Editing Paper prototyping (section)

== Drawbacks ==
Despite many benefits as a quick and easy way to receive feedback on initial design ideas, this method also has certain drawbacks. One of the most important factors in prototyping is the context in which the prototype is being created. Depending on the current stage of development, a paper prototype may not be the best choice for conveying the proposed design ideas. Paper prototypes should only be used in the beginning stages of the design process – typically as the first form of prototype created – since minimal functionality can actually be expressed on paper. They help flesh out ideas, encourage experimentation with unconventional designs, and provide rapid feedback on basic usability – but ultimately, paper prototypes would not serve as sufficient products to present to clients.

Another large drawback of paper prototypes is the level of imagination required from test participants in interpreting how to interact with the design. Since all interactions are being staged by a facilitator during paper prototype testing sessions, there is a potential for the feedback to be skewed as a result.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Rogers|first=Amy|date=2020-06-12|title=The downfall of paper prototyping|url=https://uxdesign.cc/the-downfall-of-paper-prototyping-aaef53db4c68|access-date=2021-12-13|website=Medium|language=en}}</ref> Users have to imagine what their interactions would look like in a digital space; however, their [[mental model]]s may not represent how the future state of the interface will actually be implemented. Further, users are often distracted by the whimsical performance of the facilitator as they move components around, as well as by their own acting to fake interactions, which would also impact the quality of feedback.<ref name=":0" />

Lastly, paper prototypes can only be tested in person, since test participants are instructed to physically interact with the prototype by pretending to "press" on buttons or moving components around to simulate how the website would change after an action has been taken. However, with an increasingly digitized world and a movement toward remote work, this poses an obstacle for conducting paper prototype testing. In addition, it is difficult to recruit participants from geographically dispersed areas with the constraint of in-person testing.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Babich|first=Nick|date=2020-09-25|title=The Magic of Paper Prototyping|url=https://uxplanet.org/the-magic-of-paper-prototyping-51693eac6bc3|access-date=2021-12-13|website=Medium|language=en}}</ref> Consequently, this might create bias in the feedback, since it would be ideal to receive insight into the needs of different, geographically diverse user groups.