Product management glosary

Low-Fidelity Prototype

What is Low-Fidelity Prototype?

Low-fidelity prototype is a type of prototype that is used in product management to test and validate product ideas. It is a simple and quick way to create a prototype that can be used to get feedback from users and stakeholders. Low-fidelity prototypes are also known as paper prototypes or wireframes.

What is a Prototype?

A prototype is a preliminary version of a product that is used to test and validate product ideas. It is a way to get feedback from users and stakeholders before investing time and resources into building a final product. Prototypes can be of different types, such as low-fidelity, high-fidelity, functional, and non-functional.

What is a Low-Fidelity Prototype?

A low-fidelity prototype is a type of prototype that is created using simple materials such as paper, cardboard, or wireframes. It is a quick and inexpensive way to create a prototype that can be used to test and validate product ideas. Low-fidelity prototypes are often used in the early stages of product development to get feedback from users and stakeholders.

Why Use a Low-Fidelity Prototype?

Low-fidelity prototypes are used for several reasons:

  • Quick and Inexpensive: Low-fidelity prototypes can be created quickly and inexpensively, which makes them ideal for testing and validating product ideas in the early stages of product development.
  • Easy to Modify: Low-fidelity prototypes are easy to modify, which makes it easy to incorporate feedback from users and stakeholders.
  • Focus on Functionality: Low-fidelity prototypes focus on the functionality of the product, which helps to identify usability issues early on.
  • Encourage Collaboration: Low-fidelity prototypes encourage collaboration between product managers, designers, and developers, which helps to ensure that everyone is on the same page.

How to Create a Low-Fidelity Prototype?

Creating a low-fidelity prototype is a simple process:

  1. Identify the key features of the product that you want to test.
  2. Create a rough sketch of the product on paper or a whiteboard.
  3. Create a simple wireframe using a tool such as Balsamiq or Sketch.
  4. Test the prototype with users and stakeholders.
  5. Incorporate feedback and iterate on the prototype.

Conclusion

Low-fidelity prototypes are a valuable tool in product management. They are quick and inexpensive to create, easy to modify, and focus on the functionality of the product. By using low-fidelity prototypes, product managers can test and validate product ideas early on, which helps to ensure that the final product meets the needs of users and stakeholders.