As you can already guess by the word, the tool prototyping, in essence, comes down to creating different prototypes. Prototypes can be very helpful for design teams to test their concept or product with clients and end-users. The tangible realization of the product-to-be functions as a conversation piece and makes it easier for the client/user to state his opinion and to reflect in more detail on the aspects he does appreciate and the aspects that still need attention and improvement. By using prototypes the dialogue between the researcher/developer on the one hand and the clients or users on the other hand can be made more productive.
Prototyping can be applied in many cases and in many different ways. You can choose to develop low-fidelity prototypes and high-fidelity prototyping, and everything in between. Just make sure that you know beforehand what you would like to test and in which phase.
Handbook of Research on Cultural Tourism and Sustainability by 
Universal Methods of Design by
""Universal Methods of Design" is an immensely useful survey of research and design methods used by today's top practitioners, and will serve as a crucial reference for any designer grappling with really big problems. This book has a place on every designer's bookshelf, including yours " -David Sherwin, Principal Designer at frog and author of "Creative Workshop: 80 Challenges to Sharpen Your Design Skills" ""Universal Methods of Design" is a landmark method book for the field of design. This tidy text compiles and summarizes 100 of the most widely applicable and effective methods of design-research, analysis, and ideation-the methods that every graduate of a design program should know, and every professional designer should employ. Methods are concisely presented, accompanied by information about the origin of the technique, key research supporting the method, and visual examples. Want to know about Card Sorting, or the Elito Method? What about Think-Aloud Protocols? This book has them all and more in readily digestible form. The authors have taken away our excuse for not using the right method for the job, and in so doing have elevated its readers and the field of design. "UMOD" is an essential resource for designers of all levels and specializations, and should be one of the go-to reference tools found in every designer's toolbox." -William Lidwell, author of Universal Principles of Design, Lecturer of Industrial Design, University of Houston This comprehensive reference provides a thorough and critical presentation of 100 research methods, synthesis/analysis techniques, and research deliverables for human centered design, delivered in a concise and accessible format perfect for designers, educators, and students. Whether research is already an integral part of a practice or curriculum, or whether it has been unfortunately avoided due to perceived limitations of time, knowledge, or resources, "Universal Methods of Design" serves as an invaluable compendium of methods that can be easily referenced and utilized by cross-disciplinary teams in nearly any design project. This essential guide: - Dismantles the myth that user research methods are complicated, expensive, and time-consuming - Creates a shared meaning for cross-disciplinary design teams - Illustrates methods with compelling visualizations and case studies - Characterizes each method at a glance - Indicates when methods are best employed to help prioritize appropriate design research strategies "Universal Methods of Design" distills each method down to its most powerful essence, in a format that will help design teams select and implement the most credible research methods best suited to their design culture within the constraints of their projects.
