4 Key Strategies for Successful Clickable Prototype Development • Slash

Clickable prototype development allows you to discover several design problems early. But what is a clickable prototype in software engineering? And how can developers improve their upcoming software products with it? This article is an answer to all your questions related to prototyping. As you keep reading, you will learn the importance and benefits of clickable prototyping.
Furthermore, you will explore the list and the comparison chart of the best clickable prototype software. Moreover, you will learn about brief instructions on how to create clickable prototype in Figma and other tools. And most importantly, the 4 result-driven clickable prototype development strategies. Plus, some clickable prototype examples to clear your concept.

Table of Contents

What is Clickable Prototype Development?

Clickable prototype development means creating an interactive representation or a model of a software application to evaluate the interface. Since a clickable prototype of a product differs from design wireframes, it is neither static nor the final version. A reliable tech partner builds clickable prototypes so people can use them to perform and analyze interactive functionalities.
Also Read: How to Find a Reliable Tech Partner for Your Startup | 5 Keys to Follow

Importance of Clickable Prototype Development

Clickable prototype development allows you to gain accurate feedback from the following:

a. Decision Makers/Stakeholders

It allows stakeholders and product owners to understand whether or not the product is being built by adhering to the scope.

b. Development Teams

Developers play a key role in Agile teams, and through clickable prototypes, they understand the digital product in a better way. These prototypes also play a great role in eliminating misunderstandings between UX experts or product owners and software developers.

c. Users

Clickable prototype development allows companies to test their ideas and theories by sharing the product to end users. For example, knowing the user feedback on the layout or design of an application.

Advantages of Clickable Prototype Development

Here are the 5 advantages of making a clickable prototype of a digital product.

a. Giving Life to UI Design

A clickable prototype allows users to view, use, and interact with the user interface design. Such interaction is impossible through written documentation or a plan. Although they can comment and share their thoughts over the paper-based version, they won’t fully grasp the product idea.

b. Gaining Valuable Feedback

Through clickable prototype development, the data and functionality within the application’s context demonstrate different scenarios for users. They can experience a real-like working application, permitting them to give feedback as if using the final version of a fully-operational application. Therefore, you can gather valuable feedback based on the prototype.

c. Saves Time

In the absence of clickable prototype development, any changes in the design during the development process compel writing codes all over again. Recoding an application requires more time, significantly affecting the development, delivery, and launch schedules. So when you already have a prototype, creating an MVP and a successful product development strategy becomes easy.

Also Read: 6 Important Things to Follow in Your Digital Product Strategy

d. Useful Reference for the Development Team

Clickable prototypes are ideal for illustrating the app’s functionality, which seems difficult if done using other ways. For example, if developers want to understand how a particular control or widget of the app is intended to act. They can take references from the prototype to get the answer.

4 Clickable Prototype Development Strategies

There are four clickable prototype development strategies that ensure great results.

Strategy 1: Selection of the Right Tools

First, you must choose the right clickable prototype tools because they can save you a lot of money. Additionally, the tool you choose should be simple and uncomplex, as it will help you develop a prototype quickly.

Strategy 2: Create Goal-Driven Designs

Keep the functionality simple instead of filling the prototype with unnecessary options and confusing design. Your clickable prototype should get the users to what they command. The flow of your prototype should be designed for a single specific outcome.

Strategy 3: Show Inputs

Input means clearly showing the features in a prototype that leads to some outcomes. For example, a blank dashboard won’t convince the stakeholders to accept the idea, no matter how effective the results are. You must create a clickable wireframe prototype based on the information and details because it ensures user retention.
Also Read: 5 Steps to Increase Engagement with User Retention Design

Strategy 4: Get Feedback to Check Prototype’s Reality

Lastly, show the prototype to your ideal users and evaluate if it’s providing them ease. Let them get the feel of co-creating the product. Allow them to use the product and listen to their response. Give your best to shape the upcoming versions according to user feedback.

Reasons for Choosing the Right Clickable Prototype Development Tools Before Making an Application

Without the correct tools, clickable prototype development can be stressful. But when you pick the best prototype software, you can enjoy many perks, such as:

Cost-efficiency
Motivated teams
Market fit products
Satisfied clients
Successful products

3 Best Clickable Prototype Development Tools for Your Team

So you know how important it is to use an accurate tool for prototype building. But the confusing part is which software to opt for when numerous of them claim to be ideal. To eliminate this puzzling state of mind, we present you with the 3 best clickable prototype development tools for your development team.

1. Figma

Figma is the number one choice of several UI designers when it comes to clickable prototype development. This tool can handle everything from UI design, prototyping, and wireframing to design system management, developer handoff, and collaboration.
How to make a clickable prototype in Figma?
Figma requires no coding. You can connect different UI elements and select and apply animations and interactions. Once you have created a prototype, you can check it on a mobile phone through the Figma app or web browser.

2. Adobe XD

Adobe XD is a vector-based clickable prototype development tool best for prototyping and collaborative design. This software offers two work modes – design mode and prototype mode.
How to make a clickable prototype in Adobe XD?
With Adobe XD, clickable prototype development is done in two steps. First, you must make a static design in the design mode and add different elements from the artboard. Second, you need to switch to the prototype mode and make interactive links to simulate your app or website’s flow.

3. Axure

Axure clickable prototype development is trusted by some of the world’s renowned organizations like Microsoft and Amazon. It is the best clickable prototype app for prototyping as well as wireframing with simple drag-and-drop functionality. It features conditional logic, dynamic interactions, code export, and automated redlines.
How to make a clickable prototype in Axure RP?
To build a clickable prototype using Axure, you need to create a new project and add images. Apply interactions to build the prototype.

Comparison Table – Clickable Prototype Development Tools for Beginners and Advance Users

Figma vs Adobe XD vs Axure

Product	Functionality	Operating System	Ideal Use	Price
Figma	UI Design, Wireframing, Collaboration, and Prototyping	Web-based, MacOS, and Windows	Mid-fidelity prototyping	$12 per month
Adobe XD	UI Design, Wireframing, Collaboration, and Prototyping	Web-based, MacOS (v10 or later, and Windows 10	Turning static UI design into interactive prototypes	$9.99 per month
Axure RP	Wireframing, Prototyping, Customer Journeys, and Diagramming	Web-based, MacOS, and Windows	Interactive HTML prototyping for mobile, web, and desktop	$25 per month

Note: Pricing may vary as per providers’ policies.

Conclusion

Clickable prototype development improves your product at the initial stage. It supports you in making a robust MVP that can become a winning app later. But it is vital to choose the best tools for prototyping, such as Figma, Adobe XD, and Axure. Similarly, your prototype should be goal-oriented with clean and easy-to-use features that users find simple and effective.
At Slash, we love building interactive prototypes to meet our stakeholders’ and users’ expectations. Our tech squad and brilliant designers collaborate at each step to develop web and mobile applications through proper feedback. So get ready to bring your new idea to life. Contact us to create a clickable prototype together.

FAQs – Clickable Prototype Development

Q1. What is prototype interaction design?

A prototype is a sample version or simulation of a final app, which design teams use for testing prior to launching the software.

Q2. How to prototype interactive components in Figma?

To prototype interactive components in Figma, you must ensure that the main component and design are on the same page.

Q3. Can Figma be interactive?

Yes. By adding interactions with various triggers in Figma clickable prototype, the tool plays both variant interactions and interaction.

Q4. What are the 4 ways of creating a prototype?

The best ways for clickable prototype development are choosing authentic tools, building goal-driven designs, showing inputs, and gathering user feedback.