What is the purpose of a mockup in the design process?

A mockup serves a crucial role in the design process by providing a visual representation of how the final product will appear. This means it allows designers to create a tangible version of their ideas without yet engaging in the actual production. By presenting a mockup, stakeholders—including designers, clients, and team members—can see the proposed layout, colors, typography, and overall aesthetic without the complexities of a fully functional prototype.

This visualization helps in communicating the vision of the design, facilitating discussions about its elements, and ensuring that all parties have a shared understanding of the intended outcome. While gathering feedback from clients or testing functionality are also important aspects of the design process, those activities typically rely on finalized versions of designs or prototypes, rather than the initial visual representation that a mockup provides. Similarly, creating a budget for production comes after the design has been finalized and does not pertain to the direct visual communication that mockups offer. Thus, the primary purpose of a mockup is to clearly illustrate the proposed design for stakeholders to evaluate.