Intent
Test UI/UX ideas quickly before committing to production.
When to use
- New workflows need validation.
- Stakeholders need to see the flow early.
- You need to de-risk a complex interface.
Core mechanics
- Create a lightweight prototype with realistic data.
- Gather feedback and iterate rapidly.
- Translate findings into backlog items.
Implementation checklist
- Define user flows and success criteria.
- Build a prototype with sample data.
- Run reviews or usability tests.
- Capture feedback and decisions.
- Translate into implementation tasks.
Failure modes and mitigations
- Prototype mistaken for production -> label clearly and limit scope.
- Feedback ignored -> document decisions and follow-up.
- Unrealistic data -> use representative samples.
Observability and validation
- Feedback notes and decision log.
- Prototype revision history.
Artifacts
- Prototype link or screenshots.
- Feedback summary.