Prototypes are trial versions of a website that are gradually refined through an iterative process to become closer to the final version. Initial prototypes or ‘mockups’ may simply be paper prototypes or storyboards, perhaps of a ‘wireframe’ or screen layout. These may then be extended to include some visuals of key static pages using tool such as Adobe Photoshop. Finally, working prototypes will be produced as HTML code is developed. The idea is that the design agency or development team and the marketing staff who commissioned the work can review and comment on prototypes, and changes can then be made to the site to incorporate these comments. Prototyping should result in more effective final site which can be developed more rapidly than a more traditional approach with a long period of requirements determination. Each iteration of the prototype typically passes through these stages:
Analysis
Understanding the requirements of the audience of the site and the requirements of the business, defined by business and marketing strategy (and comments inputs from previous prototypes).
Design
Specifying different features of the site that will fulfill the requirements of the users and the business as identified during analysis.
Develop
The creation of the web pages and the dynamic content of the website.
Test and review
Structured checks are conducted to ensure that different aspects of the site meet the original requirements and work directly.
Adapted from
Chaffey, D. and Ellis-Chadwick, F., 2012. Digital marketing: strategy, implementation and practice (Vol. 5). Harlow: Pearson.
Related posts
What is an effective website?
Website must deliver relevance and satisfactory online experience for its audience, support and add value to the brand to deliver results for the company.
Website development process
The main tasks are as follows: pre-development tasks, analysis and design, content development testing, publishing or launching the site.
Web development roles and responsibilities
Typical profiles of team members follow: site sponsors, site owner, project manager, site designer, content developer, webmaster.
What is agile software development?
The goal of agile development is to be able to create stable release more frequently than traditional development methodologies.
Web business, usability and accessibility requirements
Key requirements for an online presence: business requirements and user requirements which comprise usability, accessibility and information needs.
Website localization meaning
Customer-centricity for website design is the decision whether to include specific content for particular countries. This is referred to as localization.
Benchmark competitor websites
Benchmarking of competitors’ websites is vital in positioning a website to compete effectively with competitors that already have websites.
Website information architecture design
Information architecture is the art and science of structuring and classifying websites and intranets to help people find and manage information.
Card scoring, blue prints and wireframes
Using card sorting is a way in which users can become actively involved in the development process of information architecture. Learn more.