Pretotyping

In the world of product development, the ideation phase is often full of enthusiasm and creativity. Innovative ideas, revolutionary solutions, and ambitious projects are born. However, between these brilliant ideas and a finished and successful product, there is an often underestimated obstacle: validation.

How can we be sure that our idea, however brilliant, has a market? How can we understand if people will be willing to use our product and if it will actually solve a real problem?

The answer to these questions lies in a fundamental process: pretotyping.

What are pretotypes?

Pretotypes are embryonic and simplified versions of a product, created with the aim of quickly testing the idea and gathering feedback from users. They are not finished or refined products, but rather sketches, models, or simulations that allow us to give concrete form to the idea and compare it with the market reality.

Why is pretotyping important?

Pretotyping offers numerous advantages:

• Reduces risks: It allows you to test the product idea at an early stage, when development costs are still low. In this way, it is possible to identify any critical issues or usability problems before investing significant resources in full development.

• Increases the chances of success: A well-made pretotype allows you to collect valuable feedback from users, which can be used to improve the product and make it more in line with their needs.

• Promotes learning: Pretotyping is an iterative process that allows you to learn from mistakes and refine the idea as you go along.

• Encourages collaboration: Creating a pretotype can be a collaborative activity that involves various professional figures, favoring communication and the sharing of ideas.

How to create an effective pretotype

Creating an effective pretotype does not necessarily require great technical skills or expensive resources. The important thing is that the pretotype is:

• Focused: Focus on a specific aspect of the product or a problem to be solved.

• Easy to create: Use simple and accessible tools and materials.

• Explanatory: Allow users to easily understand the idea and its features.

• Actionable: Collect concrete feedback from users that can be used to improve the product.

Pretotype examples

There are endless possibilities for creating a pretotype, depending on the type of product being developed. Here are a few examples:

• A simple website: For an e-commerce idea, a website with a few static pages and a contact form can be a good pretotype to test public interest.

• A paper model: For a mobile app, a paper model with screens and navigation flows can be useful for testing usability and the user interface.

• A video pretotype: For a complex service, a video that illustrates the main features can be an effective way to communicate the idea to users.

Pretotyping is an essential tool for any entrepreneur or developer who wants to increase their chances of success. It allows you to validate ideas, reduce risks, gather valuable feedback, and create better products that meet the real needs of users. You don't need to be an expert to create an effective pretotype: the important thing is to start with a simple and iterative approach, learning from mistakes and improving the product as you go along.