Prototype Website: An Essential Part Of The Web Development Process
Coming up with an idea is hard. Damn hard. But when you have it, there’s nothing more important than to show it to others. While in your head, nothing can be more clear about it, explaining what makes it so special to the other can be an ordeal. But first, take a deep breath. Now it’s time to create your prototype website.
Read also: Figma vs Adobe XD — Which Tool To Use?
Prototype Website: An Essential Part Of The Web Development Process
In 2023, web design is as streamlined as possible. You have tools — loads of tools. So many tools that you can never run out of them. But you don’t need much — you only need one. The one that works for you. You’ve probably seen people discussing what’s better, Figma or Adobe XD. More often than not, the best tool is the one you like the most.
Modern prototype website builders offer everything you might need: pre-designed templates, drag-and-drop functionality, ease of use, etc. You don’t even need to be a coder or a professional designer to pull off something spectacular. Not at this stage, anyway; when you’re ready to build a fully-fledged website, it’s a whole other matter — that’s when you need pros. But prototyping is about showing your idea to the world. That way, you can test your vision and try design ideas and features. What color combination works best? What structure is the one for you? Making a prototype website is essential for finding all possible issues that might show in the future.
Where to start
While the process is relatively easy, you can’t ignore a few important aspects of web design. The first thing you need is to find the purpose of your website. What elements do you need? How hard of a project is it? User experience, design choices, etc., there are many things to consider. This is where you refine your ideas. After that, it’s planning time. Resources, budget, and other less exciting parts of the whole process need to be decided.
So what are the best tools for prototyping websites?
- Adobe XD: Adobe XD is a popular prototype website builder for designing, prototyping, and sharing your website ideas. It boasts a user-friendly interface and presents a wide range of tools and templates for creating wireframes, mockups, and interactive prototypes.
- Figma: Figma is a web-based prototype website builder that allows real-time collaboration. It’s easy to use and works in your browser, allowing for truly seamless experience.
- InVision: InVision is another well-known builder that includes wireframing, prototyping, and collaboration tools.
- Balsamiq: Balsamiq is a simple and intuitive prototype website builder. It has a lot of pre-designed UI elements.
- Axure RP: Axure is a robust and universal prototype website builder popular among web designers. It is great for wireframing, prototyping and documentation.
- UXPin: UXPin is a user-friendly prototype website that’s easy to master.
- Marvel App: Marvel App is another popular choice that’s been making rounds lately. It’s pretty powerful and versatile.