As a Lean Product Manager, it’s important to be able to quickly prototype user interfaces (UIs) and user flows to test and iterate on your product ideas. In this post, we’ll cover some tips and strategies for rapid prototyping, along with some real-world examples from the industry.
- Start with Sketches and Wireframes
Before diving into complex UI design tools, start with simple sketches and wireframes to get your ideas down on paper. Sketches and wireframes can be done quickly and easily, and can help you visualize the structure and layout of your product. Tools like Sketch, Figma, or Balsamiq can also help you create more polished wireframes and UI mockups.
The team at Dropbox Paper used sketches and wireframes to quickly prototype and iterate on their product design. By starting with low-fidelity mockups, they were able to get feedback from users early in the design process and make changes quickly.
- Use Prototyping Tools
Prototyping tools like InVision or Proto.io can help you create interactive mockups of your product that you can test with real users. These tools allow you to link different screens together and create a realistic user flow, which can help you identify any usability issues before you start coding.
- Test Early and Often
Don’t wait until you’ve built a fully-functional product to start testing with users. Instead, start testing your prototypes early and often to get feedback on your design and user flow. This can help you identify any issues before you’ve invested too much time and resources into development.
The team at Facebook uses user testing to validate their design decisions early in the development process. By testing early prototypes with real users, they’re able to identify usability issues and make changes quickly, which saves them time and resources down the road.
- Iterate Based on Feedback
Once you’ve tested your prototypes with users, take their feedback seriously and use it to inform your product development process. Iterate on your design and user flow based on the feedback you receive, and continue to test and refine until you have a product that meets the needs of your users.
By following these tips and strategies, you can quickly prototype UIs and user flows as a Lean Product Manager. Remember to start with simple sketches and wireframes, use prototyping tools to create interactive mockups, test early and often, and iterate based on feedback. With these tools and techniques, you can build a product that meets the needs of your users and drives your business forward.
Key Takeaways
- Start with sketches and wireframes to quickly get your ideas down on paper and visualize the structure and layout of your product.
- Use prototyping tools like InVision or Proto.io to create interactive mockups and test your product with real users.
- Test your prototypes early and often to identify any usability issues before investing too much time and resources into development.
- Iterate based on feedback from users to refine your design and user flow and improve the overall user experience.
- By following these strategies, you can quickly and efficiently prototype UIs and user flows as a Lean Product Manager, leading to a better product and happier users.
Leonardo Sanchez Biondini 