Prototype design: how to do it

The design of a prototype is part of the design phase of a new product or model. Prototyping is often used by companies to carry out feasibility and functionality texts before launching them on the market.

This operation is therefore part of the "design thinking" process to create a model or sample of what you want to put into production and must reflect as much as possible the final product in order to test its operation. Sometimes the prototype can also serve as tangible proof to be submitted to any investors to convince them to support the project and attract funds for the realization of a new idea. 

In this article we explain in more detail what is meant by prototyping and what are the phases for the design of a prototype. 

What is prototyping

The word prototype indicates the creation of as realistic an example of a product or object as possible. Its implementation can be used to test its effectiveness or to present it to new investors. Since this is a representative model, the implementation process may require several revisions before finding the most suitable solution. 

In fact, the prototype is usually implemented and improved several times in order to meet all the criteria set by the project. 

Technology has made it possible to develop the rapid prototyping model, allowing companies to verify the feasibility of their ideas in a relatively short time. In addition, rapid prototyping guarantees the creation of highly detailed and quality samples, allowing the customer to pass the various phases of validation of the idea in an agile way. 

So, designers, engineers, architects and many other tasks have benefited in the design phase, which until then had not been able to rely on CAD (Computer Aided Design) programs and technologies on the market today.

As already mentioned, prototyping is part of the four main criteria of design thinking, that is, a process that follows an iterative methodology aimed at solving problems (problem solving). 

Here are the 4 stages of design thinking:

1. Empathy: understanding the needs and desires of the end customer;
2. Definition: having clear information useful to identify the problem to be solved;
3. Ideation: finding the idea, the solution to the problem;
4. Prototyping: Test the idea.

Types of prototypes 

There are usually three reasons why you need to develop a prototype: 

• experiment/learn during the development phase;
• testing/validation;
• physical evidence in case it is necessary to have a physical object to observe.

Depending on the objective, the prototype can be classified into one or more of the following categories: 

• conceptual prototypes, in which form and design take precedence over material and technology;
• functional prototypes, for which the objective is to verify the functionality and optimization of the product;
• technical prototypes, in which the focus is on the technology, manufacture and performance of the product;
• pre-series prototypes, with which we try to achieve a result as close as possible to the final model, both in material and technology.

Conclusions

Rapid prototyping is used in several industries. The research and development departments of small, medium and large companies use this process to accelerate the process of creating and developing products, reduce costs and increase their competitiveness.

Therefore, having skills in prototyping and an office dedicated to it can be highly advantageous in the medium and long term. 

For these reasons, the development of technologies and software are constantly evolving.