order to be as time-effective as possible, to work close to the later usage scenario. Here it is necessary that the UI design is designed to meet the needs and expectations of the users and can already be implemented in the prototyping.

By testing the design with users in a realistic scenario, problems and improvement wishes can be identified before the final implementation, which contribute to making the end product even more user-friendly.