User experience prototyping : a literature review

Abstract

According to the human-centered design process, prototyping is an essential element of user experience (UX) design. This literature review aims to provide an overview of user experience prototyping and answer the following questions based on previous literature: How does UX design benefit from prototyping? What kinds of prototypes and prototyping tools exist? In which phases of the UX design process is prototyping most valuable?

This literature review reveals that prototyping increases the understanding of user needs and context, allows designers to explore and evaluate design ideas and communicate design decisions. Low-fidelity prototypes provide insight early in the design process when possible designs are explored and initial usability evaluations are conducted. High-fidelity and e.g. multi-fidelity prototypes can include more sophisticated interactive features and act as living specification for developers and other stakeholders. Low-fidelity prototyping tools are widely available and easy to use, while higher fidelity tools are often viewed as time consuming and more difficult to use.