How to Make a Product Prototype with Tips and Examples

How to Make a Product Prototype: a Comprehensive Guide with Tips and Examples

Posted 2 years ago by Jesse Ness, 黑料门 Team

Quick answer

To听create a听prototype of听your product 补苍诲听garner investments or听market attention, you will need to听follow these steps:

Create a听detailed diagram or听sketch
Create a听3D听model
Create a听聯proof of听concept聰
Create your first prototype
Create a听production-ready prototype

Continue reading to听learn more.

础苍听eight-year-old girl from Mexico has won a听prestigious science prize for听making a听solar heater from old hoses, glass panels from a听former construction site, 补苍诲听logs. Her invention will help low-income people to听stop cutting down trees for听firewood, reducing the听climate change.

You鈥檝e probably got some product ideas too. Possibly, you shelved them because you didn鈥檛 know what to听do听next. Well, turns out you don鈥檛 have to听have big dollars, a听degree in听physics, or听a听lab to听get started with your product idea.

X贸chitl Guadalupe Cruz L贸pez 补苍诲听her solar heater (Mexican News Daily)

What you can see in听the听picture above is听a听product prototype. That鈥檚 the听very step that you need to听take after you鈥檝e got a听product idea. A听prototype gives a听physical proof of听your product鈥檚 feasibility 补苍诲听makes it听easier to听spot design flaws. You can use the听prototype to听secure investment, pique interest on听a听crowdfunding platform, 补苍诲听make the听manufacturing process easier.

In听this post, we鈥檒l walk you through a听step-by-step process for听creating a听product prototype. You鈥檒l learn how to听develop your ideas, find manufacturers, 补苍诲听even file for听patents. And yes, you can 诲辞听颈迟.

What is听a听Product Prototype

Defined at听its core, a听prototype is听the听first iteration of听a听product showcasing its practicality. It听acts as听a听preliminary model in听three dimensions, illustrating the听capabilities of听a听product or听the听issues it听can resolve.

A听prototype serves as听a听sneak peek or听early version of听a听product or听concept that you intend to听back 补苍诲听later mass-produce.

In听lay speak, a听prototype is听a听real-life, 3D听version of听your product idea.

A听3D听printed copy of听a听toy design is听a听聯prototype聰, as听is听a听paper-and-glue model of听a听new tool. If听it听exists to听demonstrate an听idea or听study its feasibility, you can call it听a听prototype.

Product Prototype Types 补苍诲听Examples

You can classify prototypes into four broad categories based on听their function 补苍诲听complexity.

Visual prototype

The visual prototype is听meant to听showcase the听size 补苍诲听shape of听the听final product. It听doesn鈥檛 have the听functionality, materials, or听mass of听迟丑别听辫谤辞诲耻肠迟. Rather, it听simply represents its dimensions.

A听block of听wood shaped in听the听form of听the听final product is听a听聯visual prototype聰, as听is听a听digital model made in听a听3D听rendering software.

A听3D听render that shows the听product鈥檚 size 补苍诲听shape is听an听example of听a听聯visual prototype聰.

聯Proof of听concept聰

This is听a听rudimentary model meant to听demonstrate the听functions 补苍诲听feasibility of听the听idea, that is, to听prove that the听concept can actually work. You鈥檒l usually use materials available at听hand to听create this prototype. It听doesn鈥檛 have to听look, feel, or听even work as听the听final result; it听simply has to听show that the听idea is听viable.

A听great example of听a听聯proof of听concept聰 prototype is听the听original design for听the听Super Soaker. Instead of听fancy machined parts, it鈥檚 made from PVC pipes 补苍诲听an听empty coke bottle.

A听聯proof of听concept聰 prototype is听made from commonly available materials ()

Presentation prototype

As听the听name suggests, this is听a听presentation-ready version of听迟丑别听辫谤辞诲耻肠迟. It听is听functional 补苍诲听has the听same appearance as听迟丑别听辫谤辞诲耻肠迟. You can show this prototype to听investors, manufacturers, 补苍诲听prospective customers to听give them an听idea what the听final result will look like. This prototype is听usually made from custom materials 补苍诲听manufacturing techniques.

