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Setting the stage
A prototype is an artifact that approximates a feature (or multiple features) of a product, service, or system (Otto & Wood 2001). Design and prototyping have been interwoven throughout history. Michelangelo used physical prototypes to communicate construction details, and for marketing to investors (Sass & Oxman 2006). Palladio used full-scale wooden prototypes of architectural elements to plan costly stone works (Sass & Oxman 2006). Henry Ford explored at least nineteen models (some of which were prototypes) before finalizing the revolutionary model T design (Womack, Jones & Roos 2008). The triumph of Dyson's cyclonic vacuum was only achieved after 5,127 prototypes (Dyson & Coren 2001).
There are overall trends in how individual industries approach prototyping (Schrage 1993). Some are driven by achieving specifications (typically those developing large and complex systems), while others, typically more agile firms, focus on prototyping to explore and develop a new concept (Schrage 1993).
Thus, each prototyping effort requires a certain unique strategy to resolve a design problem or opportunity. This strategy influences the nature of information that can be explored and learned from the prototype (Gero 1990). Therefore, a prototyping strategy should be carefully planned (Drezner 1992). Designers may explicitly consider what type of testing will be performed with the prototype (Otto & Wood 2001).
Several detailed taxonomies of prototypes have been proposed. A typical first taxonomic division is between prototypes that address form and those that address function (Otto & Wood 2001; Michaelraj 2009; Pei, Campbell & Evans 2011). Another common distinction is the variable level of fidelity of a prototype with respect to the final model (Lim, Stolterman & Tenenberg 2008; Stowe 2008). A distinction is also typically drawn between virtual (simulations, visualization, or computational approximations of behavior) and physical models (Stowe 2008). This work develops an expanded index and framework that provides a clearer relationship between the various distinctions.
This is achieved through a synthesized review of empirical design studies in engineering, manufacturing, architectural design, design methodology, management, service design, graphic design, software engineering, and engineering education literature relating to the topic of developing an informed prototyping process. There are five primary sections to this review:
(1). Preparing to Prototype
(2). Enhancing Design Prototype Performance
(3). Reducing Design Prototype Cost, and Time
(4). Guidelines on...