Rough & Ready Prototyping template

A way to rapidly build a model of a new idea

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Rough & Ready Prototyping

Rough & Ready Prototyping template FAQs

Template use cases

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Design

LUMA methods

Use this template to create low-fidelity sketch models, which make it easy to generate a number of tangible concept ideas without significant monetary or time investment.

The sooner you create something for people to use, the earlier you’ll get meaningful feedback about your ideas. You can build rough models to help identify ideas that are working, as well as pinpoint weaknesses early in the process so they can be addressed before the concept is finalized.

The rough and ready prototyping template helps you:

Brainstorm and build ideas into prototypes for testing
Align on goals and desired outcomes with your team
Gather meaningful feedback that can inform subsequent iterations

How to use the rough and ready prototyping template

To use Mural’s rough and ready prototyping template, follow the instructions outlined below.

Step 1: Define the idea you’d like to test, and gather your team

The first step is to define the central idea, feature, or product you’d like to build, and bring together a small group of designers to help brainstorm and build the prototype.

Step 2: Outline what you want to learn

Use four categories to help frame your investigation and gain the right takeaways, so you’ll be better able to iterate based on the feedback you gather.

What do you want to learn from your prototype?
What scenarios do you want to test?
What tasks do you want to complete?
What materials do you need?

Step 3: Sketch your prototypes

Use Mural’s drawing tools, or add or upload images to flesh out your prototype — once you have your ideas sketched out, you can add them to the various contexts where users will interact with your product.

Tips for running a rough and ready prototyping template exercise

To get the most out of your road and ready prototyping session, you should:

Clearly define the central concept and provide as much context as possible for your team of designers to start brainstorming solutions
Use Mural’s private mode feature to avoid groupthink while brainstorming and anonymous voting to help determine the best options
Once you’ve created your prototypes, gather feedback and collect and organize it by sentiment

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Rough & Ready Prototyping template FAQs

What is rough prototyping?

Rough prototyping, also known as low-fidelity prototyping, is a method used in the early stages of the design process to quickly and inexpensively explore and communicate design concepts. It involves creating simple and basic representations of a product or interface, typically using low-tech tools or software. Rough prototypes are not highly detailed or polished but serve as a means to gather feedback, test ideas, and iterate on design solutions.

What are the different types of prototyping?

There are several types of prototyping, each serving different purposes in the design process. Here are a few common ones:

Rough prototyping (low-fidelity prototyping): As mentioned earlier, this involves creating basic, low-detail representations of a design concept using simple tools or software.
Wireframe prototyping: Wireframes are static, simplified visual representations that focus on the structure, layout, and functionality of a design. They typically lack detailed visuals and are useful for testing and validating the overall information architecture.
Interactive prototyping: Interactive prototypes simulate user interactions and provide a closer representation of the final product's behavior. They can be created using specialized prototyping software that allows for the creation of clickable or tappable elements.
Functional prototyping: Functional prototypes are more advanced and aim to replicate the actual functionality of a product or interface. They often involve coding and can provide a realistic experience for testing and validation.
Visual prototyping: Visual prototypes focus on the visual aspects of a design, including the aesthetics, branding, and visual hierarchy. They can be created using graphic design tools or specialized prototyping software that allows for more detailed visual representations.

These are just a few examples, and there are other types of prototyping, such as 3D printing for physical products or virtual reality prototyping for immersive experiences. The choice of prototyping method depends on the specific goals, resources, and constraints of your design project.