Paperiprototyyppejä

Paperiprototyyppejä, also known as paper prototypes, are a low-fidelity method used in the early stages of product development, particularly for user interfaces and interactive systems. They involve hand-drawn sketches or simple physical mockups of screens or user flows, typically created on paper or cardboard. The primary goal is to quickly visualize and test design ideas before investing significant time and resources into more complex digital prototypes or actual development.

The process typically involves designers drawing individual screens or components of an interface. Users then interact with these paper prototypes by pointing to elements they wish to select or manipulate. The designer, acting as the "computer," manually updates the paper screens to reflect the user's actions, simulating the system's response. This allows for immediate feedback on usability, navigation, and overall concept without the need for coding or specialized software.

Paper prototyping is highly iterative and cost-effective. It facilitates rapid idea generation, encourages early identification of design flaws, and promotes collaboration among team members and stakeholders. Because the prototypes are so simple, they are easily discarded and redesigned, making them ideal for exploring multiple design directions. Despite their simplicity, paper prototypes can effectively reveal crucial insights into user experience and help refine the design before moving to higher-fidelity stages.