Prototyping services

Theres a lot around prototyping at the moment, and I have recently helped to set up and run a live service prototype in Cornwall as part of Dott Cornwall for thinkpublic.

We have been discussing the subject a lot and it has really made me focus down on what I think is important when prototyping, and when encouraging others to see the value of prototyping in their organisation.

My current thoughts are summarised below;


1. Its all about playing with and learning about your ideas

Prototyping is a way of understanding your ideas through

Have an idea
Creating a way of testing that idea with people
Learning from that test
Having other ideas.

2. Cheap and rough

Prototyping should be a relatively inexpensive process. This means you can do a lot of it. Its not a labour of love.

3. Quick

Once you know what you want to learn, build ways to get feedback as quickly as you can. Put stuff out there for rapid evaluation.

4. Understandable

Doesn’t need to be a “thing” but it needs to be tangible and understandable.

People must understand what your doing, so they can respond to it.

All prototypes must do something that allows you to come to a sense of what you learnt.

5. Be open minded

Know what you want to test, but be prepared to have your assumptions challenged.

6. Failure is beautiful

Embrace failures, that is where you will learn your most important lessons. Knowing what doesn’t work will help you shape what could work. Then test that!


7. Keep going

Don’t give up.


Prototyping is a way of thinking about and testing ideas.
The materials are immaterial.
Idea. Test. Learn. Repeat.

Long time, no posts.

So... its been a while. Been a really hectic few months. Finished university. Started working at thinkpublic (www.thinkpublic.com) as a designer which is really great. Been there nearly 3 1/2 months now and its great. Anyway thats why theres been a lack of posts.

Ill try and get better but ill be contributing to the thinkpublic blog as much as I can too so I will try and repost here.

Cheers

Joe