The essential concepts of successful prototyping in design thinking will assist you with testing recently created thoughts rapidly, discovering their advantages and disadvantages.
What is a prototype and prototyping?
A prototype is a mock-up of a solution that can be assembled from improvised materials.
The prototype is important in prototyping:
- it assists to conserve aside cash and time on making an entire item;
- with the help of this, the similarity of the product is created, and thus you can see the mistakes made during the design.
Pros of prototyping are as follows:
1) Increased production flexibility;
2)The quality of the products increases significantly, as well as its competitiveness;
3) The cost of production decreases significantly reduced.
However, it is worth considering the fact that it will take several attempts to create a suitable layout. And this, in turn, is already a monetary cost and time.
How is an object modeled?
There are different ways to model an object. One of these options is the use of improvised materials, for example, a sheet of paper, cardboard, glue, scissors, and much more. You can also use Lego, a 3D printer, or 3D modeling programs.
Modeling by improvised means
In order to create an object in accordance with this type of modeling, you should follow the following instructions:
1) First you need to determine which product you want to create a model for. This is a very important stage in the development of further actions;
2) Then you should look at the available analogs of this product;
3) Draw a prototype on a piece of paper, and then try to create this model from improvised materials.
This type of modeling, namely with the help of improvised means, will help you save your time and money costs since you will not need to buy any expensive materials to create a prototype. Another worthy advantage is that you can adjust and refine the layout during its execution.
Modeling with the help of “Lego”
The first thing to do is to find several sets of ”Lego”. With the help of parts, you can create a prototype of your product. In addition, you can disassemble and assemble new models many times, which is certainly a great advantage.
Modeling using 3D printing
There are various ways in prototyping services to create a prototype with this type of simulation.
FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling). This method involves the creation of objects by applying successive layers of material that follow the contours of the digital model.
Polyjet. the essence of this technology lies in the layer-by-layer curing of a liquid photopolymer material under the influence of ultraviolet radiation. And you can also print simultaneously with several materials, durable, flexible, transparent, color, combining them in one model.
LOM (Laminated Object Manufacturing). This type of technology is characterized by the fact that the printer cuts the material with a knife, and then glues the parts into one model.
SL (Stereolithography). The essence of this method is as follows: a polymer tank is located inside the printer. At the moment when the laser passes through it, the polymer hardens. Thus, a prototype is obtained.
Laser Sintering. Here, a laser is used to sinter powdered plastic into a solid structure.
3DP (Three Dimensional Printing). The principle of this technology is quite simple: glue is applied to the powder, and thus the entire object is glued together.
In order to properly use the 3D printing function, it is worth involving specialists, since this is a rather complex type of modeling.
Modeling using programs
This type of modeling differs from others in that the prototype is created on a computer screen. We have prepared for you a selection of free programs, thanks to which you can try yourself in the field of prototyping:
- Wings 3D;
- DAZ Studio;
- Open Scad;
- 3DReshaper;
- 3D Crafter;
- PTC Creo.
If you have a large number of unrealized projects or products, and it still does not work out to create a prototype, then we recommend contacting us: software development. You are guaranteed a high-quality product.
Prototyping of websites and interfaces of programs and applications
Prototyping a website basically means developing its interface. This makes it easier for specialists in this field to work. When modeling the interface, it is important to proceed from the concept of UX design, that is, you must understand what users need and what they are used to.
The user must understand how to use the site, where the menu is located, how to quickly find what he needs. if this does not happen, the user will simply leave the site, and thus your site will drop in the ranking of traffic in the search.
However, in order to have your financial benefit from the site, you should not allow the user to simply read the information from the site and leave the site. It is necessary to enter links to various useful materials, for example, online training. Thus, the user will receive his benefit in the form of information, and you, in turn, will receive your own.
What can be prototyped?
- Physical goods (car, furniture, electrical appliances);
- Websites (in order to understand how they will look approximately);
- Programs and applications;
- Interfaces.
However, prototyping technologies will differ, since a lot depends on what you want to prototype,
How to distinguish a good quality prototype from a bad one?
A few tips are listed here so that you can accurately determine a quality prototype.
- A prototype uses only real content, and it corresponds to the theme of the selected product;
- You immediately understand that he wants to ” show ” us the prototype without anyone’s comments;
- A designer justifies each interface solution with references to the results of business research and user research.
