Create click dummy: How to build a clickable app prototype

A click dummy is an interactive prototype that simulates the interface of an app without having to write a single line of code. It helps to make ideas tangible at an early stage, to visually test functions and to create a common understanding within the team. Anyone who creates a Click Dummy brings structure to the project and lays a clear basis for later decisions in the design and development process. In App Development Leipzig, we also use this method to realistically visualize initial ideas.

Especially in early phases, a clickable prototype is a central tool for validation. User guidance, layout and basic functionality can be clearly presented, tested and optimized long before the actual product is programmed. This saves time, reduces incorrect developments and ensures faster feedback.

KNGURU works with such interactive click dummies in all customer projects. Even before the technical implementation, we check what app ideas feel like, whether the navigation is logical and whether the design meets the expectations of the target group. Thanks to proven tools, a click dummy can be created efficiently and further developed in a targeted manner as a stable foundation for any digital product.

What is a click dummy?

A click dummy is a clickable but technically not functional prototype that simulates the subsequent user flow within an app. It shows how users move through the app, what interaction is possible and how content could be structured without a single line of code.

Common design tools such as Figma or Adobe XD are used to create such a prototype. There, screens can be linked together to simulate realistic navigation through the app. If you want to create an app prototype, you often start with a simple wireframe, i.e. a rough sketch without design elements. Later, a visually detailed mockup with real layout, colors and typography can be created.

Clickable prototypes are available in various levels of detail. A low-fidelity dummy focuses on functions and processes. A high-fidelity click dummy already gives the final look and feel of real apps. Both variants help to test decisions at an early stage and obtain targeted user feedback. Especially for more complex projects, we often rely on Cross platform app development to make the dummy usable across platforms.

Why a clickable app prototype is so important

A clickable prototype helps to quickly illustrate initial ideas and to check at an early stage whether planned functions and processes make sense. Complete user flows can be simulated without complex web development. This saves time and money and forms the basis for a successful software project.

A click dummy is ideal for testing assumptions about functions and processes in the app. Through targeted user testing, valuable feedback can be obtained even before real development work begins. Usability also plays a central role here: How intuitive is the operation, how clear is the navigation? Weaknesses in the user experience or unnecessary functions are thus identified early on and can be adjusted before costs arise.

A click dummy also offers clear added value for teams and stakeholders. The interplay of functionality and design is presented in a comprehensible way and can be assessed without prior technical knowledge. Especially in app design, it is crucial to plan and optimize the subsequent user experience in detail. In practice, many of our customers are already using the app cost calculator, in order to be able to better estimate the effort required for these early phases.

The better the end product feels before the first code commit, the more specifically it can be developed. Clickable prototypes show how many clicks are needed to achieve specific goals and make the entire concept tangible for developers, designers, decision makers and end users.

Preparation — Before you start the Click Dummy

Before you start creating a click dummy, you need a clear goal. Is it about an MVP, a feature demo, a pitch deck for female investors or a user test? The clearer the goal, the more precisely the subsequent procedure can be planned.

It starts with concept development: Which user flows are central? This includes frequent processes such as onboarding, logging in or using the core function. These areas should be completely mappable in a dummy in order to realistically simulate the actual behavior of users.

The environment also plays a role: Are there already the first scribbles, mood boards or visual references? The more visual clues there are, the easier it is to design the app later on. For many teams, this is the moment when the first questions about the look and function of the application become concrete.

The chosen app concept determines at which level of detail you work. For internal testing, a rough low-fidelity dummy is often enough. For a customer meeting or pitch, a high-fidelity prototype makes more sense. In both cases, suitable prototyping tools help you create prototypes efficiently without writing real code. If your goal is a mobile app, you can already evaluate at this stage whether you have your Programming the Android app would like to or use another platform.

Create click dummy: step-by-step to successful prototyping

A clickable app prototype is not created by chance. This section shows you how to proceed systematically in just a few steps. From the first wireframe to a test run with real feedback: This is how you create a click dummy that is convincing and offers real added value in the design process.

