Rapid Prototyping

Rapid prototyping is a process that tests out an idea, and uses the process to learn. The purpose is not to have a fully functioning device or design, but rather demonstrate and test out an idea. Prototyping is also one of the most effective activities you can undertake to communicate your idea. This could be a physical artefact, a mock-up, sketches, role-playing, demonstrations - anything to help you and your audience understand how your idea will work, get feedback, and iterate.

Example application

History will likely tell us that Google Glass was just another technology failure from Google, just like Google Wave. But, in the world of innovation, failure only occurs if you don’t learn from the process. Rapid prototyping takes on the same philosophy - you should push your idea to failure, because you should learn from it, and make it better.

In prototyping Google Glass, Tom Chi developed his rules for prototyping:

  • Find the quickest path to experience
  • Doing is the best kind of thinking
  • Use materials that move at the speed of thought to maximise your rate of learning

Steps

A good way to approach prototyping is to use IDEO.org’s tools for prototyping in their Human Centred Design Guide:

  • Determine what to prototype (p111)
  • Mock-up a physical (or digital, if you’re well-versed in the technology) rapid prototype. Think about using one of these techniques, and follow Tom Chi’s rules:
    • storyboard a process or interaction (p113)
    • role-play an interaction or exchange (p118)
    • make a model or mock-up using materials you have to hand (eg, string, paper, glue, wire, etc)
  • Test it out. Take the rapid prototype and give it to your user and get feedback
  • Integrate the feedback into your next rapid prototype, and document what you’ve learnt

Hints

  • Rapid prototypes don’t have to be perfect - just good enough to test out the idea
  • Rapid prototypes shouldn’t be expensive to make
  • I always think of Play School when I think of rapid prototyping - a box and paper plates can quickly become a bus, train, stage, drum, percussion set, mobile, magic box, etc. Rapid prototyping works best when you let your imagination run free
  • Once you’ve rapid prototyped ideas with simple materials, think about developing the prototype further using techniques from the Maker and Hacker movement, such as 3D printing, or breadboarding with an Arduino.

Core resources

  • IDEO.org’s Field Guide to Human-Centred Design has a great section on Ideation through rapid prototyping. The plan above has been assimilated from this resource. [Online or relevant sections as PDF]
  • Tom Chi’s TED Ed lesson on rapid prototyping [Online]

Updated:  12 Mar 2018/ Responsible Officer:  Head of School/ Page Contact:  Page Contact