In the process of device design, a product prototype helps to identify and formulate the main direction of the design and significantly saves time. By designing a prototype at a very early stage of the project, it is possible to notice and change things like the layout, appearance and ease of use.
Why is a prototype necessary?
A prototype is an important stage in the process of designing a device, which helps in the initial design and layout development. It is developed to significantly reduce the time of project development as the designer can focus on the main functional factors and then fine-tune the nuances.
The most important reasons why a prototype is necessary are:
Provides a complete idea of how the parts or devices will look
Allows optimization of the project development process by focusing on the most important elements
The opportunity to test functionality
Careful planning during the prototyping stage allows avoiding major changes in later stages of the project
Allows identifying unnecessary elements to be eliminated
Significantly reduces the amount of design work, thus saving time and costs
Allows identifying knots that are difficult or impossible to implement
Allows discovering unforeseen physical, technical or financial constraints
One of the benefits of using prototypes is not immediately obvious, but it could be said to be the most important one - it reduces risks. Risks in projects where prototypes are made and used are significantly lower than in projects where prototyping is not done. This fact has a fairly simple explanation - prototypes directly show nuances in the most important parts of the project: what resources are needed, how much time is needed, and what budget is needed. This is especially important when designing non-standard devices or mechanisms. After prototype development, most hidden flaws are discovered and functional deficiencies are identified. Therefore, it is possible to understand and evaluate the necessary resources and development time.
Conclusion
A prototype is equally useful for both the idea author and the designer. It allows you to make the process of creating parts, knots, and devices understandable, controllable and more convenient. Before the product is in the final stage, it allows financial calculations and starting marketing campaigns.
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