When it comes to building new software, products, or services, you need to evaluate whether or not your idea is worth pursuing. Whether you’re working with a team as part of an agency or you’re launching your own startup and brainstorming ideas, you need to know if your concepts are worth developing further.
Our UX design team can help identify the value of different user experience elements so that we can choose which ones to dive deeper into and develop prototypes for. These are some common terms used by designers and developers when discussing their work. A prototype is one step up from a proof-of-concept and both serve important functions in the development process. Let’s take a closer look at these two terms so that you can decide which concepts are worth developing further for your project.
What is a Proof of Concept?
A proof of concept is a mock-up or simulation of a product, feature, or design that demonstrates how it would work in a real-life scenario and prove how it solves a problem. The acronym for this is POC, which can be found in many design documents. In the context of designing for user experience, a proof of concept (POC) is a rough mock-up of a product or feature that demonstrates how it would work in a real-life scenario.
It also proves how it solves a problem for your users. A POC is often created when you’re trying to sell an idea to your client or boss. It lets them see what the product or feature will look like and give them an idea of how it works. A POC can be built with software like Photoshop or Sketch. Alternatively, you could use things like sticky notes or whiteboards to sketch out your ideas visually.
Defining a Proof of Concept
A proof of concept (POC) is a rough mock-up of a product or feature that demonstrates how it would work in a real-life scenario. It also proves how it solves a problem for your users. A POC is often created when you’re trying to sell an idea to your client or boss. It lets them see what the product or feature will look like and give them an idea of how it works. A POC can be built with software like Photoshop or Sketch. Alternatively, you could use things like sticky notes or whiteboards to sketch out your ideas visually.
What is a Prototype?
A prototype is a mock-up or simulation of a product, feature, or design that demonstrates how it would work in a real-life scenario. The acronym for this is usually “RP” or “RTD” (return on design investment). A prototype is more than a proof of concept in that it actually works. It can be used by a user to accomplish a task and show how your product or feature is actually used. A prototype is a step up from a POC in that it’s more polished, looks more like the final product, and can be tested by a real user.
You can also use a prototype to test out how your feature or product works or to see if there are any issues with the way it’s designed. A prototype can be built with software like Axure or Framer. Alternatively, you could use things like paper or digital tools like Sketch to create a wireframe and then bring it to life with motion.
Why Is It Important to Distinguish Between a Proof of Concept and Prototype?
A proof of concept and a prototype are not the same thing, but they are related. A POC is a rough mock-up of a product or feature that demonstrates how it would work in a real-life scenario and proves how it solves a problem for your users. A prototype is a step up from a POC in that it’s more polished, looks more like the final product, and can be tested by a real user. A POC is often created when you’re trying to sell an idea to your client or boss. It lets them see what the product or feature will look like and give them an idea of how it works. A prototype is a more advanced version of a POC.
It’s a more advanced mock-up of a product or feature that demonstrates how it would work in a real-life scenario and proves how it solves a problem for your users. A prototype can be used to test out how your feature or product works or to see if there are any issues with the way it’s designed. You can also put a prototype in front of a user and have them interact with it, like when you’re testing an app.
Differences between a Proof of Concept and Prototype
While a proof of concept and prototype are related, it’s important to remember that they are different things. A proof of concept is a rough mock-up of a product or feature that demonstrates how it would work in a real-life scenario and proves how it solves a problem for your users. A prototype is a more advanced version of a POC. It’s a more advanced mock-up of a product or feature that demonstrates how it would work in a real-life scenario and proves how it solves a problem for your users.
A prototype can be used to test out how your feature or product works or to see if there are any issues with the way it’s designed. You can also put a prototype in front of a user and have them interact with it, like when you’re testing an app. A POC is not advanced enough for this type of testing.
Bottom line
A proof of concept is a rough mock-up of a product or feature that demonstrates how it would work in a real-life scenario and proves how it solves a problem for your users. A prototype is a more advanced version of a POC. It is a more advanced mock-up of a product or feature that demonstrates how it would work in a real-life scenario and proves how it solves a problem for your users.
A POC is often created when you’re trying to sell an idea to your client or boss. It lets them see what the product or feature will look like and give them an idea of how it works. A prototype is a more advanced version of a POC. It is more polished, looks more like the final product, and can be tested by a real user.
