Prototype
A prototype is a working but incomplete version built to test an idea before committing to it.
Also known as: prototyping · proof of concept · clickable prototype
On 3D work a prototype is worth more than a mockup, because the questions that matter — does it feel right, does it run on a phone, is the interaction understandable — cannot be answered from a static image.
The discipline is to keep it incomplete. A prototype that grows into the real thing stops being a test and becomes a product built without a plan.
When to use it
When it makes sense
When the idea is new, the risk is real, or the decision is expensive to reverse.
When it is unnecessary
When the work is well understood. Prototyping a standard corporate site is a stage that buys nothing.
Common questions
How long does a prototype take?
Days rather than weeks, by definition. If it is taking longer, the scope is no longer a prototype’s.
Is the prototype code reused?
Sometimes in part, but it should not be assumed. Prototype code is written for speed of answering a question, not for maintenance.
How does this term apply to your work? Let us talk.
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