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SingaporeDesign StudiesQuick questions
The Design Process
Quick questions on Prototyping and mock-ups: O-Level Design Studies
3short Q&A pairs drawn directly from our worked dot-point answer. For full context and worked exam questions, read the parent dot-point page.
What are low-fidelity prototypes?Show answer
Low-fidelity (low-fi) prototypes are rough, quick and cheap, made from simple materials such as paper, card, foam or basic sketches. A paper prototype of an app, with screens drawn by hand and swapped to mimic clicking, is a classic example. Their value is speed and disposability: they are fast to make, easy to change, and cheap to throw away, which makes them ideal early when ideas are still moving.
What are high-fidelity prototypes?Show answer
High-fidelity (high-fi) prototypes are detailed and realistic, close to the final design in look, feel or function. A polished digital mock-up of an app, or a carefully made 3D model of a product, are high-fi. They give realistic feedback on the final experience but take more time and money, so they are used later, once the idea is settled and the questions are about refinement rather than direction.
What are mock-ups?Show answer
A mock-up is a realistic, often non-functional model of how a design will look, used to evaluate appearance and presentation. A mock-up of packaging shows the artwork on the actual box shape; a mock-up of a poster shows it in its real setting. Mock-ups help the designer and client judge the look in context before production.
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