How much should you prototype?

The scope of your prototype should align with your testing goals and available resources. While it might be tempting to prototype every feature and interaction, this approach can be time-consuming and counterproductive. Instead, focus on prototyping the core user flows and critical features that need validation. For example, in an e-commerce app, you might prototype the complete checkout process but skip the account settings screens.

When determining prototype scope, also consider what aspects of your design carry the most risk or uncertainty. Critical interactions, new design patterns, or complex user flows are prime candidates for prototyping. You can further limit your prototype's scope by focusing on specific devices or screen sizes initially. This targeted approach helps teams get valuable feedback quickly without getting bogged down in less critical details that can be refined later in the development process.