WHAT WE ARE DOING

WHY WE ARE DOING IT

You are improving your prototype by finding ways to make it look better (form) and work better (function).

؜To make your project look better and work better so it’s ready for the final presentation.

Iterations of Dyson vacuum prototypes - from earliest to latest (left to right)

Iterations of chair prototypes - from earliest to latest (left to right)

1st

Reflect on the First Prototype

Take a moment to think about the first version of your project. Use these questions to help you improve it:

1. Materials & Building: What materials worked well? What would you change or use next time?
2. Strengths & Weaknesses: What parts of your prototype are strong? What parts break easily? How can you make them stronger?
3. Feedback: Ask your classmates or teacher what they think. What ideas do they have to help you improve?
4. Neatness & Appearance: Does your project look clean? Can you hide the glue or tape to make it look nicer?
5. Fit & Finish: Do all the pieces fit together well? How can you make the edges smoother or cleaner?

2nd

3rd

Think about adding cool new features like electronics, lights, or moving parts.

1. How could these features make your project work better?
2. How could they make your project look more interesting?
3. Could adding these features help your idea feel more complete or exciting?

؜Make Your Final Prototype

1. Use the best materials you’ve chosen.
2. Build your final version of your project carefully.
3. Cut and assemble neatly — make your pieces fit well together.
4. Make sure your prototype looks clean and finished for presentation.

Each time we improve our design, our prototype should look better and show our idea more clearly, just like real designers who make many tries before the final one.

Prototype One

Prototype Two

Prototype Three

ITERATION

Prototype One

Prototype Two

Prototype Twelve

Here you can see the designer iterated many times using cardboard in order to figure out how to make a human-scale foldable building (seen in the last image on the right). With each iteration, the designer looked for ways to improve the form and function of their design.

ITERATION: Form + Function

Each time a designer makes an interation of their prototype, they're looking to improve its form, function, or both!

FORM: HOW IT LOOKS

FUNCTION: HOW IT WORKS

You can make your hot-glued cardboard prototype look nicer by:

1. Trimming rough edges so the pieces fit cleanly.
2. Using less glue or hiding glue with tape or paper.
3. Smoothing surfaces by sanding or covering with paper.
4. Use cool mechanism for joineries

How could you improve the functionality of your device?

1. Adding motors or gears to make parts move on their own.
2. Using switches or buttons to control how it works.
3. Adding lights
4. Combining moving parts with mechanisms

؜Be Precise- how you cut, clean (hot glue strings), and decorate your project can go a long way towards visual improvement!

Precise Cuts

Clean Project

ITERATION: FORM - Improving how the prototype looks

Using new mechanisms can better demonstrate and test the movement and function of a project.

ITERATION: FUNCTION - Improving how the prototype works

؜Getting feedback from the end-users (or your teacher/classmates, if necessary) is the best way to improve how your prototype works.

ITERATION: FUNCTION - Improving how the prototype works

ITERATION

STUDENT EXAMPLES

Segmented

Vehicle

1st Prototype

2nd Prototype

Final Prototype

This student progressed from testing shapes with cardboard to 3D modeling the design in Rhino, and finally integrating electronics