SynthMock
A mockup shows how a product can look in context. A prototype lets someone explore an intended interaction. Neither should be presented as evidence of capabilities it has not actually demonstrated.
Try it in SynthMock
Start with a Duo scene.
Use a reusable template as your starting point, then apply the choices in this article.
A paid plan is required to use templates and export.
State what the artifact can answer
A Duo render can show the relationship between cover and inner artwork, the device's appearance and a planned camera sequence. A recorded screen inside it can show a captured software action. The viewer is still watching prepared media rather than controlling the application.
An interactive prototype can let someone choose a path and inspect a proposed response. It may still be a limited simulation rather than a released product. Labeling the artifact correctly helps reviewers ask useful questions and prevents visual polish from suggesting that every displayed behavior is implemented.
Choose evidence for the question
Use the smallest artifact that answers the actual review question. A full animation is unnecessary when the decision concerns a static layout, and a still cannot answer a navigation question.
| Question | Useful artifact | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Does this composition explain the product? | Duo still mockup | No interaction evidence |
| Does the planned reveal communicate the two states? | Rendered fold sequence | Scripted presentation, not live app continuity |
| Can someone find and use the control? | Interactive prototype or actual product | Requires an appropriate evaluation |
| Is the feature shipped and reliable? | Verified product behavior | A mockup alone cannot establish it |
Use the artifacts together
A practical review package might begin with a polished open Duo image, show a short transition for context, and link to a working prototype for the interaction under discussion. Each piece has a clear role instead of competing to look like the final product.
If you are presenting a concept, say which parts exist and which remain proposals. For example: the screen layouts are design explorations; the folding device animation is a presentation treatment. Avoid saying that the mockup proves responsive behavior across both displays. SynthMock maps supplied artwork onto the model; the source product or prototype remains responsible for the interface's actual behavior.
Final pass
Before you call it finished
- Label stills, scripted motion and prototypes accurately.
- Choose the artifact according to the review question.
- Keep claims about shipped behavior tied to the real product.
Make the next version yours.
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