The similarities and differences between a Mockup and Rapid Prototyping.

Simple Definitions

• Mockup: A static, high-quality visual model of a product. It looks like the final product but you can't interact with it. It's like a realistic photograph or a detailed sculpture. Its main purpose is to show the design, colors, and style.

• Rapid Prototyping: The process of quickly creating an early, working model of a product. This model (a prototype) is used to test ideas and functions before building the final product. It's like a rough, interactive draft.

Similarities

• Both Are Models: They are both representations of a final product, made before the real product is built.

• Both Save Time & Money: They help find problems and get feedback early, which is cheaper than fixing mistakes later.

• Both Are Used for Communication: They help designers, developers, and clients understand and agree on what the product should be.

Differences

Simple Analogy

Think of designing a new car:

• A Mockup is a full-size, beautifully painted clay model of the car. You can see its color and shape, but you can't drive it.

• Rapid Prototyping is building a quick, simple version of the engine or the dashboard to test if the controls work correctly.

In short: A mockup is about how it looks. A prototype is about how it works. Rapid Prototyping is the process for quickly creating those working models.