S6 Prototyping 23/04

Prototyping can have a very broad or very narrow meaning. Many have a fixed paradigm of when and how prototyping occurs. The reality is that there are no fundamental boundries to prototyping.

The most conventional form of a prototype is that of a physical object. That object illustrates in some way an aspect of something!

By the end of a product development a suitable prototype will be taking on a likeness and functionality almost identical to that of the manufactured product (to be). This is helpful for a wide audience to evaluate that product. However a prototype can be equally valuable at all stages of development to evaluate some aspect of the product. The value of communicating, analysing, debating, researching with a prototype is higher than with verbal explanations, sketches and computer models. The tactile quality and the physical engagement is very valuable yet more often than not prototyping is grossly under used. This is because it involves processes and costs that are not as accessible as sitting in front of a computer.

This studio session sets you the tast of making a prototype and then observing others with that prototype so that you benefit from the experience and will trully know a prototype has good return on investment.