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Have you ever had a great idea, but you do not know what to do with it? Or maybe there is one annoyance in your day that you wish you had a solution for. This article teaches you how to how to come up with an idea, test it out, and see if it is feasible. Prototyping is an important step in bringing an idea to life. Knowing how to do it effectively is just as important.

Part 1
Part 1 of 2:

Ideate

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  1. Dig deep into the problem so you can create the best solution. This does not limit the creativity of your solution, instead it prompts you to find the best way to fix the situation. If you are struggling to consider all aspects of the problem, check out this article from Harvard Business Review  for more methods on defining a problem. [1]

    • Summarize why the problem creates an unpleasant situation.
    • Ask yourself why is what you are trying to solve inconvenient?
    • What are the negative impacts from this problem?


  2. Thinking of how someone may use it, who would use it, and why they need to use it are all great places to start. Creating a list will help you organize the product needs. Here are some questions to make you think:

    • Use the problems you identified and classify the solutions as needs.
    • What does a customer need the product to do?
    • How often will it be used?
    • Who will use it?


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  3. This is your time to be creative. Come up with as many solutions as you can and make sure you compare them. You can rank them on list from best to worst, categorize them into “good,” “maybe,” and “no.” Whichever system makes the most sense for you works. Here are some ideas to get you thinking:

    • What might make it more convenient?
    • Can you add more features that will make it better?
    • Does simplifying the design add value?
    • What other problems could this lead to?
    • How might someone misuse this?
    • How might it break?
    • How affordable is it?


  4. It is important to see what is already out there. Maybe someone has already created a fix for your problem. You might get more ideas to see how you could make your product better by doing some research. Here are some tips for gathering data:

    • Search Google Patents.
    • Look on the web for products that are currently for sale.
    • Redefine your needs if necessary.
    • If you find something similar, look at how it is made. You might be able to improve it.


  5. Do not forget about customers, they are what make your product successful. Perception and performance are important factors for product success. These are some questions to get you started:

    • What does it have to withstand?
    • How many will you make?
    • How many will you sell?
    • How much will it cost?


  6. Add a numerical value, or quantification, to your goals so that you have a clear idea about whether your idea passes the test based on the minimum you will accept. Use numbers to be able to see clearly if something suits your needs. It is okay to rank goals based on importance but only include ones that are important. Having a base to go off will help you pick the best option. See Kippy Cloud [2] for a guide that teaches how to quantify metrics. If you do not know where to start when adding numbers, try these methods:

    • Consider ranking the goals individually on a scale of 1-10.
    • Think of what you can measure regarding performance.
    • Subjective goals are okay but try to stick with numerical ones.


  7. You can always compare ideas later, pick one to move forward with now. If you have trouble picking one, send out a survey to see what people prefer. Use the results to figure out which design should be investigated.

    • What will solve the problem?
    • What will be the most economical?
    • What solution do you think makes the most sense?
    • Send out a survey if you are stuck.
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Part 2
Part 2 of 2:

Build a Prototype

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  1. There are many ways to prototype, but you need to figure out what fits your scenario the best. You can sculpt out of clay, make a cardboard model, and so much more. Think about what kind of prototype you need.

    • Will it be scaled down or full scale?
    • Does it need to function or just look like the final product?
    • How quickly do you need the prototype?


  2. Prototyping is something that should be quick and easy to change. Only one will be good for your first prototype. You can explore some strengths of different prototyping options from Digital Promise. [3]   Many options exist, below is a short description of popular methods.

    • Cardboard is easy to come by, cut, and glue together.
    • Clay is great for smooth surfaces and organic shapes.
    • 3D printing should be avoided because it is time consuming. It is better for a more refined second prototype.
    • 3D modeling software can be used to get a general idea of what your prototype should look like.


  3. Before you build your model, get an idea of what it looks like. Sketching can help you make changes quickly before getting your hands on any material. Sketching is less permanent. It doesn’t have to be a masterpiece either. Some practices to keep in mind when sketching are:

    • Keep sketches quick, they only need to get the point across and quick sketches are easier to revise.
    • Try a whiteboard since it is easy to erase and continue working.
    • Digital sketching when resources for physical sketching aren’t available or if the sketches will be presented later in a digital format.


  4. When you make a prototype, you have a visual. Make something quick so you can evaluate your idea. It is okay to spend a long time in this step if the changes you make are quick. Consider the questions and guidelines below if you think that something is missing.

    • Does it look good?
    • Does it work the way you intend it to?
    • Keep prototyping quick. The quicker you come up with a visual, the more variations you can make.
    • Is the material you used applicable to the idea you had?
    • Look online if you are struggling to use a material.


  5. See how it does in those conditions. Try to break it. Make sure your idea is concrete. Analyze the following:

    • See how your product breaks.
    • Evaluate the test results in comparison to your goals.
    • Does it work the way you want it to?


  6. How can you solve new problems that have occurred? Spend as much time as you need cycling between prototyping, testing, and iteration. Make sure you are satisfied with your concept before you move forward. This stop can be done as many times as it takes for you to be happy.

    • Cut, glue, and add to your prototype as needed.
    • Make as many changes as you want.
    • Go back and test how your changes perform.


  7. Create a presentation that covers the ins and outs of your concept, goals, prototype, and test results to share with an audience. A lot of hard work has been put into building a prototype by now, find a way to share your findings. See if others agree that you have a fantastic idea. Create a presentation of some sort to share. Microsoft [4]  recommends using visuals instead of large blocks of text and other heavy information. Here are some ways you could get started:

    • Create a PowerPoint.
    • Do a demonstration.
    • Make a video.
    • Write an article.
    • Make a flyer.
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      Tips

      • It is okay to ask others for their input. They may think of something that you have not.
      • Take it as a compliment if a solution already exists. You came up with an idea that someone else already decided was so good it had to be shared with the world.
      • Prototyping isn’t a start and end cycle. It is okay to restart, change an idea, or discontinue a project.
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