Live prototyping tests a new service, product concept, or interaction design in the actual environment with real users during a brief, deliberately limited live deployment. Rather than simulating an experience in a lab or with role play, the design team stages a real version of the experience, usually running for hours or days rather than weeks, to observe how people actually behave when the consequences are real. The directness of live prototyping produces feedback of a quality that no simulation can match.
Live Prototyping
Testing a service in the real world before committing to full deployment
Designers Academy
4 November 2025 · 4 min read
In brief
Live prototyping tests new services or products in the real world with actual users during a brief, limited deployment to gather genuine feedback.