Design wireframes or UI screens

At the beginning, you can either start with rough wireframes or design detailed UI screens directly, depending on how far the project has progressed. Tools like Sketch, Adobe XD or Figma help you create the most important screens. It is not necessary to map every click path; a concentrated section is often sufficient. If you want to create an app prototype, you usually start with a clear layout that shows navigation and basic structure.

Connect interactive elements

Buttons, menus and other controls are now connected through clickable hotspots. In Figma, this works by dragging and dropping in prototyping mode. Define logical user paths and make sure that it's easy to navigate between screens. The result forms the basis for getting initial reactions later on with a realistic Clickdummy design.

Add transitions & animations (optional)

For a more natural experience, animated transitions such as fade-in, scrolling, or slide effects can be incorporated. Functions such as Smart Animate in Figma or tools such as Protopy offer many options for this. It is important to use the animations sensibly. The goal remains a clearly structured mockup that presents content and functionality in an understandable way. Fonts and visual details can now also be adjusted to make the presentation look more realistic.

Test Click Dummy & get feedback

In the end, you should share and test the Click Dummy, for example with stakeholders or in user testing. A simple link or an embedding in tools such as Miro is suitable for this. Observe how users navigate through the prototypes, what questions they have and where uncertainties arise. Through targeted feedback, you can validate and further develop your design in a targeted manner. This phase helps you to be able to create presentation and design that are tailored to real usage scenarios.

A comparison of the best tools for your click dummy

A good prototyping tool determines how efficiently you build, share and further develop your Click Dummy. Here we present some proven solutions and show what strengths they have in app design.

Figma

Figma is web-based, free in the basic version and particularly team-friendly. Drafts can be commented on live, edited together and expanded directly into clickable click dummies. For our app agency KNGURU, Figma is the standard in prototyping, ideal for mockups and early visualizations in a team.

Adobe XD

Adobe XD scores points with powerful animations and a clear interface. It is less flexible than Figma for working with multiple team members, but works well in combination with other Adobe tools. If you want to implement visual details precisely, you will find many options for rapid iteration here.

protopia

This tool offers significantly more logic functions, such as conditions, states, or sensor control. If you want to create a more complex app, you can use Protopy to simulate more realistic processes. The training is a bit more demanding, but is worthwhile for complex use cases.

InVision

Standard in classic prototyping for a long time, InVision offers solid basic functions and easy handling. Compared to more modern tools, it looks less dynamic, but is good for simple tests or to illustrate initial ideas. It can be a good addition if you want to have initial versions developed.

Best practices for prototypes: Create from wireframe to app design

A good prototype focuses on the most important user paths and maps them as intuitively as possible. Instead of a complete range of functions, the focus is on the process that users should go through. The more clearly the click paths are structured, the better the user experience can be understood.

Texts, buttons and layouts should be designed as realistically as possible. Placeholder content quickly looks arbitrary and makes it difficult to understand during tests. The distinction between clickable and static elements must also be visually clear to avoid misunderstandings.

If you want to create a wireframe, you already lay the basis for a clearly structured structure in this phase. Regular tests with real users help to identify potential hurdles at an early stage and to further develop the prototype in a targeted manner.

Conclusion: Why it's worth creating a click dummy

Creating a click dummy is an effective step to plan digital products faster and more efficiently. Clickable prototypes make it possible to realistically understand the user flow and validate ideas early on, without any programming effort. The interplay of functionality and design can be made tangible so that team members and users can provide feedback directly.

Especially for startups and project teams, it makes sense to develop initial designs before the technical implementation begins. Tools like Figma make this easy to get started, even without deep design knowledge. Individual pages and processes can be clearly presented and refined step by step.

If you want to design a prototype, a click dummy is a valuable tool for communication, planning and UX optimization. At KNGURU, we are happy to assist you with a free UX workshop or an individual prototyping session. As an experienced App development agency We support this process in a structured and practical way.