Physical Prototyping

A prototype is a form of model often made early on the design process as a way of testing out a concept. While prototypes are used across a wide array of contexts, in interaction design they often take a few forms, which include paper, experience, low and high-fidelity prototypes.

While you may be familiar with the term ‘prototype’ specifically in the context of user-experience and user interface design, this method, which we’ve termed ‘physical prototyping’, focuses on prototypes made from physical materials that are used to explore tangible and interactive qualities of projects that don’t reside on the screen.

It’s important to let go of the idea that a prototype has to possess a certain degree of functionality or finish and a helpful way to do this is think of your physical prototypes as a kind of ‘sketch’, but rather than using pen and paper, you’re using physical materials!

While physical prototypes will inherently take many different shapes, it’s especially important to think about what you’re prototyping for. You might be exploring an initial idea or further refining an existing concept and you might be looking at creating a representation of the entire concept or focussing on a specific element and looking to scope this out in more detail.

Just like sketching forms a vital part of your design process, physical prototyping is an invaluable way to unpack design problems and explore ideas when working on projects that involve interaction with physical objects and materials.

We recommend spending some time developing your concepts first through sketching and once you’ve reached a point where ideas can no longer be developed on paper, sketch out a plan on what you’re going to prototype. In our experience it’s helpful to have a plan to aid in structuring your physical prototyping explorations, while also being open to new ideas that can spark when working with materials.

Some questions to consider:

• What dimension of the project am I exploring? (size, weight, colour, texture, robustness of materials)
• Am I prototyping a piece of the project or the entire project?
• What tools and materials do I need to work on my prototype?
• How will I simulate interactions in the prototype?

Activity

Before you start

The following activity involves prototyping with physical materials and is designed for any skill level. Think about what kind of materials enable movement in your prototype. A good place to start is by experimenting with joining methods, such as hinges, nuts, bolts and screws – anything that enables movement in your project will be suitable.

Activity steps

1. Select 1 movement prompt and 1 aesthetic prompt from the following list:
   • Movement prompts – twisting, bounding, prancing, perching, galloping, scampering, creeping, foraging, galivanting, bounding, leaping, falling, spluttering.
   • Aesthetic prompts – stable, proud, timid, flamboyant, shy, aggressive, perturbed, bombastic, elegant, rigid, sweet, fragile, sarcastic, joyful, exhausted.
2. Brainstorm the different kinds of forms implied by the combination of these prompts, for example, ‘fierce’ and ‘perching’.
   • What might a ‘fierce, perching’ prototype look like? (for example)
   • What kind of movements and interactions might it evoke and enable?
3. Begin the prototyping process by exploring your materials, trying working with temporary joints at first (such as tape and blue-tac). Explore a variety of different ways you might realise your prototype before committing to a single idea.
4. Once you’re satisfied with the direction of the prototype, make some decisions about how you’d like to produce the movement.
   • Try springs, hinges, double-sided tape – anything that enables different qualities of movement!
   • Think about whether part/s or the entire prototype will move.
5. The outcome of your prototyping should be something that evokes the aesthetic and movement qualities from the prompts you selected.

Notes

The QUT Design Workshop, located on the ground floor of J Block at Garden’s point campus is not only a great place to prototype, but also to find prototyping materials! Ask the workshop staff about using spare and scrap materials in your projects.

Reverse Garbage QLD is a not-for-profit in Wooloongabba that diverts waste from landfill and resell all sorts of unique materials that might be worth a look for your prototyping.