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Types of Prototypes in Product Creation

ByDave Stopher

Feb 1, 2021

Product design is among the primary elements that will set your manufacturing company apart from your competitors. Though it is not easy to remain at the helm in your field, you can do so by inculcating these few beneficial traits to your operations. You should also be keen on one part of your product creation process that makes a significant difference in the look and functioning of your final product; prototyping. A prototype will save you a great deal of time and cash in your production process by revealing any flaws to your design so that you correct them before they translate into costly mistakes.

Below are the prototypes that can prove useful in product development.

Proof of concept

This is the earliest form of a product showing that a subset of ideas or technology can be assembled and integrated into a product. The product in this option does not look like your final product and might not be fabricated using the same materials as its later versions. In the proof of concept, you do not consider whether or not the product has any real-world functionality or application. The prototype is only used to check the viability and validity of your idea.

3D printing

This option is used to create a product that looks as realistic as your final product so that you can get a seamless visual representation of your ideas. A 3D printing prototype showcases the overall dimension, shape and appearance of your processed product though it often has no working parts. It is largely a mockup of your product that you can use to show early client prospects and investors what they can expect. The 3D printing company you work with for the prototype can change the design of your product as you direct by reprogramming the system then commissioning another prototype.

Functional prototype

In this prototype, all the features work as they will in the final product though the outline of the product is not finalized. A functional prototype is meant to demonstrate your product’s viability. Even so, it still allows the inclusion of changes to the design so that the desirability and usability of your final product are enhanced.

Aesthetic prototype

Buying and using a product should induce satisfaction and pleasure among your target market. To guarantee this, the feel, shape and color of the product are designed to evoke a positive response. Aesthetic prototypes are meant to determine the most appealing form factors of your product. They thus feature the color, shape, material and finish that you envision so that you have an insight into the response a product will elicit among clients.

Alpha and beta builds

This is often produced in the final steps of the product development process. In the alpha and beta build, you integrate any improvements for extra refinement as per the feedback from clients or test groups. The responses from this prototype can inform the changes you make to your final product.

It is estimated that about 20-21% of products will fail even before they are launched. One of the reasons for this is a flawed product design that leads to delayed market entry and prolonged development. The above prototypes to guarantee that your envisioned product delivers what you envision to your target market are thus essential to your profits.