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L10 - Product Prototype

Product Prototype

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jane
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37 views

L10 - Product Prototype

Product Prototype

Uploaded by

jane
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Product

Prototyp
e
Create a prototype of
OBJECTIV
the product
ES: Test the product
prototype
Xóchitl Guadalupe Cruz López and her solar heater (Mexican News Daily)
 An eight-year-old girl from Mexico has
just won a prestigious science prize for
making a solar heater from old hoses,
glass panels from a former
construction site, and logs. Her
invention will help low-income people
Inspiratio to stop cutting down trees for
firewood, reducing the climate change.
nal Story  You’ve probably got some product
ideas too. Possibly, you shelved them
because you didn’t know what to do
next. Well, turns out you don’t have to
have big dollars, a degree in physics,
or a lab to get started with your
product idea.
 The Merriam-Webster dictionary
defines a prototype as an “original
What is model on which something is
patterned”.
a  In lay speak, a prototype is a real-life,
Product 3D version of your product idea.
Prototyp  A 3D printed copy of a toy design is
a “prototype”, as is a paper-and-glue
e? model of a new tool. If it exists to
demonstrate an idea or study its
feasibility, you can call it a prototype.
You can classify prototypes into four broad categories based on their function and complexity:

 The visual prototype is meant to


VISUAL showcase the size and shape
PROTOTYP of the final product. It doesn’t
E have the functionality, materials,
or mass of the product. Rather, it
simply represents its dimensions.
 A block of wood shaped in the
form of the final product is a
“visual prototype”, as is a digital
model made in 3D rendering
software.
You can classify prototypes into four broad categories based on their function and complexity:
 This is a rudimentary model meant to
demonstrate the functions and
feasibility of the idea, that is, to
PROOF OF prove that the concept can actually
CONCEPT work. You’ll usually use materials
available at hand to create this
prototype.
 It doesn’t have to look, feel, or even
work as the final result; it simply
has to show that the idea is viable.
 A great example of a “proof of concept”
prototype is the original design for the
Super Soaker. Instead of fancy machined
parts, it’s made from PVC pipes and an
empty coke bottle.
You can classify prototypes into four broad categories based on their function and complexity:

 As the name suggests, this is a


PRESENTATIO presentation-ready version of the
N product. It is functional and has the
PROTOTYPE same appearance as the product.
 You can show this prototype to
investors, manufacturers, and
prospective customers to give
them an idea of what the final
result will look like. This prototype
is usually made from custom
materials and manufacturing
techniques
You can classify prototypes into four broad categories based on their function and complexity:

 This is a modified version of the


presentation prototype. It has the
PRE-
same functionality but is built using
PRODUCTION production-ready materials and
PROTOTYPE methods. Manufacturers will often look
at the pre-production prototype to
figure out how to mass-produce
the product.
 Each of these prototypes builds on the
former. You don’t have to go through
all four stages, of course. You might go
from a proof of concept built from duct
tape and paper to a production-ready
prototype.
How to Create a detailed diagram
Create or sketch
Create a 3D model
Your (optional)
Produc Create a “proof of concept”
t Create your first prototype
Protot Create a production-ready
ype prototype
Tips to Follow
When Creating
Your Product
Prototype
Prototyping an idea from scratch can be complex,
especially for a first-time maker. Following these
tips will make the process much smoother:
When you’re designing your first prototype,
segregate all the features into three categories:
 Need to have: These are features you
absolutely need for the product to work. For

1
example, “portable storage” would be a need-to-
have feature in an iPod.
 Good to have: These are features that would
help your product stand out, but aren’t essential
for its functioning. For example, the “click wheel”
Create a was a good-to-have feature in the iPod. It made the
list of iPod much easier to use but wasn’t essential to its
running.
priority  Not needed: These are features that are
superfluous to the product and don’t add much
features in the way of appeal or utility. Often, these
features are too expensive to implement as well.
You can safely discard these features in your
design. Ex. The first generation iPod didn’t have a
“click wheel” since it was too expensive to
You’ll inevitably turn to a prototype
designer, machinist, 3D modeler,
etc. in the course of developing your

2 prototype.

To protect yourself from intellectual


property theft, you can take the
Sign Non-
Disclosure following steps:
Agreement 1.File a patent for the product idea
s (NDA’s) and design.
and file 2.Ask all third-parties to sign non-
patents disclosure agreements (NDAs).
3.Keep costs in mind when
designing
 Another reason for cost overruns
between the prototype to the final
product is the use of custom

3
manufacturing techniques. Essentially,
any factory that builds your product will
use some industry-standard
manufacturing processes (such as
Use “injection molding”).
standard  Therefore, when you’re designing your
manufacturi prototype, keep a close eye on the kind
of manufacturing process each part will
ng require. If a feature requires a heavily
techniques customized production technique,
consider removing it. A prototype
designer or machinist should be able to
help you figure this out.
 Taking apart your competitors’

4
products can give you a detailed
understanding of what works, what
doesn’t when making a product. This
can be a massive help in designing
your own idea.
Borrow  Therefore, before you start creating
ideas from your prototype, take a close look at
competito your competitors’ products. Analyze
rs their materials, design, and
manufacturing techniques. Look for
flaws and opportunities
TESTING
YOUR
PROTOTYPE
Once you’ve built your prototypes based on the ideas you
and your team generated, it’s time to gather feedback from
the people on whom you are testing these. Being quick and
efficient allows you to move rapidly from creating a prototype
to putting it out to test it, gathering feedback, and finally to
creating a new and improved iteration of your ideas.
Six Best Practice Tips
for Gathering
Feedback on Your
Prototypes
Gathering feedback is a crucial element in the
Design Thinking process – and in all other
human-centered design processes. In order to
maximize the benefits of gathering feedback,
however, you need to be purposeful about it.
Here are some pointers to take note of when
thinking about gathering feedback from your
users.
1. Ways to Solicit Feedback
Six Best 2. Test Your Prototypes on the
Practice Tips Right People
for
Gathering 3. Ask the Right Questions
Feedback on 4. Be Neutral When Presenting
Your Your Ideas
Prototypes
5. Adapt While Testing
6. Let the User Contribute
Ideas

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