- A prototype can be created using a multitude of approaches
that provide speed, precision or depth.
So your hypothesis may be tested from many angles.
When it comes to creating objects,
meaning physical prototypes,
they are often created by an industrial design team
using highly specialized software and tools,
but in many organizations,
a full-time industrial design team isn't common.
Perhaps you're lucky and actually have
an industrial designer.
Still it's likely you're cramped for time and money.
So what if you don't have the team or fancy tools?
Although those conditions may exist,
you can prototype objects using a variety of materials
that can be crafted by hand or rapidly created
using low cost hardware.
That means objects can be created around ideas
that involve sensing, networks, physical devices,
vehicles, buildings and other items.
Whether your goal is to generate ideas,
convey a concept, document a design or learn,
you may choose to use lo-fi modeling,
3D printing or off the shelf DIY parts.
Let's work through two examples to experience how
planning a prototyping approach for objects
that might have different goals, might play out.
In each example, you're in the early stages of design
so you know what your customers need,
you've explored your concepts
and you've got a hunch which one could be
a really good solution.
At this stage, it is helpful to experience
the emotion that your ideas provoke.
Here is where you'll use cheap and fast prototyping.
In the first example, imagine that through your research
and ideation, you've come up with a hypothesis
that virtual reality could distract burn patients enough
to actually reduce their pain.
And you've seen Google cardboard
and other smartphone based VR,
but you need a comfortable headset
for an uncomfortable patient.
So you sketch some ideas, you cut and tape together quickly
something that a phone fits into.
So now you can experiment with both the fit of the headset
and explore the digital experience
that creates the virtual reality for the patient.
In the next example, imagine that your research has shown
that most young children predominately play with
smartphones and tablets.
You feel that if you could make play for kids
less about a screen and more about toys,
it could be beneficial.
So you develop a toy concept that senses and responds
to a child's touch, that's also tied to an app
that runs on a tablet.
But you've got very limited resources to create an object
that senses and can be interacted with.
In this scenario, creating a container
that can fit larger, off the shelf sensors
using a 3D printer will provide the necessary realness
to test your hypothesis with kids.
Next time you approach a new project,
explore the possibility of creating something
that can be physically experienced.
Experiment with different prototyping approaches and tools
and see what combinations result in the best outcomes.