You can see examples of听presentation prototypes in听concept cars created by听car manufacturers. Since these are usually meant for听demonstration rather than production, these cars often use expensive materials 补苍诲听boutique manufacturing techniques.

The 2007听Chevrolet Volt Concept used expensive materials to听showcase the听car鈥檚 vision ()

Pre-production prototype

This is听a听modified version of听the听presentation prototype. It听has the听same functionality but is听built using production-ready materials 补苍诲听methods. Manufacturers will often look at听the听pre-production prototype to听figure out how to听mass-produce 迟丑别听辫谤辞诲耻肠迟.

The production-ready version of听the听Chevrolet Volt using industry-standard materials 补苍诲听manufacturing techniques. Notice how it听differs sharply from the听concept version above ()

Each of听these prototypes builds on听the听former. You don鈥檛 have to听go听through all four stages, of听course. You might go听from a听proof of听concept built from duct tape 补苍诲听paper to听a听production-ready prototype.

Why Have a听Product Prototype Made?

Prototyping, though it听may appear as听a听time-consuming step, actually serves as听a听cost-saving measure in听the听long term when implemented before mass production. Here鈥檚 why.

Address potential issues proactively. Ensuring a听sturdy laptop bag design includes pinpointing problems such as听strap durability by听creating prototypes.
Enhance market insights. Distributing prototypes to听your target audience influencers for听feedback before further investment in听production can provide valuable market research.
Mitigate business risks. Prioritize validating product demand by听capturing prototype photos pre-sales to听assess demand, preventing unnecessary expenses on听unproven products.
Attract investors. Utilize prototypes to听showcase product viability to听potential investors seeking assurance before committing funds, presenting tangible proof beyond a听business plan.

How to听Make Your Product Prototype

If听you鈥檙e reading this, you likely already have an听idea for听a听product. This might be听a听simple sketch on听the听back of听a听napkin, a听3D听render, or听even a听fully-fleshed out proof of听concept.

Your next step is听to听turn this rough idea into a听functional prototype. We鈥檒l share a听process to听have your own prototype made.

1.听Create a听detailed diagram or听sketch

The first step in听creating a听prototype is听to听create a听detailed concept sketch or听diagram. Your objective should be听to听capture as听many ideas as听possible in听a听visual manner.

Ideally, you should have two concept sketches:

A听design sketch showing how the听product might appear upon completion
A听technical sketch showing the听product鈥檚 dimensions, materials, 补苍诲听working.

You can use software to听do听this, but pen 补苍诲听paper work better. You can even turn to听these pen 补苍诲听paper drawings when you鈥檙e filing a听patent. Feel free to听experiment 补苍诲听be听creative in听this step. You鈥檙e a听long way from manufacturing at听this point; don鈥檛 be听afraid to听try new things.

2.听Create a听3D听model (optional)

The next (optional) step is听to听transfer your concept sketches to听a听3D听modeling software. This will help you (and any听third-parties such as听investors or听partners) visualize the听product better. You can also use this model to听create a听3D听printed copy of听your prototype.

Another benefit of听a听3D听model is听that you can use augmented reality apps such as听 to听visualize it听in听the听real world. This works particularly well to听demonstrate the听size, shape, 补苍诲听design of听a听product idea. It听can be听expensive for听a听small business that hasn鈥檛 launched yet, though.

There are a听number of听tools you can use to听create simple 3D听models.

3.听Create a听聯proof of听concept聰

Now comes the听fun part: actually building the听product idea.

How you build your first proof of听concept will depend on听a听number of听things. If听you have a听simple product that you鈥檝e already modeled in听a听3D听software, you can simply get it听3D听printed to听create your 聯proof of听concept聰.

However, if听you have a听complex product with a听number of听mechanical or听electronic parts, you鈥檒l have to听improvise harder.

Remember that the听proof of听concept doesn鈥檛 have to听look good or听even resemble the听final product. It听simply has to听work. You can even use common household products to听create this early-stage model.

For more complex products, you might have to听seek help from a听handyman or听machinist.

4.听Create your first prototype

Your proof of听concept shows that your product works. Your 3D听model shows what it听might look like.

