High-Fidelity Prototyping

Iterating on prototypes means looking for ways to improve the form and the function of the design

Iterations of chair prototypes - from earliest to latest (left to right)

Iterations of Dyson vacuums - from earliest to latest (left to right)

ITERATION: Form + Function

FORM: HOW IT LOOKS

FUNCTION: HOW IT WORKS

How could you improve the visual aspects of a hot-glued cardboard early prototype?

How could you improve the functionality of your innovation?

Discuss as a class!

Discuss as a class!

؜As we iterate on our designs, our prototypes should improve in quality and in their ability to more accurately represent and demonstrate our project's concept.

Professional designers make MANY iterations of their prototypes.

Prototype One

Prototype Two

Prototype Three

ITERATION

Prototype One

Prototype Two

Prototype Twelve

ITERATION

Here you can see the designer iterated many times using cardboard in order to figure out how to make a human-scale foldable building (seen in the last image on the right). With each iteration, the designer looked for ways to improve the form and function of their design.

Be Precise- how you cut, clean (e.g., hot glue strings), and decorate your project can go a long way towards visual improvement!

Precise Cuts

Clean Project

ITERATION: FORM - Improving how the prototype looks

Digital fabrication is an option for more precise creation of parts, which improves the look of your project

Laser Cutting

3D Printing

ITERATION: FORM - Improving how the prototype looks

Using new mechanisms can better demonstrate and test the movement and function of a project.

ITERATION: FUNCTION - Improving how the prototype works

؜Getting feedback from the end-users (or your teacher/classmates, if necessary) is the best way to improve how your prototype works.

ITERATION: FUNCTION - Improving how the prototype works

Continue to test and improve your project until presentation day.

Manage your time to ensure you have a presentable prototype in time. 

LAST THOUGHTS: ADVANCED PROTOTYPING

ITERATION

STUDENT EXAMPLES

Idea Sketch

Early Prototype

Later Prototype

Custom

Cast

Project

Motion

Tracking

Lamp

Project

1st Prototype

5th Prototype

Final Prototype

This student use the iterative design process to continuously explore out the form and the function of their lamp project

Segmented

Vehicle

1st Prototype

2nd Prototype

Final Prototype

This student progressed from testing shapes with cardboard to 3D modeling the design in Rhino, and finally integrating electronics