What Is High Fidelity?

High fidelity refers to a computer-based prototype that closely matches the final design of a website or product. As a user experience (UX) designer, your responsibility is to ensure that the content and style of the high-fidelity prototype match the final product as closely as possible. The visual details of the high-fidelity design are important to ensure the connection to the final product.

The visual details build on a low-fidelity design and provide potential clients with a complete picture of the final product. By using icons, colour, and actual content, the high-fidelity design allows the developers to understand what still needs edits or updates before the final product is ready. 

Wireframes are integral tools for UX designers. They refer to skeletal designs that allow developers to test prototypes and fix any errors before most of the coding work begins. As the high-fidelity design fills in the real elements and details from the low-fidelity wireframe’s placeholders, the UX designers can test and improve the code’s functionality and gather feedback early on in the design process. 

Using real content in a high-fidelity prototype allows the developers and the client to visualise how the final product will appear. It also allows for a click-through of the site or interface, which will create a more realistic user experience. 

What are the pros and cons of high-fidelity designs?

While high-fidelity designs can ensure a more well-rounded idea of the final product, they can be time-consuming and require a highly skilled UX designer to complete. The more visual detail, the longer it takes to create a mockup of a high-fidelity design. As a UX designer, you will work closely with clients to ensure you execute their vision for various graphic design products. 

A high-fidelity design will place more responsibility on you to create and may result in less creative input from the client. However, high-fidelity designs create the truest representation of the website or interface while allowing for feedback and improvements. 

In comparison, a low-fidelity wireframe is more cost-effective and quicker to complete, which is helpful if you and your client are on a tight budget or timeframe. The low-fidelity design only conveys an initial idea of what the website or product may look like; however, it uses placeholders instead of real content. 

Related terms

• UX designer

• UX researcher

• UX strategy

• Mockup

• Wireframe

• Computer graphics

Learn more about UX design with Coursera.

A high-fidelity prototype is a detailed computer mockup that closely resembles the final design of a product. It uses real content and visual details to give users and developers a realistic idea of the final product's look and functionality. This helps identify issues early in the design process and ensures the final product aligns with the client's vision. While more time-consuming than low-fidelity designs, high-fidelity prototypes provide a more accurate representation of the final product.

On Coursera, you can continue exploring the world of user experience with the Google UX Design Professional Certificate. This course provides the tools to understand UX research, apply foundational concepts, and create prototypes to test and improve upon.