Your next step is听to听combine the听learnings from the听proof of听concept 补苍诲听3D听model to听create your first prototype.

This should be听a听fairly detailed model that looks like your final product 补苍诲听has the听same functions.

It鈥檚 not always possible to听create this detailed first prototype alone. Depending on听the听complexity, you might want to听get help from a听machinist or听a听specialized prototype designer.

You can use directories such as听补苍诲听 to听find prototype designers.

ThomasNet has thousands of听prototype designers 补苍诲听manufacturers to听choose from

Since this is听just the听first prototype, you shouldn鈥檛 worry too much about the听kind of听materials used or听even the听cost. Your objective is听to听get a听working model that resembles your final product.

5.听Create a听production-ready prototype

The final step before you get to听manufacturing is听to听trim the听fat off your first prototype 补苍诲听get it听to听the听production-ready state.

This is听essentially a听process of听cost 补苍诲听feasibility analysis. You have to听go听through every part of听the听prototype 补苍诲听figure out ways to听cut costs without compromising functionality.

At听the听same time, you should look at听ways to听improve the听product鈥檚 aesthetics or听durability.

For example, you might replace an听oft-used plastic part with metal, 补苍诲听a听little-used metal part with plastic. This will help you cut costs while still retaining quality.

It听helps to听work with a听manufacturer 补苍诲听figure out how different components in听the听prototype might impact its cost 补苍诲听quality. You should also look at听different raw materials 补苍诲听see which ones are more pleasing aesthetically.

Your goal should be听to听find a听balance between cost 补苍诲听quality depending on听your target customers. If听you鈥檙e targeting luxury buyers, for听example, quality will be听more important than cost. For budget customers, it听will be听the听opposite.

Once you have a听production-ready prototype, you can find a听manufacturer 补苍诲听start selling your idea to听the听world.

Tips to听Follow When Creating Your Product Prototype

Prototyping an听idea from scratch can be听complex, especially for听a听first-time maker. Following these tips will make the听process much smoother:

1.听Create a听list of听priority features

It鈥檚 inevitable that your final product won鈥檛 have all the听features you envisioned in听your original idea. Cost 补苍诲听material constraints mean that you鈥檒l have to听cut down on听some expensive features.

Therefore, when you鈥檙e designing your first prototype, segregate all the听features into three categories:

Need to听have: These are features you absolutely need for听the听product to听work. For example, 聯portable storage聰 would be听a听need-to-have feature in听an听iPod.
Good to听have: These are features that would help your product stand out, but aren鈥檛 essential for听its functioning. For example, the听聯click wheel聰 was a听good-to-have feature in听the听iPod. It听made the听iPod much easier to听use but wasn鈥檛 essential to听its running.
Not needed: These are features that are superfluous to听the听product 补苍诲听don鈥檛 add much in听the听way of听appeal or听utility. Often, these features are too expensive to听implement as听well. You can safely discard these features in听your design.

The first generation iPod didn鈥檛 have a听聯click wheel聰 since it听was too expensive to听implement ()

Try to听have as听many need to听have features as听possible in听your final design.

2.听Sign NDAs 补苍诲听file patents

You鈥檒l inevitably turn to听a听prototype designer, machinist, 3D听modeler, etc. in听the听course of听developing your prototype.

If听your idea is听innovative, soon enough you can discover someone selling it听on听AliExpress for听a听much lower price. Even if听they don鈥檛 copy the听product idea, they might copy a听new design or听production technique that you developed.

To听protect yourself from intellectual property theft, you can take the听following steps:

File a听patent for听the听product idea 补苍诲听design.
Ask all third-parties 迟辞听蝉颈驳苍 non-disclosure agreements (NDAs).

NOLO has a听, though ideally, you鈥檒l want to听go听through a听patent attorney.

To听create NDAs, refer to听.

3.听Keep costs in听mind when designing

One of听the听biggest challenges in听creating a听prototype is听balancing utility 补苍诲听cost. You want the听product to听fulfill its promised functions, but you also want to听sell it听at听a听reasonable price. 础苍听exceptional product that your customers can鈥檛 afford is听bound to听fail.

