When an industrial designer develops an idea for a new product, prototyping is a critical step in clarifying the functionality
of the product. Prototyping is a process that involves building and testing a physical model of a product design. This article
will guide you through the 7 steps industrial designers follow to create a prototype, and illustrate the many benefits of prototyping.
How to Create a Prototype in 7 Steps
If you want to learn how to create a prototype, you can follow these steps:
1. Conduct Research
When you have a product idea, the first task is to research similar products. Not only will this help you determine if your
idea is innovative, but it will also give you insight into what these products are made of and how they work together to achieve
functionality. This way, you’ll be able to get a clearer picture of product manufacturing and its functionality.
2. Draw a design
Conceptualizing and designing your product is a critical step before embarking on building a prototype. By making sketches,
you can get an initial outline of what the finished product will look like and its potential functionality. Note that these initial
design sketches are only the starting point of your creativity, and it may take a number of revisions and refinements before you
find that design solution that satisfies you the most. Considering that subsequent steps may involve more time and money, it is
often wise to conceptualize and screen out several alternative designs in the early stages, then focus on you think has the most
potential.
3. Building Virtual Models
Building a virtual model of your product is an important step towards efficient prototyping. During this process, careful consideration
of the materials required for the final product and the potential impact of different forms on the product’s functionality will greatly
facilitate the creation of a model that accurately demonstrates the product’s final appearance and functionality.
4. Evaluate the need for external assistance
Once the product model has been designed, the next step is to evaluate whether you need outside help to create the prototype.
For example, engineers and prototyping experts are both trusted partners. Whichever experts you choose, their involvement will
ensure safe and efficient prototyping. In addition, they can provide valuable advice on design optimization with their in-depth expertise.
5. Building a Proof-of-Concept Prototype
A proof-of-concept prototype is designed to reveal how a product works. While it may look different from the final product, it is
critical that the prototype incorporates moving or mechanical parts of the design to visually demonstrate how the components
work together. This step is critical to ensure that the product will function as intended.
6. Creating a Functional Prototype
Once you’ve confirmed that the product is functional, the next step is to create a prototype that more closely resembles the model
and design. In the process, you can combine the visual elements of the design with the functionality of the proof of concept. Based
on this information, you’ll be able to determine which parts of the design work and which parts need to be tweaked.
7. Iterative Optimization
After testing the prototype or letting your target users try it out, you may find areas for improvement. At this point, you have
the flexibility to repeat the steps as needed to find the best balance of functionality and design. In the end, you’ll have a perfect
prototype that you’re more comfortable with, whether you’re presenting it to potential investors or going into production.
What are the benefits of using prototypes?
Creating a prototype is an early and crucial part of the product development process to ensure the success of your project, as it
provides you with valuable insight into your product idea. Here are some of the key benefits of using prototypes in the product
design process:
Validate product functionality
By creating a physical model of your idea, you can visually assess whether the product functionality meets expectations. After
testing the prototype, you will be able to judge the usefulness of the product and decide whether you need to invest further time
and resources in optimization.
Reduce Production Costs
It’s often cheaper to create one or two prototypes than to go straight into mass production without testing. Prototypes allow you
to refine the design of your product before investing large amounts of money in production, thus avoiding potential product
defects and recall risks. In addition, prototypes can help you validate the economic viability of your production process and ensure
that you are fully prepared before going into production.
Validate the usefulness of your product
Another effective strategy to improve the efficiency of your product development is to invite some members of your target user
community to try out your prototype. This not only helps you verify whether they find the product practical, but also provides
insights into their preferences and potential room for improvement by collecting their feedback. Based on this valuable input,
you can further optimize your prototype or prepare it for mass production.
Select materials to optimize the product
When you have the initial idea of your product in mind, you probably already have a rough idea of the materials needed and the
final form. With the help of a prototype, you can put these initial ideas into practice and explore ways to build a better quality
product at a lower cost. For example, prototype testing may reveal that the sturdiness and durability of a product can be significantly
improved by tweaking the shape or improving the way parts are connected.
Helping the accuracy of product descriptions
When presenting a industrial product to external partners such as investors, manufacturers, and distributors, they often focus on specific
details such as the size, weight, and portability of the product. A well-developed prototype can provide you with accurate answers
to these key pieces of information, thus helping these outsiders to more fully assess the market potential of the product and decide
whether to invest or assist you in the development of the final product.