Product Prototype Design: How To Make A Product Prototype?

Hi, product designers! By the end of this blog, you will understand how to create a product prototype design.

While there are plenty of things a business can do, one of the most common is to create products. There are digital products, some hand-made and others that rely on technologies like laser cutting to build and create.

Unfortunately, the vast majority of products fail soon after being created. Creating a product prototype design is a great way to give your product a better chance of success.

Read ahead to learn how to create the best prototype design.

What is a Product Prototype Design?

A product prototype design is an early version of a product that helps you test out ideas before making the final version. It’s like a rough product draft that lets you see how it works, looks, and feels.

By using a prototype, designers and teams can spot problems, get feedback, and make improvements. It’s a way to figure out what works and what doesn’t, helping to avoid costly mistakes and ensuring the final product is just right before it’s produced.

Prototyping is an incredibly important part of the product creation process and should not be ignored. It helps you visualize your product, test it, and ensure that it is exactly what you want.

Unfortunately, the process of product prototyping can be long and confusing in some instances. This article will help you make a product prototype.

Also, check out: Product Design Examples: 25 Projects For Beginners

1. Product Prototype Design Begins With a Concept

The first step in creating any product prototype design is to start with a concept. This could be a random idea or a thought you have when seeing a certain product. There is often no rhyme or reason when a person has their initial idea for a product.

It can truly happen anywhere and at any time. Some concepts require a lot of thought and effort, while others may come up with a brilliant one right out of the blue.

Once you have the concept in your head, do yourself a favour and draw it out on some paper. It doesn’t need to be fancy, but having this will ensure you don’t forget any aspect of your product. This should be a rough look at the product, what it will do, how large it will be, and more.

This can help you visualize your product and see if it makes as much sense on paper as it does in your head. Also, keep these initial concept drawings safe and sound somewhere, and don’t lose them.

If you try to patent the product or need to prove that you own it and it was your idea, these early concept drawings can often do just that.

Also, check out: The Difference Between High And Low Fidelity Prototypes

2. Do Your Research

While having an idea and coming up with a concept for a product is exciting, it is important to know that you might not be the first person who has had this idea. Before doing any serious work, be sure to do your research and see if something else like your idea exists.

Now, just because there is competition doesn’t mean you can’t create your product (as long as there is no patent on the particular idea or process you want to use). The last thing you want is to steal an idea or process and be sued completely, so always come up with your own.

However, if similar products exist, you need to think about ways you can improve upon them while still ensuring they are your own. Finding success might be hard if you launch with something similar and have no unique qualities.

A good idea can be to take apart your competitor’s products and see if there are things you can do better and areas you can improve within the product.

Also, check out: 11 Tips on How to Choose the Right Price for Your Product

3. Create a Virtual Product Prototype Design

Once all of this background work and research has been done, you are finally ready to get started on the prototype. While the end product you want to make might be physical, you always want to begin with a virtual prototype. Many pieces of software can allow you to make 2D or 3D models of your product online.

They not only let you draw and create the product but can also animate it and rotate it, so you can make sure all its aspects and angles look the way they should. This should be much more detailed than your initial sketch and feature information about the size, the materials you want to use, and any other important aspects of the product.

If you are not skilled at this, you can either take some time to learn or hire an individual or company to help you create the virtual prototype.

Check Out: Learn How to Design Web & Mobile Products from the Pros

4. Develop a Physical Product Prototype Design

Once your virtual prototype is done and ready, you can finally develop the physical prototype. This will be an actual tangible product that you can hold, see, and show off, but it will be more focused on the product’s features and making sure it works than on how good it looks.

In some cases, you can do this yourself if you have a 3D printer, are handy, or have the right connections, but oftentimes, it’s better to work with a professional or someone with engineering experience who may be able to help you build something.

While some individuals and companies may only need to make a single prototype, others may need to make multiple before they have one that works. There can be countless flaws, such as functionality not working, the sizing being off, or it being too similar to something else out there.

Because of this, always make early prototypes out of relatively inexpensive materials and don’t take too much time trying to make them perfect.

If you do, it will only be that much more disheartening when the prototype doesn’t pan out and you need to create another one.

Once you find the right one that works the way you like it and potential customers and investors are happy about it, you can go ahead and begin creating the final product. This will most likely involve finding the right manufacturer to bring your product prototype to life as a fully-fledged product.

Make sure to find one that is reputable, has experience creating your products and doesn’t charge you an unfair amount.

Also, check out: 15 Unique Packaging Ideas To Take Inspiration From

Conclusion – How To Design a Product Prototype

In conclusion, we hope that this article has helped you learn how best to make a prototype for your upcoming new product. It can be a long process, but it is important to help your product be its best.

Like this post? Check out more amazing design ideas on our blog.