Module 5: Design & Prototyping
Transform your MVP plan into beautiful, user-friendly designs and interactive prototypes that guide development.
Week 1: Design System & User Experience
Create a design foundation and map out the complete user experience for your MVP.
Research design patterns and competitors
Study 10-15 apps/websites in your space. Document common patterns, navigation styles, and user flows.
Map complete user flows
Create detailed user flow diagrams for all key user journeys in your MVP. Include decision points and edge cases.
Design information architecture
Organize your content and features into a logical site map and navigation structure.
Create basic design system
Define colors, typography, spacing, and basic component styles. Keep it simple but consistent.
Essential Design Principles for MVPs
Simplicity First
Keep interfaces clean and focused on core functionality
- • Limit choices to reduce cognitive load
- • Use plenty of white space
- • Stick to 2-3 main colors
- • Avoid unnecessary animations
User-Centered Design
Design for your specific users, not general audiences
- • Use language your users understand
- • Follow platform conventions
- • Test with real users early
- • Design for accessibility
Consistency
Maintain consistent patterns throughout your app
- • Use consistent spacing and typography
- • Standardize button styles and states
- • Keep navigation patterns uniform
- • Maintain consistent color usage
Feedback & Status
Always keep users informed about what's happening
- • Show loading states for async actions
- • Provide clear error messages
- • Confirm successful actions
- • Display progress for multi-step processes
Design Tool Comparison
Design Tools
Figma
- • Free plan available
- • Browser-based
- • Great collaboration
- • Component system
- • Can be slow with large files
- • Limited offline access
Sketch
- • Mac-native performance
- • Extensive plugin ecosystem
- • Great for icon design
- • Mac only
- • Subscription required
- • Limited collaboration
Adobe XD
- • Good prototyping features
- • Adobe Creative Cloud integration
- • Limited free plan
- • Fewer resources than Figma
Prototyping Tools
Figma Prototyping
- • Integrated with design
- • Easy sharing
- • Good for basic interactions
- • Limited advanced animations
- • Can be slow
InVision
- • Advanced animations
- • Great presentation mode
- • Good feedback tools
- • Additional cost
- • Separate from design tool
Principle
- • Timeline-based animation
- • Great for micro-interactions
- • Mac only
- • Learning curve