How to build a prototype?

During this session you will learn:

  • what are different prototyping methods
  • what are the tools for prototyping
  • how to prototype a physical product – works as an introduction for all teams
  • for technically advanced teams, how and where to search, collect and process information to choose the most appropriate technology for your idea
  • How to continue using Trello and stick to your roles in a team

Tasks

Team task:

  • Be ready with your first prototype draft, ask mentor feedback and develop it based on one’s feedback
  • Submit to teacher photos of your draft prototype


Teacher tips

Classroom activities

  • Ask the students to brief their schoolmates about the status of your international teams, using the PPP-technique (Progress, Plans, Problems). Everyone reports 2-3 key achievements, goals and challenges. Use this opportunity to ask questions, get feedback and support from teacher and schoolmates.
  • Go through the introduction to physical prototyping, see the presentation (.ppt).
  • During the previous session, students have started sketching (mindmap of structure and functions, screenshots) to move from an abstract idea to a more specific product. Now it is time to plan the prototype production in more detail. Open the prototype plan template and discuss team by team:
    • what prototype development level will you aim by the Prototype Fair in June: low-, mid- or high-fidelity prototype
      Attention! It might happen that team members in one country will only work on a mockup (low-fidelity prototype) and team members in other country go for a functional product (mid- or high-fidelity prototype)
    • get to know the prototyping tools (sub-page), try them out together and discuss what tools would be good to build your team´s prototype
  • Discuss what are the ways to divide tasks in a team and between countries during prototyping. Who will be responsible for
    • structure and functionality – actual building of the prototype
    • design and artwork, layout and colour scheme – from initial sketches until the final look
    • customer feedback, product introduction and pitching
    • coordination and documenting, see Prototype report template
  • Go through the introduction to pitching (sub-page). From now on, try to practice pitching product ideas to the classmates during every DigiYouth lesson.

Prototyping process and its final result

From the formation of teams, the pupils have worked on finding a common area of interest and a problem or idea which could be developed into a digital product.

To start prototyping the team should have a clear idea which is based on some market research. However, the product or service ideas described in teams´ idea onepagers are quite abstract.

Prototyping helps to make them more specific. Also, it involves a lot of practical sketching, drawing schemes or mindmaps, preparing moodboards or presentations and hands-on craftmanship.

By Prototype Fair, each team should have a prototype at some level. It depends on the team´s skills if they present 

  1. a low-fidelity prototype (for example, pen-and-paper sketches of product mindmap, user interface, screenshots, or a cardboard prototype)
  2. a mid-fidelity prototype (for example, not functional, but digital and real looking screenshots made with visual programming software)
  3. a high-fidelity prototype (for example, digital product that has some functionality)

Teamwork

During the prototype phase, the students can have the most practical learning experiences. Depending on the teams´ experience of online cooperation, team members can now decide how often they will meet online before the Prototype Fair.

  1. Older and more technically advanced students and teams that have a positive experience of online cooperation can continue meeting online on weekly basis, to discuss progress and problems, and plan ahead.
  2. For younger students and teams that have experienced problems in online cooperation, it might be easier to agree on a common idea, and then continue prototyping in their school groups.

During prototyping, the students will get extra advice from mentors and technical help from experts.