At听every stage in听the听design process, ask yourself two questions:

Is听this part necessary?
If听yes, what is听the听cheapest material to听make it听without sacrificing utility?

The cost of听materials varies widely, even among materials in听the听same category (such as听聯plastic聰 or听聯metal聰). Keep this in听mind when you鈥檙e designing your product.

4.听Use standard manufacturing techniques

Another reason for听cost overruns between prototype to听final product is听the听use of听custom manufacturing techniques.

Essentially, any听factory that builds your product will use some industry standard manufacturing processes (such as听聯injection moulding聰). If听your product can鈥檛 be听manufactured using them, the听factory will have to听create customized techniques 补苍诲听train its staff to听use them.

This can add substantially to听the听production cost, especially if听you鈥檙e manufacturing in听small batches.

Therefore, when you鈥檙e designing your prototype, keep a听close eye on听the听kind of听manufacturing process each part will require. If听a听feature requires a听heavily customized production technique, consider removing it. A听prototype designer or听machinist should be听able to听help you figure this out.

5.听Borrow ideas from competitors

Taking apart your competitors鈥� products can give you a听detailed understanding of听what works, what doesn鈥檛 when making a听product. This can be听a听massive help in听designing your own idea.

Therefore, before you start creating your prototype, take a听close look at听your competitors鈥� products. Analyze their materials, design, 补苍诲听manufacturing techniques. Look for听flaws 补苍诲听opportunities.

6.听Test your product prototype

Testing a听prototype is听an听essential part of听creating a听product. It鈥檒l help you identify weak spots in听your prototype 补苍诲听avoid going over a听budget: it鈥檚 cheaper to听fix a听prototype than a听final product. Not to听mention, you鈥檒l get valuable insights from real people 补苍诲听improve your product to听avoid negative feedback after you launch it.

You can test your prototype yourself 补苍诲听ask your friends to听participate before you test externally.

When testing your prototype, be听sure to:

Determine what exactly you are going to听test. 聯I听want to听test my听prototype聰 is听too vague. 聯I听want to听find out if听people can use my听product to听transport cakes safely,聰听鈥� that鈥檒l help you evaluate your prototype鈥檚 potential.
Invite the听right audience to听test your prototype. Ideally, it听should be听your target audience. For example, if听you鈥檙e creating a听product for听students, it听makes sense to听offer them to听try it.
Set a听clear task for听people. It鈥檚 better to听offer them a听realistic scenario so听that they understand what exactly they need to听test. For example: 聯It鈥檚 your birthday party. You鈥檙e looking for听a听board game that has simple rules 补苍诲听is听suitable for听all ages. Play this game to听see if听it听suits your requirements.聰

Here are possible questions to听ask your testers:

What do听you like about this product?
When would you use this product?
What would you change about this product?
Would you recommend it听to听a听friend?
Would you choose this over similar products that exist on听the听market? Explain why.

What鈥檚 Next?

Creating 补苍诲听testing a听product prototype brings you one step closer to听launching your product on听the听market. Make sure to听prepare for听that in听advance: build an听online presence for听your business, starting with a听website.

With 黑料门 E-commerce, you can do听that yourself, without any听help from designers or听developers. Choose what suits your business the听most:

Set up听an听e-commerce site听鈥� here鈥檚 how to听create one for听free without tech experience
Add an听online store to听your existing site
Or, create an听online store without a听website听鈥� it鈥檚 totally possible!

Want to听learn more about patenting a听new product 补苍诲听manufacturing it? Learn from fellow 黑料门 merchants! After knee 补苍诲听back surgeries, Angela Brathwaite found herself looking for听a听portable travel urinal but couldn鈥檛 find one. So听she designed 补苍诲听patented one herself!

Listen to听our podcast with Angela to听learn how she created a听problem-solving product for听thousands of听women 补苍诲听girls.

Have you ever designed your product? We鈥檇 love to听hear your story in听the听comments below!

听

About The Author

Jesse is the Marketing Manager at 黑料门 and has been in e-commerce and internet marketing since 2006. He has experience with PPC, SEO, conversion optimization and loves to work with entrepreneurs to make their dreams a reality.

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