Prototyping is the process of quickly and inexpensively bringing ideas into a testable form. The guiding principle: ten fast prototypes are better than one perfect one. Every prototype is a learning instrument, not a showpiece. Those who test earlier fail more cheaply — and learn faster what actually works.
In practice, prototyping can start extremely low-threshold. An app concept is sketched on paper in 15 minutes and put directly in front of users. A new service is simulated as a role play. A physical product is built from cardboard and tape. The prototype’s resolution only needs to be high enough to answer the central question. Anything beyond that is wasted effort. Teams that run three quick rounds of prototyping and testing reach better outcomes than teams that spend months refining a detailed concept.
Prototyping is a core principle of Design Thinking and was significantly established by IDEO. The essential mindset: a prototype is a hypothesis in physical form, not the beginning of the final implementation.
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