Prototypes

 

A prototype is a preliminary model of a product, system, or service. Prototypes are used to test a concept or process and evaluate the design. Ideas can be realized through producing and assessing many solutions; however, this brute force method does come with its challenges, that is:

• Generating and promoting novel ideas

• Converging one’s ideas into a single realistic design.

 

Low fidelity prototyping, like sketching can organize thought processes and externalize possible ideas. A good technique for doing low fidelity prototyping can be found in Roberts, Headleand, and Ritsos (2016)

 

Method of Low Fidelity Prototyping

 

The Five Design Sheet method (FdS) is based on sketching that allows users about the product, system, or service to be designed which also helps to facilitate divergent thinking. It creates an interactive interface and provides a formal structure consisting of five sheets with each sheet have five parts. The FdS is composed of five stages:

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1. The user considers the task (meeting with the client).

2. The user considers alternative ideas.

3. The user creates three principle designs.

4. The designs are considered and discussed with the client.

5. A realization sheet is made (final design).

Five sections on sheet 1:

1. Ideas

2. Filter

3. Categorize

4. Combine & refine

5. Question

 

Five parts to each design sheet:

• Each sheet has five sections in a 2 row by 3 row grid.

  • The sketcher

  • The sketching medium

  • The appearance

  • The purpose

  • The nature of these sketches is dynamic.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Roberts, J.C., Headleand, C., and Ritsos, P.D. (2016). Sketching designs using the five design-sheet methodology. IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics, 22, 1419-428.