Archaeological discoveries

What is the main purpose of building a prototype?

Prototype is an early sample, model, or release of a product built to test a concept or process or to act as a thing to be replicated or learned from. It is a term used in a variety of contexts, including iterative design, agile development, and manufacturing.

The main purpose of creating a prototype is to enable experimentation and iteration through the design thinking/development process to evaluate design/functionality aspects and/or gather user feedback:

- Provide a concrete representation of an idea or design, making it easier to evaluate and discuss

- Test functionality: A prototype can help identify potential issues or areas for improvement in a product early on

- Obtain user feedback: Prototyping enables designers to involve users and stakeholders in the development process, gathering valuable insights that inform product refinement.

- Reduce the risk of investing in a design concept that may not succeed.

- Gather early user feedback to address problems or make desired alterations before committing significant resources to full-scale production.