The "plan first" principle remains fundamental in today's digital world — only now, instead of outdated paper sketches, we work with something much closer to the final product: interactive prototypes.
Key takeaways👌
Creating interactive prototypes isn’t an extra step — it’s a necessary investment that shortens the path to a successful product
Choosing between Lo-Fi, Mid-Fi, and Hi-Fi prototypes depends on the project stage — don’t waste time refining unvalidated concepts
Modern prototyping tools (from Figma to Axure) are accessible even to non-professionals, making the mockup creation process more democratic
Why prototypes matter
An interactive prototype is a clickable model of a future app, website, or digital product. Unlike static mockups, it lets users interact with it almost like the real thing — clicking buttons, navigating screens, and filling out forms.
Take Josh, for example — a responsible guy who wrote detailed instructions for his team. But they misunderstood half of it and built something that wasn’t what he imagined. Josh followed the rules but skipped a key step.
Then there's Alex. He’s been through this before, so he builds a simple prototype, tests it with users and teammates, improves it, and only then hands it off to developers. Guess who ends up with the better product?
Interactive prototypes were once reserved for massive corporations. Now, even budget-conscious startups use them — and for good reason.
Key characteristics of an interactive prototype:
- Clickability — interface elements respond to user actions
- Navigation — the ability to move between different screens
- Simulation of real scenarios — demonstrates typical user flows
- Varying levels of detail — from simple wireframes to detailed mockups close to the final design
And here’s an important detail — interactive prototypes aren’t actual products. They’re more like simulations that mimic how the final product will work. So, no back-end, no complex logistics — just the essentials.
When an idea takes an interactive form, it often opens up new avenues for product development that we hadn’t even considered at the start of the design process. What if the real value of a prototype isn’t just in preventing mistakes, but in opening doors you never planned to open?
Types of interactive prototypes
Depending on what kind of product you have in mind, your prototype can vary in quality and complexity:
| Prototype type | Characteristics | When to use | Advantages |
| Lo-Fi (Low Fidelity) | Simple black-and-white wireframes Minimal details- Hand-drawn or created with basic tools |
At the very early stages To visualize and validate ideas When structure matters more than style |
Fast to create (hours, not days) No emotional attachment to specific ideas Focuses on logic and user flows |
| Mid-Fi (Medium Fidelity) | More detailed layouts Basic styling Simple interactivity |
After the concept is defined To test structure and user scenarios, Without investing in the final design |
Balanced speed and quality Suitable for user testing Doesn’t require advanced design skills |
| Hi-Fi (High Fidelity) | Full-color mockups- Detailed elements Advanced interactivity and animations |
In the final stages For presentations and handoff to development |
Looks and feels almost like the real product Evaluates functionality and visual design |
It’s wise to avoid jumping into Hi-Fi prototypes before you feel more confident in the market. Start small — with something low-detail and very basic. Experiment with different ideas, see what resonates, and only then move on to more complex prototypes. This approach helps you stay flexible and open to new ideas as they come.
The only way to find out if it really works is to test it.
— Steve Krug, author
Top prototype creation tools
The market, of course, is full of options for you to explore. Take your time, do your research, consider your business goals, and only then make an informed decision about which platform to choose.
These tools can be complex, so wasting precious hours learning one that ultimately lacks the functionality you need would be a huge disappointment. Here’s our personal selection to help you get started:
- Figma: The Versatile Leader. Figma has become the de facto standard for many designers and product managers in recent years, and for good reason.
Key features:
- Combines design and prototyping tools
- Works in the browser and as a desktop app
- Allows multiple users to collaborate simultaneously
- Offers an extensive library of ready-made components and plugins
Personal observation: Figma excels with large projects thanks to its component and library system. Real-time change visibility significantly speeds up design iterations.
Best for: A universal solution for most projects—from personal to corporate. Especially valuable for distributed teams.
- Adobe XD: Power of the Adobe Ecosystem. Adobe XD is a strong competitor to Figma with unique advantages, especially for those already using other Adobe products.
Key features:
- Integration with Photoshop, Illustrator, and other Adobe tools
- Advanced animation capabilities
- Support for voice prototypes
- Convenient component and style management
Personal observation: Adobe XD shines in projects where smooth transitions and micro-animations matter. Auto-animate between states is often used to quickly create dynamic prototypes.
Best for: Designers who are already working within the Adobe ecosystem and projects requiring high-quality interface animations.
- Sketch: Mac Users’ Favorite. For a long time, Sketch was synonymous with UI/UX design and remains a powerful player, though it has ceded some ground to Figma.
