Design Principles for Building Prototypes

Design principles are essential for creating prototypes that are effective and efficient. In this guide, we’ll cover the basics of design principles, how to apply them to your prototypes, and best practices for getting the most out of your design.

Getting Started

Design principles are the foundation of any successful prototype. They provide a framework for creating a prototype that is both effective and efficient. Design principles are based on the idea that a prototype should be designed with the user in mind, and should be easy to use and understand. By following these principles, you can ensure that your prototype is successful and meets the needs of your users.

How To Apply Design Principles to Your Prototype

When applying design principles to your prototype, it’s important to consider the user’s needs and goals. Start by understanding the user’s context and what they are trying to accomplish. Then, consider how the design of the prototype can help them achieve their goals. Consider the user’s experience and how the design can make it easier for them to use the prototype. Finally, consider how the design can be optimized for SEO keywords.

Best Practices for Design Principles

• Keep the user in mind when designing the prototype.
• Understand the user’s context and goals.
• Design the prototype to be easy to use and understand.
• Optimize the design for SEO keywords.
• Test the prototype with users to ensure it meets their needs.

Examples of Design Principles

• Simplicity: Keep the design simple and easy to use.
• Usability: Design the prototype to be intuitive and easy to use.
• Accessibility: Make sure the prototype is accessible to all users.
• Scalability: Design the prototype to be scalable and able to handle large amounts of data.
• Flexibility: Design the prototype to be flexible and able to adapt to changing user needs.

Popular prototyping and mockup platforms for designers

• Moqups — Make wireframes, mockups, diagrams, charts, and prototypes within one creative context.
• Figma — Figma connects everyone in the design process so teams can deliver better products, faster.
• UXPin — Meet UXPin Merge. The innovative tech powering code-based design.
• InVision — Invision is a design collaboration and prototyping tool that helps teams create and share interactive prototypes of their designs.
• Miro — The online collaborative whiteboard platform to bring teams together, anytime, anywhere.
• Sketch — Sketch gives you all the tools you need for a truly collaborative design process. From early ideas to pixel-perfect artwork, playable prototypes and developer handoff.
• Mockup.io — Mockup.io is an online platform that helps you create stunning visuals for websites, apps, and more. It’s easy to use and provides a library of templates, icons, and illustrations to help you create beautiful designs quickly.
• MockFlow — Online whiteboard for brainstorming user interfaces with your team
• Mockingbird — GoMockingbird is an online tool that helps you quickly create interactive wireframes and prototypes for websites and mobile apps. It’s easy to use and lets you collaborate with others in real-time.
• Mockup Builder — MockupBuilder is an online design tool that helps you create stunning visuals for websites, apps, and more. It’s easy to use and offers a wide range of features to help you create professional-looking designs quickly and easily.
• Mockup Machine — Use Mockup Machine services to design online mockups, wireframes, UX/UI mockups, software mockups, and prototypes.
• Fluid UI — Fluid UI is a web-based prototyping tool that helps you create interactive mobile and web prototypes quickly and easily. It has a drag-and-drop interface, a library of UI elements, and a range of collaboration features.
• Proto.io — Build interactive web, iOS, Android, and other low or high-fidelity prototypes right into your web browser. Drag and drop ready-to-use, easily customizable templates, UI components, icons, and more, to prototype in minutes! No coding skills required.
• Axure RP — The most powerful way to plan, prototype and handoff to developers, all without code. Download a free trial and see why UX professionals choose Axure RP.
• Balsamiq — Balsamiq is the company behind Balsamiq Wireframes, the industry standard low-fidelity wireframing tool.
• Webflow — Build your site for free and take as long as you need.
• Flinto — Flinto is a powerful design tool that helps you create interactive prototypes for mobile, desktop, and web apps.
• ProtoPie — Build better products with our realistic & no-code prototyping tool. Ideal for all designers, UX researchers, and developers.
• LucidSpark — The virtual whiteboard that connects teams so they can bring their best ideas to life
• JustInMind — Easily create web and mobile app prototypes and wireframes with Justinmind UI prototyping tool.
• LucidChart — Lucidchart is the intelligent diagramming application that brings teams together to make better decisions and build the future.
• HotGloo — HotGloo is a UX, wireframe and prototyping tool designed to build wireframes for web, mobile and wearables.
• Canva — Canva makes it easy to create professional designs and to share or print them.
• Mockplus — The all-in-one product design platform for prototyping, collaboration, and creating design systems. Mockplus helps you create better design experience faster and easier
• Marvel App — The collaborative design platform. Wireframe, prototype, user test, design and inspect designs in one place, for free.
• UXtweak — Conduct qualitative UX study as your users complete specific tasks, directly on your live web. Try it for free now!
• Adobe XD — Adobe XD is a vector-based user experience design tool for web apps and mobile apps, developed and published by Adobe Inc.