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What is a Prototype?
A prototype is the theory behind your product made into form. Instead of having a vague idea of what you want to eventually build, you make something tangible.
Prototypes can vary in size and how much time and effort you put into them
The main benefit of a prototype is that it helps you to communicate with your design and engineering teams. Think of it as the packaging of an empty box. It shows you what’s inside and what it looks like, but there’s currently nothing going on underneath.
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Different Types of Prototypes
- Paper sketches: This is the lowest level of prototype. If you can wield a pencil, you can manage! Draw out a basic idea of what your user interface will look like. If you want to make something visually appealing to communicate to investors/stakeholders, work with a designer to create something that fits your vision.
- Digital prototypes: You can also create a working mock-up of your envisioned product, and there are many tools to help you do so.
The rule of thumb when picking prototyping tools is their complexity.
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What is an MVP?
The meaning of MVP is Minimum Viable Product: the bare minimum version of your product that still solves the problem for your customers.
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What is The Difference Between Prototype and MVP?
- Scope: A prototype is something that you can put very little time and effort into. With an MVP, you’ve picked an idea and you’re rolling with it, which means putting in a little more effort.
- Commitment: Once you’ve invested time and resources into an MVP, you’re less likely to completely scrap it. With a prototype, it can be as easy as crumpling up the paper and starting again.
- Audience: Prototypes are mostly internal. Mainly intended for your teams, or others in your company. An MVP is intended to be launched to your target market in order to assess its reception.
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Tips for Building Your Prototype or MVP
- Stay customer-focused: The goal of your product is to provide value, so be sure to focus on who you’re building for.
- Stay data-driven: You don’t have to be a data scientist to be a product manager, but don’t think that numbers shouldn’t matter to you.
- Kill your darlings: You might really love your prototype/MVP. But if no one else does…it’s time to rethink!
- Just build the thing! If you want to build products, eventually it’s time to let go and let people see them!
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