Key features:
- Native macOS app (no Windows support)
- Rich plugin ecosystem
- Integration with collaboration tools
- Efficient symbol system for reuse
Personal observation: Its main advantage is speed and low system resource usage. However, serious prototyping often requires integration with tools like InVision.
Best for: Solo designers on Mac and small teams not needing advanced collaboration features.
- Axure RP: Champion of Complex Prototypes. If you need to build truly interactive prototypes with conditional logic, forms, and dynamic content, Axure RP is your go-to.
Key features:
- Creation of complex conditional logic without coding
- Work with dynamic content and variables
- Extensive documentation capabilities
- Specification generation for developers
Personal observation: When working on a complex corporate CRM system with dozens of interconnected screens, only Axure allowed us to create a prototype accurately reflecting all user scenarios, including conditional logic and form validation.
Best for: Professional UX designers working on complex projects with branched logic—corporate systems, multi-step form apps.
- Protopie: King of Microinteractions. Protopie specializes in prototypes with rich interactive elements and animations, including support for mobile device sensors and gestures.
Key features:
- Advanced animations without coding
- Support for touch gestures, accelerometer, camera
- Testing on real devices
- Integration with Sketch, Figma, and Adobe XD
Personal observation: Works excellently when demonstrating complex gesture interactions in mobile apps (swipes, pinches, rotations). Prototypes are so realistic that many mistake them for finished apps.
Best for: Mobile app designers need to showcase complex interactions and animations.
- InVision: Time-Tested Solution. InVision was among the pioneers of interactive prototyping and remains popular thanks to its ease of use and powerful collaboration tools.
Key features:
- Easy creation of clickable prototypes from static mockups
- Great tools for collecting feedback and commenting
- Integration with the most popular design tools
- Built-in project management system
Personal observation: InVision is especially good for client presentations — the presentation mode and convenient commenting system help gather feedback from all stakeholders in one place.
Best for: Teams that prioritize presenting design effectively and gathering feedback over complex interactivity.
- Marvel: Simplicity and Accessibility. Marvel is one of the simplest prototyping tools, perfect for beginners and small projects.
Key features:
- Intuitive interface without complex features
- Quick prototyping from uploaded images
- Built-in user testing tools
- Basic collaboration features
Personal observation: We once used it for a client workshop where non-specialists created a basic prototype in just a couple of hours.
Best for: Beginner designers and small projects with basic prototyping needs.
Learn how to increase user engagement by 2.5 times in our article Prototype testing checklist: Step-by-step guide to Improve UX
Interactive prototype process
Quite a selection, huh? The good news is – the process is pretty much the same, no matter what tool you pick:
Step 1. Define Prototyping Goals
Before starting, clearly specify why you need the prototype:
- For internal understanding of the concept
- For presenting to clients or investors
- For user testing
- For handing off to a developer
Step 2. Create a Plan and Structure
- Sketch a map of screens and transitions between them
- Identify key user scenarios
- Decide the required level of detail (Lo-Fi, Mid-Fi, Hi-Fi)
Step 3. Develop the Interface
- Create main screens according to the chosen fidelity level
- Focus on structure first, then details
- Use ready-made components and libraries to speed up the process
Step 4. Add Interactivity
- Link screens together
- Add transitions and animations
- Implement interactive elements (buttons, input fields, menus)
Step 5. Testing and Iterations
- Test the prototype yourself
- Collect feedback from the team or potential users
- Make necessary changes and improvements
Step 6. Presentation and Documentation
- Prepare the prototype for demonstration
- Create accompanying documentation if needed
- Ensure easy access for all stakeholders
Interesting fact 👀
According to the UX Tools Survey 2023, 57% of designers use advanced prototyping tools, reflecting a growing interest in more realistic and interactive prototypes.
Conclusion
Interactive prototypes aren’t just a trendy UX/UI tool — they’re a powerful asset that saves time and money, improves team and client communication, and significantly raises the quality of the final product.
Remember: behind every successful digital product lies a series of prototypes that evolved through real user feedback. Make interactive prototyping part of your development culture, and the results won’t keep you waiting.
Recommended reading 🤓
"Prototyping: A Practitioner's Guide" ,Todd Zaki Warfel
A practical guide covering the process from paper sketches to interactive models, emphasizing an iterative design approach.
On Amazon
"Designing Interface Animation", Val Head
How animation can enhance interactive prototypes and user experience.
On Amazon
"Microinteractions: Designing with Details", Dan Saffer
A deep dive into microinteractions as crucial elements of interactive design.
On Amazon
The best way to predict your product’s future is to prototype it😉